Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee on April 1, 2026 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on April 29, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the development of safe, connected, and multimodal transportation systems (i.e., providing travelers with multiple travel choices) that integrate bicycle facilities as an asset in infrastructure planning and design.

ASCE encourages bicycle facilities that accommodate users of all ages and experience levels by: 

  • Developing complete bicycle networks that provide safe, comfortable, and practical access to all desired destinations.
  • Building connected bicycle networks that are linked to one another, allowing users to travel between origins and destinations without interruptions, gaps, or the need to enter unsafe or high-stress roadway segments. 
  • Implementing separate and protected bicycle facilities in high-speed and high-volume traffic environments to improve safety and reduce conflicts. 
  • Integrating bicycle infrastructure with public transportation and emerging mobility systems to support seamless multimodal travel. 
    Coordinating among public agencies, private entities, and communities to advance effective bicycle system development. 

Issue

Bicycling in the United States has expanded in many communities due to several reasons including the growth of bikeshare programs, the emergence of electric and cargo bicycles, and growing investment in bicycle infrastructure. 

The growth has been accompanied by a rise in bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,166 cyclists were killed in crashes in 2023, accounting for 2.9% of all traffic fatalities that year and representing an 8% increase from 2022. The number of bicyclists killed in motor-vehicle traffic crashes increased from 846 in 2019 to 938 in 2020, a 10.8% increase while accounting for 2.4% of all traffic fatalities. These trends indicate persistent safety challenges within existing transportation systems, particularly in environments where bicycle facilities are incomplete, disconnected, or not aligned with surrounding traffic conditions.

The growth has also not been matched by transportation systems that integrate bicycling as a functional mode of travel. In many regions, bicycle infrastructure remains fragmented across jurisdictions and disconnected from key destinations, limiting continuity and usability. Planning and design practices have not consistently adapted to emerging travel patterns, including the expansion of electric bicycles, cargo bicycles, and first- and last-mile connections to public transportation. Bicycling is often treated as a supplementary rather than essential component of the transportation system, constraining its effectiveness despite increasing demand. 

Rationale

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (2024) encourages a flexible approach to designing bikeways, emphasizing the importance of planning, engineering, constructing, and maintaining appropriate bikeway types. National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide aims to provides cities with “state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists.”

Bicycles offer an alternative means for many short- and medium- distance trips. According to 2021 information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), about 52% of all trips across all modes of transportation were less than three miles, with 28% of all trips less than one mile. Where facilities exist, bicycles can also be effectively combined with public transportation. However, travel by bicycle still represents a small share of trips. BTS’s 2025 Transportation Statistics Annual Report found only 0.5% of trips to work in 2024 involved bicycling. This is due, in part, to the lack of safe and convenient bicycle facilities. Research from the Portland State University National Institute for Transportation and Communities indicate the construction of protected bicycle lanes can increase bicycle ridership by 21% to 171% and increase the safety of people biking. Such investments have been associated with increased economic activity, including retail, housing development, and tourism. 

This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 436
First Approved in 1995