9/15/14 DID YOU KNOW??? “SHARROWS”, OR SHARED LANE MARKINGS NEW HIGHWAY SYMBOL Nationwide efforts to incorporate bicyclists in any new road project are finding its way into Franklin County. Thanks to the national initiative of “Complete Streets”, any new street or highway, or any reconstruction of an existing highway requires consideration of its effect on bicyclists and pedestrians. Where possible, accommodation of these two groups should be incorporated into the project. This has happened in the Village of Saranac Lake, where a major reconstruction of Broadway and Main Street took place this summer. Both streets now have “sharrows”, or shared lane markings (SLM), meaning that the streets, which have only one travel lane in each direction, be shared with bicycles, either on the shoulder or in a wide (14 feet or more) outside lane (see picture). Shared lane markings are high-visibility pavement markings that help position bicyclists within the travel lane. These markings are often used on streets where dedicated bike lanes are desirable but are not possible due to physical or other constraints. Shared lane markings are placed strategically in the travel lane to alert motorists of bicycle traffic, while also encouraging cyclists to ride at an appropriate distance from the “door zone” of adjacent parked cars. If there is enough room, a separate bike lane should be marked. However, in our North Country villages, there is seldom enough room for a dedicated bike lane. Further complicating the issue are streets where parking is allowed. For bicyclists, on-street parking adds problems, as drivers often open their doors without looking for bicycles approaching from the rear. Bicyclists have been seriously injured by riding into a car door opened by a driver or rear-seat passenger without regard for bicycles. The “sharrow” pavement markings should be supplemented with a Bicycle Warning Sign plus a new “IN LANE” plaque (see picture). Federal and state criteria designate where the sharrows and the warning signs should and should not be used. For bicyclists, where the sharrows are painted on the pavement, it only means that both bicycles and vehicles must use the same lane, and caution should be used by both. Vehicles should give bicyclists plenty of room when overtaking bicycles and bicyclists should realize that vehicles will be passing them. Providing marked facilities such as shared lane markings is one way of helping to persuade residents to give bicycling a try and remind motorists that the roadway s to be shared with bicycles. For more articles on Vehicle and Traffic Law and traffic safety, visit the Traffic Safety Board’s website at: franklincony.org/ and click on the Traffic Safety Board from the pull-down menu under departments. “Like” us on Facebook as well. You may also call me, Dave Werner, at 483-1882 with your comments and questions or email me at: [email protected].
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 12:52:16 +0000
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