Statewide Shoulder Width for Bicycling
by State Highway Administration District
Statewide Shoulder Width
width (ft)*
actual miles
percent
=4
390.2
4%
>4
4193.2
46%
total
9223.0
100%
<4
>=4
4639.6
50%
4583.4
District
50%
*2007 Roadway data
Allegany
Garrett
<4
712.1
=4
71.0
District
7
55%
6%
>4
502.6
39%
total
1285.7
100%
>=4
573.6
44.6%
Wa s h i n g t o n
Carroll
District
=4
57.9
Montgomery
46%
5%
543.6
49%
1106.5
100%
>=4
601.5
54.4%
5%
25%
1218.2
100%
371.5
30.5%
District
.
rt
St
e
Currently, SHA provides 4583.4 actual miles of roadway (50%) that have 4 feet
of shoulder width or greater for the use of cyclists.
Charles
lv
A minimum four (4) foot wide outside shoulder is preferred on all roadways with open sections.
A minimum fifteen (15) foot wide outside lane (measured to the face of the curb) is preferred
on all roadways with outside closed sections. The roadway should be striped as an eleven (11)
foot travel lane and a four (4) foot shoulder available to bicycles.
100%
424.6
37.0%
District
Cecil
Queen
Anne's
Ta l b o t
M
a
ry
Dorchester
729.4
=4
60.5
4%
>4
823.6
51%
536.2
=4
75.1
4%
>4
1064.9
64%
total
1676.3
100%
>=4
1140
68.0%
District
32%
1
<4
585.0
=4
36.5
3%
>4
551.7
47%
total
1173.2
100%
>=4
588.2
50.1%
50%
Wicomico
's
5
<4
2
<4
a
56.0
1149.6
Kent
Prince
Georges
70%
315.5
total
>=4
e
846.6
34%
C
Any lane wider than 12 feet benefits bicycle access by reducing the conflict
<4
between motorists and cyclists. A curb lane that is 14 feet or greater
=4
(measured to the face of the curb) is typically striped as an 11 foot wide travel lane
>4
for motor vehicles and the remaining space as a shoulder available to cyclists.
total
While a striped or not striped wide curb lane may be the same width, providing the
>=4
stripe helps to keep both motorists and cyclists in their space and thereby reducing
conflicts between the two users. Unless it is designated as a bicycle lane, the space
to the right of the travel lane edge stripe will simply be referred to as a shoulder
and provide the same benefits such as accommodating stopped vehicles, emergency use
and pedestrians.
Wa s h i n g t o n
D. C .
3
391.4
olin
District
3%
>4
63%
Car
>4
total
33.2
Baltimore
City
Howard
6
=4
Harford
ndel
Anne Aru
505.0
725.0
Baltimore
Frederick
<4
4
<4
Somerset
Wo r c e s t e r
45%
total
1613.5
100%
>=4
884.1
54.8%
Data for individual districts excludes prohibited roads and is rounded to one decimal place for mileage, zero decimal places for percentages
0
5
10
20
30
40
Miles