We have a project located in an area where the bicycle network is not planned but the building is served by a major national road which limits the speed to 40 km /H. And We have no problems with the other requirements (showers, bicycle parking, room, distance ...).
Is this road with a limited speed of 40 km considered as a bicycle network or we need cycle paths with widths required in LEED (8 for double way and 5 for one direction)?
I'll appreciate your answer,
Many thanks,
Matthew Dempsey
Sustainability ConsultantThornton Tomasetti
LEEDuser Expert
3 thumbs up
February 19, 2021 - 9:10 am
Hi Sara! Roads with a maximum speed limit of 40 km/h qualify as a bicycle network so long as they still meet the credit's width requirements and connect to at least one of the following within a 4.8 km cycling distance: (1) at least 10 diverse uses (see Appendix 1 of v4 Reference Guide), (2) a school or employment center, if the project total floor area is 50% or more residential or (3) a bus rapid transit stop, light or heavy rail station, commuter rail station, or ferry terminal. Hope this helps!
Sara BENLOUBA
Green building managerConfidential
13 thumbs up
February 23, 2021 - 8:56 am
Many Thanks Matthew,
I appreciated your reply. FYI, We have roads with sufficient width and connected to 15 various uses but the problem, we had no markings on the ground to indicate the paths of bicycles, a normal road of circulation of cars but it's speed is limited to 40 km / h. Is this acceptable according to LEED?
Sara BENLOUBA
Green building managerConfidential
13 thumbs up
February 23, 2021 - 8:57 am
Many Thanks Matthew,
I appreciated your reply. FYI, We have roads with sufficient width and connected to 15 various uses but the problem, we had no markings on the ground to indicate the paths of bicycles, a normal road of circulation of cars but it's speed is limited to 40 km / h. Is this acceptable according to LEED?
Matthew Dempsey
Sustainability ConsultantThornton Tomasetti
LEEDuser Expert
3 thumbs up
March 10, 2021 - 9:39 pm
Hi Sara, yes that is acceptable. There are no specific widths or markings that are required so long as speed is designated at 40 km/h.
Bipin Karki
Sustainability Project Manager87 thumbs up
March 11, 2021 - 8:28 am
Basically, the bicycle network a continuous network consisting of any combination of the following:
·· off-street bicycle paths or trails at least 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide for a two-way path and at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide for a one-way path
·· physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide
·· designed for a target speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less
So, any of the above or combination should be okay to meet the requirement of the bicycle network.
David O'Connell
Graduate Sustainability Engineer and LEED APJacobs
June 15, 2023 - 8:09 am
@Matthew Dempsey can you have more than one of the same diverse use i.e can you have a bicycle network that meets two churchs for example lets say church a and church be or do they all have to be different use types. Thanks for your response David