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Cover of Bicycle Wayfinding: Literature Review
Bicycle Wayfinding: Literature Review
  • Publication no: AP-R493-15
  • ISBN: 978-1-925294-73-6
  • Published: 23 September 2015

This report documents the bicycle directional signage and wayfinding systems currently in use in seven major cycling nations and in seven Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions. It provides a detailed analysis of the way directional signs are used in these jurisdictions studying issues such as: relevant guidelines; sign types; layout and design of signs (including colour and typeface); route branding and numbering; marking of named facilities; the use of map signs; pavement markings for wayfinding assistance; sign system planning methodology; sign mounting systems; innovative and useful sign applications and other implementation issues.

Recommendations for updating directional sign guidelines have been published in a separate report AP-R492-15 Bicycle Wayfinding.

  • Summary
  • 1. Project Background
  • 2. Key Signage and Wayfinding Issues Investigated
    • 2.1. Coverage of individual sign systems in this review
    • 2.2. Increasing the range of travel by signing for bicycle networks
    • 2.3. Background information and signage principles
      • 2.3.1. Conspicuity
      • 2.3.2. Legibility
      • 2.3.3. Coherence
      • 2.3.4. Function
    • 2.4. Signage categories covered by this review
      • 2.4.1. Signage guidelines
      • 2.4.2. Sign design
      • 2.4.3. Sign types
      • 2.4.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 2.4.5. Use of map signs
      • 2.4.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 2.4.7. Applications
      • 2.4.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 2.4.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 2.4.10. Implementation issues
  • 3. International Signage Systems
    • 3.1. General issues
    • 3.2. Denmark
      • 3.2.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.2.2. Sign design
      • 3.2.3. Sign types
      • 3.2.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.2.5. Supercykelstier/Cycle Super Highways
      • 3.2.6. Use of map signs
      • 3.2.7. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.2.8. Applications
      • 3.2.9. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.2.10. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.2.11. Implementation issues
    • 3.3. France
      • 3.3.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.3.2. Sign design
      • 3.3.3. Sign types
      • 3.3.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.3.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.3.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.3.7. Applications
      • 3.3.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.3.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.3.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.4. Germany
      • 3.4.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.4.2. Sign design
      • 3.4.3. Sign types
      • 3.4.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.4.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.4.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.4.7. Applications
      • 3.4.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.4.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.4.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.5. Netherlands
      • 3.5.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.5.2. Sign design
      • 3.5.3. Sign types
      • 3.5.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.5.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.5.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.5.7. Applications
      • 3.5.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.5.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.5.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.6. United Kingdom
      • 3.6.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.6.2. Sign design
      • 3.6.3. Sign types
      • 3.6.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.6.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.6.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.6.7. Applications
      • 3.6.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.6.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.6.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.7. United States of America
      • 3.7.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.7.2. Sign design
      • 3.7.3. Sign types
      • 3.7.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.7.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.7.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.7.7. Applications
      • 3.7.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.7.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.7.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.8. Switzerland
      • 3.8.1. Signage guidelines
      • 3.8.2. Sign design
      • 3.8.3. Sign types
      • 3.8.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 3.8.5. Use of map signs
      • 3.8.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 3.8.7. Applications
      • 3.8.8. Signage system planning methodology
      • 3.8.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 3.8.10. Implementation issues
    • 3.9. Other countries
      • 3.9.1. Signage of EuroVelo routes across multiple countries and sign systems
      • 3.9.2. Sweden
      • 3.9.3. Norway
      • 3.9.4. Italy
  • 4. Australia & New Zealand Signage Systems
    • 4.1. General issues
    • 4.2. Australian Standard AS1742.9
      • 4.2.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.2.2. Sign design
      • 4.2.3. Sign types
      • 4.2.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.2.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.2.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.2.7. Applications
      • 4.2.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.2.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.2.10. Implementation issues
    • 4.3. Australian Capital Territory
      • 4.3.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.3.2. Sign design
      • 4.3.3. Sign types
      • 4.3.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.3.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.3.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.3.7. Applications
      • 4.3.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.3.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.3.10. Implementation issues
    • 4.4. New South Wales
      • 4.4.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.4.2. Sign design
      • 4.4.3. Sign types
      • 4.4.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.4.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.4.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.4.7. Applications
      • 4.4.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.4.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.4.10. Implementation issues
    • 4.5. Queensland
      • 4.5.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.5.2. Sign design
      • 4.5.3. Sign types
      • 4.5.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.5.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.5.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.5.7. Applications
      • 4.5.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.5.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.5.10. Implementation issues
    • 4.6. Western Australia
      • 4.6.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.6.2. Sign design
      • 4.6.3. Sign types
      • 4.6.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.6.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.6.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.6.7. Applications
      • 4.6.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.6.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.6.10. Implementation issues
    • 4.7. New Zealand
      • 4.7.1. Signage guidelines
      • 4.7.2. Sign design
      • 4.7.3. Sign types
      • 4.7.4. Branded, numbered or named routes
      • 4.7.5. Use of map signs
      • 4.7.6. Associated pavement markings
      • 4.7.7. Applications
      • 4.7.8. Signage system planning
      • 4.7.9. Sign mounting systems
      • 4.7.10. Implementation issues
  • 5. Recent Developments in ANZ Signage Systems
    • 5.1. Victoria – Bicycle Wayfinding Working Group
    • 5.2. Tasmania
    • 5.3. City of Sydney Council
    • 5.4. City of Adelaide bicycle routes
    • 5.5. Brisbane City Council
    • 5.6. Rail Trails Australia
    • 5.7. Christchurch City Council
  • 6. Key Issues for Further Consideration
    • 6.1. Use of colour
    • 6.2. Typeface and use of capitalisation
    • 6.3. Lettering size and legibility
    • 6.4. Sign types and route hierarchy
    • 6.5. User symbols on directional signs
    • 6.6. Depiction of distance and the use of travel times
    • 6.7. Route numbering, branding and naming
    • 6.8. Retroreflectivity issues
    • 6.9. Sign system planning
    • 6.10. Detour signage
    • 6.11. Sign mounting issues
    • 6.12. Existing signage investment
  • References
  • International Jurisdictions
  • Australian Jurisdictions
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