What are the bicycles painted on the road?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 571
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 366 Post(s)
Liked 273 Times
in
175 Posts
What are the bicycles painted on the road?
There's a street I commute on where the local authorities decided to paint bicycle stencils every so often down the middle of it.
Thank goodness that they are mostly faded away by now, because nobody knew what they were for.
For reference, it is 25mph, one lane each direction, with a double yellow line and traffic lights. There are businesses, parallel parked cars, and sidewalks on both sides. Other streets in town do not have the markings.
Wonders:
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"?
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes?
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)?
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street?
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass?
Personally, I ignore the markings, as does everyone else.
Thank goodness that they are mostly faded away by now, because nobody knew what they were for.
For reference, it is 25mph, one lane each direction, with a double yellow line and traffic lights. There are businesses, parallel parked cars, and sidewalks on both sides. Other streets in town do not have the markings.
Wonders:
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"?
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes?
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)?
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street?
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass?
Personally, I ignore the markings, as does everyone else.
Likes For ScottCommutes:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
There's a street I commute on where the local authorities decided to paint bicycle stencils every so often down the middle of it.
Thank goodness that they are mostly faded away by now, because nobody knew what they were for.
For reference, it is 25mph, one lane each direction, with a double yellow line and traffic lights. There are businesses, parallel parked cars, and sidewalks on both sides. Other streets in town do not have the markings.
Wonders:
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"? Could be, I just don't know.
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes? Yes
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)? Perhaps. See your city's traffic code.
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street? Yes
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass? They alert you that bikes may need to do this.
Personally, I ignore the markings, as does everyone else.
Thank goodness that they are mostly faded away by now, because nobody knew what they were for.
For reference, it is 25mph, one lane each direction, with a double yellow line and traffic lights. There are businesses, parallel parked cars, and sidewalks on both sides. Other streets in town do not have the markings.
Wonders:
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"? Could be, I just don't know.
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes? Yes
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)? Perhaps. See your city's traffic code.
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street? Yes
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass? They alert you that bikes may need to do this.
Personally, I ignore the markings, as does everyone else.
Likes For 79pmooney:
#3
Junior Member
Do they have arrows 》》》 sorta like that but pointing in the direction of travel ? If so those are "sharrows" and it means your town stole federal money for bike/pedestrian projects and paved the street with said money. Ref. ISTEA.
Likes For Bleu:
#4
Henderson, NV
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Posts: 533
Bikes: Trek Alpha 3700, GT STS DH, Raleigh Grand Prix, Fisher Montare, Fisher CR-7, Fisher Aquila, Diamondback Sorrento, The Bike Beat Revolution, KHS XC 504R
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 322 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
288 Posts
It means a shared lane.
"What does a bike painted on the road mean?
Shared lane markings include a bicycle symbol and a double chevron indicating the direction of travel. They do not designate any part of the roadway as either exclusive to motorists or bicyclists. Rather, the symbols highlight the fact that the travel lane is shared."
"What does a bike painted on the road mean?
Shared lane markings include a bicycle symbol and a double chevron indicating the direction of travel. They do not designate any part of the roadway as either exclusive to motorists or bicyclists. Rather, the symbols highlight the fact that the travel lane is shared."
Likes For Desert Ryder:
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
Posts: 189
Bikes: 1995 Trek 990 (configured for road), Hotrodded Dahon folder, Trek 1400 (not ridden any more), Iron Horse 3.0 homebrew e-bike, 1984 Trek 770 (trying to resurrect)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 89 Post(s)
Liked 131 Times
in
80 Posts
You don't give us any info about where you live, so nobody here can look up what the road markings mean. And rather than bring it up here, why don't you look it up or contact a local authority and find out? Seriously. If you are confused, ask someone who might know.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 895
Bikes: 2017 Co-op ADV 1.1; ~1991 Novara Arriba; 1990 Fuji Palisade; mid-90's Moots Tandem; 1985 Performance Superbe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 572 Times
in
332 Posts
In most jurisdictions there is a legal pedestrian crossing at all intersections, sometimes emphasized by a painted crosswalk.
Sharrows are the cycling version of painted crosswalks.
Sharrows are the cycling version of painted crosswalks.
Likes For flangehead:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,951
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3953 Post(s)
Liked 7,300 Times
in
2,948 Posts
Likes For tomato coupe:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,946
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3777 Post(s)
Liked 1,047 Times
in
791 Posts
At one time I thought I understood the concept of Sharrows, but now I'm utterly confused. They don't mean anything to me, as a seasoned rider, I don't need the symbols to steer me away from hazards.
Here are some interesting photo examples of them used and (in my mind) it only muddies the waters.
(You can scroll thru a bunch of photos on this link):
https://nacto.org/publication/urban-...lane-markings/
>
Here are some interesting photo examples of them used and (in my mind) it only muddies the waters.
(You can scroll thru a bunch of photos on this link):
https://nacto.org/publication/urban-...lane-markings/
>
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 571
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 366 Post(s)
Liked 273 Times
in
175 Posts
OK - I googled sharrow. It seems to be a left-right thing of where in the lane or road bicycles should preferably travel. The ones in the picture above make a tad of sense because there are two lanes. The ones I came across are down the middle of the lane where there is only one lane in each direction, so I guess they give me a little more permission to move left and away from the parked cars.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 571
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 366 Post(s)
Liked 273 Times
in
175 Posts
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (as quoted in Wikipedia)
A. Assist cyclists with lateral positioning in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking in order to reduce the chance of a bicyclist impacting the open door of a parked vehicle;
B. Assist cyclists with lateral positioning in lanes that are too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to travel side by side within the same traffic lane;
C. Alert motorists of the lateral location bicyclists are likely to occupy within the traveled way;
D. Encourage safe passing of bicyclists by motorists; and
E. Reduce the incidence of wrong-way bicycling.
So the ones I see are in effect telling everyone "The road isn't wide enough to try to pass a bike here" (point B). The others seem less relevant.
