The folks at the City of Spokane say they've been getting some questions as to how to ride/drive in a sharrow so they want to get the word out on how to use them. So pay attention:Sharrows are pavement markings installed within travel lanes designed to alert motorists that they are sharing the street with bicyclists and to help bicyclists position themselves in lanes to allow motorists to safely pass them.
These markings have been used successfully in other cities across the country, including Seattle, Bellevue and Portland. In Spokane, the markings were unveiled in 2009 and motorists can expect to see more added in the future.
Recently, sharrows were placed on Spokane Falls Blvd. from Howard to Monroe streets. Last year, sharrows were placed on Southeast Blvd. between 27th and 29th avenues connecting the existing dedicated bike lanes on the street and on 37th Ave. from Perry to Regal streets.
To use a sharrow:
Bicyclists:
Use the sharrow to guide where you ride within the lane – generally through the center of the sharrow when safe to do so.
Remember not to ride too close to parked cars – watch for opening doors.
Ride in the same direction as traffic.
Be aware of your surroundings, and follow the rules of the road.
Drivers:
Expect to see bicyclists in the travel lane.
Pass to the left of the cyclist, using the adjacent travel lane. Remain behind the cyclist until it is safe to pass.
Yield to on-coming bicyclists when turning and look right/behind you when making a right-hand turn.
Be aware of your surroundings, and follow the rules of the road.
Got it? Any more questions/comments?
3 comments:
I guess I don't understand the difference between a lane with a sharrow and an unmarked lane. Shouldn't drivers always* expect to see bicyclists in the travel lane, only pass safely, and yield to bicyclists where appropriate?
* except where bicycles are prohibited, such as on I-90 and the Division-Ruby couplet.
It seems like this is the kind of thing that might lead drivers to believe that bicyclists are not welcome on other streets.
- Ventura
Ventura, you win a prize. Let me see what I can dig up around here. A couple of highlighters? Some old maps from past transportation studies? Or how about my Wonder Woman coffee mug? Oh wait, can't give that away. You hit the nail on the head. There isn't a difference. Sharrows are simply a 'reminder' to drivers that they can expect to see bicyclists in that lane. I have a friend that lives in Olympia who hates sharrows because she says it's a 'duh' factor; if it's a road, drivers should expect to see bikes. Of course, we're not Olympia as far as bikes go- yet. So maybe it will provide a comfort level to those folks that don't consider themselves expert riders.
As for sharrows leading drivers to believe that bicyclists are not welcome on other streets, I don't know. Maybe it's just the first step in an ongoing education campaign? By the way- we solicied projects for funding a couple weeks ago for 'transportation enhancement' projects- or projects that help with air quality mitigation, etc.- and one of the top-ranked projects was an education campaign about bicyclists and pedestrians.
Yes, bikes can be on any street unless expressly prohibited. It's unfortunate that adding markings can imply otherwise, and we do need a comprehensive ongoing campaign to make better drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of us all.
There is an ambiguous statement in the release: "...to help bicyclists position themselves in lanes to allow motorists to safely pass them."
When sharrows are used on a lane that is too narrow for a car to be next to the rider, the driver isn't supposed to crowd the rider by passing in that lane.
Instead the driver should move into a different lane or just wait until it's possible to pass safely when the lane widens (which is usually only a matter of a few seconds, honestly).
The "Share the Road" concept implicit in the name of the sharrow doesn't necessarily mean SIDE BY SIDE. In a narrow lane it means to share IN A LINE.
Whether you have a sharrow or not, make good eye contact, ride consistently and visibly, and take the lane when necessary to avoid the door zone. Safe riding!
@BarbChamberlain
Co-chair, Bike to Work Spokane
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