Design Guidelines & Other Resources

There are several resources and published guidelines for designing and implementing active transportation facilities including trails and on-street bikeways. Below are resources to aid in the process of successfully completing bicycle and pedestrian facilities in your community.

Also listed below are various other resources, including guidance for developing master plans, tools for soliciting data related to active roadway users, and more.

Design Guidelines and Manuals

Title	Organization	Year
A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets	AASHTO	2011
Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition NEW!	AASHTO	2024
Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities 2nd edition	AASHTO	2021
Roadside Design Guide	AASHTO	2011
Essentials of Bike Parking: Selecting and Installing Bike Parking That Works [PDF]	APBP	2015
A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety	FHWA	2013
Bicycle and Pedestrian Guidance for State and Local Governments	FHWA	2019
Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects [PDF]	FHWA	2016
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Rev. July 2022)	FHWA	2009
On-Street Motor Vehicle Parking and the Bikeway Selection Guide Process [PDF]	FHWA	2021
Resource Guide for Separating Bicyclists from Traffic [PDF]	FHWA	2018
Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide	FHWA	2015
Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide	FHWA	2024
Recommended Design Guidelines to Accommodate Pedestrians and Bicycles at Interchanges	ITE	2016
Traffic Control Devices Handbook	ITE	2013
Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach [PDF]	ITE/CNU	2010
Global Design Guide	NACTO	2016
Material Success: Designing Durable Bikeways	NACTO	2023
Transit Street Design Guide	NACTO	2016
Urban Bikeway Design Guide 3rd Edition (available for purchase only)	NACTO	2025
Urban Bikeway Design Guide (Don't Give Up at the Intersection)	NACTO	2019
Urban Street Design Guide	NACTO	2013
Guide for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at (Alternative) Intersections and Interchanges	NCHRP	2021
Guidance to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at Intersections	NCHRP	2020
Highway Capacity Manual	TRB	2020
Part 9: Traffic Controls for Bicycle Facilities [PDF]	TxDOT	2011
Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices [PDF]	TxDOT	2011
TxDOT Bicycle Accommodation Guidance	TxDOT	2021
TxDOT Roadway Design Manual: Chapters 18 (Bicycle Facilities) and 19 (Pedestrian Facilities) (modified 11/15/24)	TxDOT	2024

Other Resources

Title	Agency	Year

NCTCOG
Mobility 2045: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan [PDF]	NCTCOG	2018
Trails and Bikeway Master Plan Template	NCTCOG
How Local Governments and Non-Profits Can Partner Together for Trails [PDF]	NCTCOG
Complete Streets and Context Sensitive Design	NCTCOG
Look Out Texans	NCTCOG
Active Transportation Legislation and Resources	NCTCOG
Bicycle and Pedestrian Healthy Initiatives	NCTCOG
Bicycle Friendly Communities and Organizations	NCTCOG
Economic Benefits of Active Transportation	NCTCOG
Shared-Use Design Plans for Green Bicycle Parking (Parklet Pilot Project in Dallas)	NCTCOG	2020
TxDOT
TxDOT Bicycle Resources	TxDOT
TxDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Toolkit	TxDOT
TxDOT Bicycle Tourism Trails Study	TxDOT
TxDOT Bicycle Advisory Committee	TxDOT
TxDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding Program	TxDOT
TxDOT Dallas District Bicycle Program	TxDOT
TxDOT Fort Worth District Bicycle Program	TxDOT
Safety
USDOT Pedestrian Safety Action Plan [PDF]	USDOT	2020
Bicycle Intersection Safety Index [PDF]	FHWA	2007
BikeSafe	FHWA
PedSafe	FHWA
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)	FHWA	2023
Groups and Coalitions
Complete Streets Coalition	SGA
Rails to Trails Conservancy	RTTC
Bike League of America: Commute by Bike	LAB
Information Centers
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center	FHWA
National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Center	ITE
Pedestrian and Bicycle Design Resource Index	PBIC
Online Tools and Guides
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)	FHWA	2023
Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists	FHWA
Bikeway Selection Guide [PDF]	FHWA	2019
Interactive Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Tool for Pedestrians	NHTSA
Oncor Hike and Bike Trail Guidelines	Oncor	2014
Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations	USDOT	2010