Older adults and people with disabilities constitute a large and growing share of the population. Cycling can support the mobility and health of those in these groups, many of whom do not drive. It offers a low-cost, active transportation option for those with limited access to driving.

The design of cycling infrastructure affects older adults and people with disabilities both as users and as pedestrians interacting with the infrastructure. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all public facilities, including cycling infrastructure, to be accessible and usable by people with disabilities. However, current literature offers limited guidance on how to achieve this from a domestic perspective, and there are no enforceable national standards like the ADA standards or Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) for cycling infrastructure. The lack of such standards can lead to increased crash risks and reduced mobility for older adults and people with disabilities.

State and local jurisdictions are rapidly expanding cycling infrastructure. At the same time, technological advances such as e-bikes and adaptive bikes are making cycling more feasible for older adults and people with disabilities if the infrastructure meets their needs. Still, concerns about safety and physical barriers—such as narrow lanes, missing curb cuts, unclear intersections, inaccessible signage, and undersized bike parking—limit this transportation option.

The objectives of this research are to develop a guide for better understanding of the needs of older adult cyclists and cyclists with disabilities and to identify design interventions to address those needs. The results will support future updates to national guidance, including the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, and serve as a resource for state and local jurisdictions while national standards are being developed.