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Cycle Lane Capacity Calculator

Work out cycle lane capacity instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Cycle Lane Capacity Calculator

Cycle lane capacity is set by headway and the number of side by side files the width permits, taking about one metre of width per file. At a two second headway each file carries 1800 cycles an hour, so a two metre lane allowing two files has a theoretical capacity of 3600, far above almost any observed demand.

Formulas

Capacity

Cycles per hour = 3600 / headway x files of travel

Files

Files = floor(lane width / 1.0 m)

Worked example

With the default values below, Cycle Lane Capacity Calculator returns Cycle lane capacity of 3,600. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Cycle lane widthminimum 0.8 m
2 m
Average cycling speedminimum 5 km/h
18 km/h
Minimum headway between cyclistsminimum 0.5 s
2 s

Results

Cycle lane capacity
3,600 cycles/h
Files of travel the width allows
2
Capacity per file
1,800 cycles/h
Spacing between cyclists
10.00 m

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Capacity
  3. 3Files
  4. 4Cycle lane capacity= 3,600 cycles/h
  5. 5Files of travel the width allows= 2
  6. 6Capacity per file= 1,800 cycles/h
  7. 7Spacing between cyclists= 10.00 m

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Cycle Lane Capacity figure worked out?

Cycles per hour = 3600 / headway x files of travel. Cycle lane capacity is set by headway and the number of side by side files the width permits, taking about one metre of width per file.

Is capacity ever the binding constraint on a cycle lane?

Rarely. Comfort, ability to overtake a slower rider, and conflict at junctions govern the design width long before flow capacity does.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 3 inputs: Cycle lane width, Average cycling speed, Minimum headway between cyclists. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.

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