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Bicycles/Pedestrians

Safety Toolbox: Engineering


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Special bicycle signs (for tunnels)



   
Yellow warning sign with words "Bicyclist in Tunnel When Flashing" and flashing yellow beacons activated by bicycle push button.  An accompanying sign informs bicyclists to activate beacon.
objective To warn motorists of bicycles in a tunnel.
applications For use in tunnels and on bridges, as well as in rock cut areas where the road width narrows and bicyclists are less visible.
target population All Bicyclists, Motorists
crash type Improper Passing, Traffic Signals and Signs
advantages
  • Increases the route possibilities for bicyclists, especially in rural areas with few roads
  • Warns motorists that bicycles are present, improving safety
  • Reminds motorists that other users are sharing the road
disadvantages
  • If installed on a highway, this treatment may attract bicyclists to the highway that they would otherwise avoid using, potentially endangering their safety
pointers Push button must be placed in advance of the tunnel to ensure that the flashing lights are activated when the cyclist enters the tunnel.
cost High, $28,300 for two locations with blinking signs, installed in 1986; $22,772 for two locations with signs and flashing beacons, installed in 1992.
responsibility Public Works
further reading —
examples Caltrans; City and County of Denver, CO
related tools Motorists-Prompting Signs, High-Visibility Bicycle Lanes, Grade-Separated Crossings

Index: alphabetical / cost / crash type / target population

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