“Sharrow” Lane Markings Coming to Richmond Roadways
August 18, 2011 | by: Kevin O’Meara, EIT
Attention cyclists! In the very near future, the City of Richmond will provide safer bike routes for getting across town. In conjunction with the recently-formed Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Planning Commission, the City of Richmond Department of Public Works will begin painting “sharrow” markings and/or dedicated bike lanes on a series of City streets. Technically defined as a shared-lane marking by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the “sharrow” term was coined by the San Francisco bicycling community in the early 2000’s.
The project is being funded with CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement) funds allocated by the Richmond Metropolitan Planning Organization. The shared-lane markings will be applied to the streets of three established bike routes in Richmond: US Bike Route 1, Major North-South Bike Route, and Major East-West Bike Route. Timmons Group is responsible for providing design plans for the Major East-West Bike Route, which begins in the west at Campus Drive (near the University of Richmond) and ends in the east at Williamsburg Road. The plans will identify existing conditions along the route and illustrate the optimum placement of shared-lane markings and bicycle guide signs.
So what is the purpose of a shared-lane symbol, or “sharrow”? According to the MUTCD, the symbols have different applications for motorists and cyclists. For motorists, they’re there to alert drivers of possible cyclists on the roadway and to be careful when passing them. The symbols prompt cyclists to use the correct lane and/or lateral location within a lane. They warn cyclists of situations where parked cars (and opening doors) may act as dangerous obstacles, and they remind cyclists to obey the rules of the road where shared-lane markings do not exist. Furthermore, the symbols should help reduce wrong-way bicycling, limit the use of bicycles on sidewalks meant for pedestrians, and promote a general awareness of a shared roadway.
“The City is committed to maximizing the utility of our existing transportation infrastructure for all modes of travel, and believe that the implementation of these bike sharrows will enhance bike transportation for City residents and commuters” stated Jakob Helmboldt, the City’s new Pedestrian, Bicycle and Trails Coordinator.
As more Americans strive to “go green”, motorists can expect an increase in the number of cyclists on the roadways they utilize. Timmons Group’s involvement in this project will help pave the way for safer motoring and cycling for everyone involved!