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Bicycles/Pedestrians

Safety Toolbox: Engineering


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"Share the Road" signage



   
Most share the road signs are non-standard yellow warning signs with the legend "SHARE THE ROAD" and a bicycle and car logo. There are also some regulatory (white) and guidance (green) Share the Road signs.
objective To reinforce that bicyclists are legitimate users of the road.
applications For use on streets with substantial bicycle traffic, especially designated bike routes, collectors and arterials with standard width or wide curb lanes and streets with no bike lane or separate bike facility.
target population All Bicyclists, Motorists
crash type Improper Passing, Improper Turning
advantages
  • Reminds motorist that bicycles use the roadway and will be in the traffic lane
  • Promotes goodwill between different user groups
  • Reinforces appropriate driver and cyclist behavior
disadvantages
  • There are concerns that motorists may think that they do not need to share the road with bicyclists on other streets where the signs are not posted
  • Complaints from cyclists legitimately using the road, that some motorists have harassed them for not "sharing" the road with motor vehicles
pointers Proliferation of non-standard signs may limit their impact and may cause the effectiveness of other signs to be decreased.  The standard Share the Road signs do not effectively communicate the message as they appear to delineate a bicycle crossing.
cost Low, $150 to $200 per sign for most signs, including the cost of installation.
responsibility Public Works Department
further reading —
examples City of Menlo Park, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Aptos, CA; Cupertino, CA; Santa Cruz County, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; Boulder County, CO; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Montgomery County, MD; Philadelphia, PA; New Braunfels, TX; Quebec, Canada
related tools Bicycle Boulevard, High-Visibility Signs

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