A. Assist cyclists with lateral positioning in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking in order to reduce the chance of a bicyclist impacting the open door of a parked vehicle;
B. Assist cyclists with lateral positioning in lanes that are too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to travel side by side within the same traffic lane;
C. Alert motorists of the lateral location bicyclists are likely to occupy within the traveled way;
D. Encourage safe passing of bicyclists by motorists; and
E. Reduce the incidence of wrong-way bicycling.
So the ones I see are in effect telling everyone "The road isn't wide enough to try to pass a bike here" (point B). The others seem less relevant.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,946
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3777 Post(s)
Liked 1,047 Times
in
791 Posts
OK - I googled sharrow. It seems to be a left-right thing of where in the lane or road bicycles should preferably travel. The ones in the picture above make a tad of sense because there are two lanes. The ones I came across are down the middle of the lane where there is only one lane in each direction, so I guess they give me a little more permission to move left and away from the parked cars.
Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine
(5)(a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing must ride in the bicycle lane or, if there is no bicycle lane on the roadway, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
Likes For work4bike:
#15
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
According to NACTO: 'Demonstrated to increase the distance between bicyclists and parked cars, keeping bicyclists out of the “door zone.”' We have sharrows on K St.; guess where they are?
#16
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
OK - I googled sharrow. It seems to be a left-right thing of where in the lane or road bicycles should preferably travel. The ones in the picture above make a tad of sense because there are two lanes. The ones I came across are down the middle of the lane where there is only one lane in each direction, so I guess they give me a little more permission to move left and away from the parked cars.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#17
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
Far too often there is a disconnect between the idea of sharrows and the application. Sometimes that is due to city engineers and others it is due to the paint crew. Sometimes both.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#18
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
However, last summer our local Association of Governments hired Dan Burden, a walkability expert, to do walk audits of problem areas in several of our towns over three very busy days; I believe four of our five-member city council attended the Arcata audit (along with myself and 90 others). After that they were suddenly excited about making the town more walkable, and thankfully dumped the idea of a couplet in a pretty, low-traffic area. In fact, I learned that the city's looking into hiring Dan to consult just for Arcata. I learned this at the Transportation Safety Committee meeting; it was funny to hear the many tiny gasps and squeaks from the committee and the audience (both of them).
Anyway, Tl;dr. The city may do the right thing and remove on-street parking from the sharrow section of street and install a bike lane. It's certainly on the table.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,481
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 967 Post(s)
Liked 1,631 Times
in
1,047 Posts
I saw on on the road in North Carolina this past year a rudimentary similar image of a Bicycle getting rear ended by a car and had a slash through it indicating Don't Cross This Bridge on a bicycle.
I could not stop and take a pic at the time but maybe someone can post an image of it. It was just before the big bridge near Atlantic Beach...
I could not stop and take a pic at the time but maybe someone can post an image of it. It was just before the big bridge near Atlantic Beach...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#20
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
I saw on on the road in North Carolina this past year a rudimentary similar image of a Bicycle getting rear ended by a car and had a slash through it indicating Don't Cross This Bridge on a bicycle.
I could not stop and take a pic at the time but maybe someone can post an image of it. It was just before the big bridge near Atlantic Beach...
I could not stop and take a pic at the time but maybe someone can post an image of it. It was just before the big bridge near Atlantic Beach...
Likes For Korina:
#22
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
Sometimes the sharrows can be whimsical. These in the River North district of Denver. The area is also know as RiNo
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#23
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,272
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 940 Times
in
490 Posts
They are ill-conceived indicators that "bikes may use full lane". Very dangerous and rude, especially with a double yellow line. Ignore them. On the other hand, they may in-advertantly serve as reminders to drivers who park along that way to double check for bikes before opening their door to exit their vehicle, so maybe not a complete waste of paint..
__________________
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,574
Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 455 Times
in
266 Posts
I was told by our local DPW that the pavement is softer there giving riders a safer place to fall off their bikes...someone will have to test it and report back to us on this thread with the results of their testing...make sure to test it several times in different spots to get more useful data...
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,690
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 672 Post(s)
Liked 417 Times
in
249 Posts
Wonders:
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"?
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes?
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)?
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street?
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass?
Were the local authorities simply on drugs and trying to "do something"?
Are the markings simply a friendly reminder to drivers to look out for bikes?
Do the markings have any legal meaning (for cars or bikes)?
Are the markings meant to encourage bikers to take that particular street?
Do the markings mean bikes should take the center of the lane and not let cars pass?
2) Yes, and an indicator that bikes are allowed to take the center of the lane.
3) Yes. They indicate that bicycles are legal vehicles and can legally take the lane. Note that the contrary is not true. You are also allowed to ride on roads without sharrows.
4) Likely, or possibly a recognition that that is a popular street for cyclists.
5) They mean you are entitled to take the lane. If you want to move out of the lane to let cars pass, that is your option, but it is not required.
You do you, I suppose. Given that many of us pay enough attention to sharrows to discuss them from time to time, I guess we don't ALL ignore them.
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton