Road Design
- Publication no: AGRD06A-26
- ISBN: 978-1-923617-42-1
- Published: 2 July 2026
- Edition: 2.2
- PDF (free) Download
Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling provides guidance for designers and other practitioners on the design of paths for safe and efficient walking and cycling, both within the road corridor and outside the road corridor. The guide provides information on considerations that should be given in providing a path, describes the types of paths and covers the requirements of path users, e.g. operating spaces, factors that influence path locations, and geometric design criteria for a path and related facilities such as intersections between paths, and terminal treatments. Detailed guidance is provided on path location, alignment, width, clearances, crossfall, drainage and sight distance requirements.
The location and design of paths may be influenced by a range of aspects that need to be considered and facilities that need to be accommodated within roadsides. In particular, designers should refer to the Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers and Part 6B: Roadside Environment.
The design of pedestrian and cyclist paths may also be influenced by design considerations and requirements covered in other parts of the Guide to Road Design. In addition, road designers should also refer to relevant parts of the Guide to Traffic Management in relation to traffic management devices and requirements that may need to be accommodated within a roadside or may otherwise influence the design.
Summary report
A summary of the changes in the current edition is outlined in the report Updates to Austroads Guide to Road Design: Parts 1, 3, 4, 4A, 6, 6A, 6B and 7 (AP-R766-26).
Edition 2.2 published June 2026
Edition 2.2 includes:
- new guidance on the need for a path (Section 1.4), minimum footpath dimensions (Table 2.2), shared paths (Section 2.4 and 5.1.4), wheelchairs and mobility scooters (Section 3.2), modal segregation (Section 4.5), crime prevention (Section 4.6), operating speeds (Section 5.2), stopping sight distance (Table 5.9) and safety audits (Section 9.2).
- updates to Section 1.3, Section 2.1, Table 2.1, design criteria (Chapter 5 and Table 5.1).
- minor editorial and technical changes throughout.
Superseded editions:
Edition 2.1 published February 2021
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Purpose
- 1.2 Scope of this Part
- 1.3 Safe System Approach
- 1.4 Planning and Need for a Path
- 2. Types of Paths
- 2.1 General
- 2.2 Pedestrian Path
- 2.3 Bicycle Path
- 2.4 Shared Path
- 2.5 Separated Path
- 3. Path User Considerations
- 3.1 General
- 3.2 Operating Space
- 3.2.1 Pedestrians
- 3.2.2 Cyclists
- 4. Design Considerations
- 4.1 Location of Paths
- 4.1.1 General
- 4.2 Factors of Influence – Path Location
- 4.2.1 Factors Influencing Roadside Alignment
- 4.2.2 Paths in Medians
- 4.3 Path Width
- 4.4 Bicycle Paths
- 4.5 Modal Segregation
- 4.6 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- 4.1 Location of Paths
- 5. Design Criteria
- 5.1 Width of Paths
- 5.1.1 Clear Width
- 5.1.2 Pedestrian Paths
- 5.1.3 Bicycle Paths
- 5.1.4 Shared Paths
- 5.1.5 Separated Paths
- 5.2 Path User Operating Speeds
- 5.2.1 Pedestrian Operating Speeds
- 5.2.2 Bicycle Operating Speeds
- 5.2.3 Shared Path Operating Speeds
- 5.3 Horizontal Curvature
- 5.4 Path Gradients
- 5.4.1 Universal Access
- 5.4.2 Ease of Uphill Travel
- 5.4.3 Safety and Downhill Travel on Paths
- 5.5 Clearances, Batters and Need for Fences
- 5.5.1 Bicycle Path Clearances
- 5.5.2 Pedestrian Path Vertical Clearance
- 5.5.3 Batters and Fences
- 5.6 Crossfall and Drainage
- 5.6.1 Crossfall
- 5.6.2 Drainage
- 5.7 Sight Distance
- 5.7.1 Bicycle Path Stopping Sight Distance
- 5.8 Changes in Level
- 5.9 Surface Treatments
- 5.10 Surface Tolerances
- 5.11 Lighting
- 5.12 Underground Services
- 5.1 Width of Paths
- 6. Intersections of Paths with Paths
- 6.1 General
- 6.2 Intersection Priority
- 6.3 Intersection Signs
- 6.3.1 Control Devices
- 6.3.2 Wayfinding Signs
- 6.4 Treatments for Intersections of Paths with Paths
- 6.5 Special Treatments for Intersections of Paths with Paths
- 7. Intersections of Paths with Roads
- 7.1 General
- 7.2 Intersection Signs
- 7.2.1 Traffic Control Devices
- 7.2.2 Wayfinding Signs
- 7.3 Treatments for Intersections of Paths with Roads
- 7.3.1 Road Crossings where the Path has Priority over the Road
- 7.3.2 Road Crossings in a Shared Environment Intersection
- 7.4 Ancillary Devices for Intersections of Paths with Roads
- 7.4.1 Push Buttons at Signalised Intersections
- 7.4.2 Holding or Resting Rails
- 7.5 Special Treatments for Intersections of Paths with Roads
- 7.5.1 General
- 7.5.2 Terminal Design Principles
- 7.5.3 Terminal Treatments for Excluding Vehicles
- 7.5.4 Terminal Treatments for High-conflict Locations
- 8. Paths at Structures
- 8.1 General
- 8.2 Road Bridges
- 8.2.1 Use of Pedestrian Paths on Narrow Bridges
- 8.2.2 Shared Path Structures
- 8.3 Underpasses
- 8.3.1 General
- 8.3.2 Use of Existing Culverts
- 8.4 Bicycle Wheeling Ramps
- 9. Construction and Maintenance Considerations for Paths
- 9.1 General
- 9.2 Bicycle Safety Audits
- References
- Appendix A Speed Limiting Treatments
- Appendix B Path Construction and Maintenance
- B.1 General Requirements
- B.2 Path Maintenance Requirements
- B.3 Pavements
- B.3.1 Pavements for Bicycle Paths
- B.3.2 Bituminous Surface Pavements
- B.3.3 Concrete Pavements
- B.3.4 Unsealed Paths
- B.3.5 Timber Surfaces
- B.4 Life Cycle Costing
- B.5 Provision at Works
- B.5.1 General
- B.5.2 Signing and Delineation at Work Sites on or Adjacent to Paths
- Appendix C Bicycle Safety Audit Checklist
- C.1 Introduction
- C.2 General Requirements for Roads and Paths
- C.3 Alignment and Cross-section
- C.4 Signs, Delineation and Lighting
- C.5 Riding Surface
- C.6 Vegetation, Maintenance and Construction
- C.7 Traffic Signals
- C.8 Physical Objects
- C.9 Paths
- C.9.1 General
- C.9.2 Alignment and Cross-section
- C.9.3 Intersections
- C.10 Roads
- C.10.1 General
- C.10.2 Intersections
- Commentary 1 Designing for Human Powered Vehicles
- Commentary 2 Path Materials