Advocacy & Safety - "SHARE THE ROAD" signage

In other states I've seen road signs that say "SHARE THE ROAD" and have a picture of a bicycle on them. I think these signs are effective in communicating to other road users that the state sees bicycles as being legitimate road users and that other road users should "share the road" with bikes. I've never seen any of these signs around here but, based on the "get off the road" shouts I hear when cycling, would like to. Is there anything I can do that has a chance of being effective at getting some of these signs in place?

Washington state has "share the road signs" everywhere, and the bike alliance
will actually have an auto license plate with the slogan available 2006.
none the less this will not stop losers from telling you to get off the road.
Does Michigan have a bike alliance? Do you have a local club that does outreach?

The only problem with this sign is that drivers interpet it as "bikes stay out of my way".

A better sign would be "Bikes Allowed Use of Full Lane - Change Lanes to Pass". They've got 'em in San Francisco. The other option is shared lane markings, also brought to you by San Francisco.

http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dpt/bike/Article_BAUFL_Sign.pdf
http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=22747

A better sign would be "Bikes Allowed Use of Full Lane - Change Lanes to Pass". They've got 'em in San Francisco. The other option is shared lane markings, also brought to you by San Francisco.

http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dpt/bike/Article_BAUFL_Sign.pdf
http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=22747

That's a good one, have it on the back of my SFBC t-shirt, with the statute #. ;)

That's a good one, have it on the back of my SFBC t-shirt, with the statute #. ;)

Something how Critical Mass has ruined it for cyclists in San Francisco. :rolleyes:

A better sign would be "Bikes Allowed Use of Full Lane - Change Lanes to Pass". They've got 'em in San Francisco. The other option is shared lane markings, also brought to you by San Francisco.

http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dpt/bike/Article_BAUFL_Sign.pdf
http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=22747

Damn those are good. It's hard to imagine that someplace so bike-friendly is in the same country as the rest of us. In most places, the goal of bicycle policy is to get bikes out of the way of motorists.

I never liked "share the road" because most people's idea of sharing is they get to use something that someone else has. So "sharing the road" means it's OK to squeeze cyclists to the curb.

In other states I've seen road signs that say "SHARE THE ROAD" ... Is there anything I can do that has a chance of being effective at getting some of these signs in place?

Sure. Write the city or county or state (depending who has jurisdiction over the road in question) and ask them to put up a sign because motorists don't want to share the road with you. Tell them the "Share the Road" sign is in the federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and many other states and local jurisdictions have adopted these signs. Maybe you could ask a local or state bike club or organization to also write on their letterhead. In the letters say that Road X and Road Y are popular with cyclists and the signs would benefit a significant number of people.

I don't see them as being all that effective. All they really do is alert motorists that bicycles might be in their way.

A better sign would be "Bikes Allowed Use of Full Lane - Change Lanes to Pass". They've got 'em in San Francisco. The other option is shared lane markings, also brought to you by San Francisco.

http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/dpt/bike/Article_BAUFL_Sign.pdf
http://www.bicycle.sfgov.org/site/dptbike_index.asp?id=22747

I agree. "Share the road" signs in Minneapolis show a bike hugging the right of the road. This is not safe much of the time.

The sign in that PDF is good step. It also needs to say "$1000/90 DAYS" to encourage compliance.

I don't see them as being all that effective. All they really do is alert motorists that bicycles might be in their way.

However, it does inform drivers that bikes have a legal right on the road.

Since we hear plenty of stories of drivers (a cops) saying "get on the side walk," a little education, via a sign, is better than none.

We currently have major bridge construction on Coast Highway 101, just north of the Torrey Pines Reserve. Temporarily lowered speed limits, "fines doubled in construction zones," and bicycle-graphic "share the road" signs seem to be helping. Of course, this is also a popular bicycle route, so motorists are well-accustomed to seeing bikes on this stretch of road. I really do like the idea of "bikes use full lane" signs, though.

I know of only one place where they have the "Share the Road" signs placed and it's along a very fast road that I for one will not even think of using. It just so happens, a cyclist was killed using that road which is why they put those signs in the first place. I get the feeling these signs are put up to save the lives of cyclists but I would rather find an alternate route that's safer.

We currently have major bridge construction on Coast Highway 101, just north of the Torrey Pines Reserve. Temporarily lowered speed limits, "fines doubled in construction zones," and bicycle-graphic "share the road" signs seem to be helping. Of course, this is also a popular bicycle route, so motorists are well-accustomed to seeing bikes on this stretch of road. I really do like the idea of "bikes use full lane" signs, though.
I really hate it when they do road construction and make no provisions whatsoever for bicyclists during construction.

I know of only one place where they have the "Share the Road" signs placed and it's along a very fast road that I for one will not even think of using. It just so happens, a cyclist was killed using that road which is why they put those signs in the first place. I get the feeling these signs are put up to save the lives of cyclists but I would rather find an alternate route that's safer.
You sure they didn't just put those signs up to cover their ass with regard to liability? The signs alone do not necessarily make it any safer for cyclists.

You sure they didn't just put those signs up to cover their ass with regard to liability? The signs alone do not necessarily make it any safer for cyclists.

Huh, no kidding. I was just in Muncie Indiana and was riding the Cardinal Greenway. It crosses a major street, two lanes each way, speed limit 45 I think. There's a big old overhead structure with flashing lights which says pedestrain crossing. You cannot miss it. We were there off our bikes and there was this other guy coming from the other side. Nobody stopped for about a minute. Finally one car stopped, and the truck behind this car came to a screeching halt. I could see the driver cussing.

Have your bike club lobby the legislature/officials for the signage.

In other states I've seen road signs that say "SHARE THE ROAD" and have a picture of a bicycle on them. I think these signs are effective in communicating to other road users that the state sees bicycles as being legitimate road users and that other road users should "share the road" with bikes. I've never seen any of these signs around here but, based on the "get off the road" shouts I hear when cycling, would like to. Is there anything I can do that has a chance of being effective at getting some of these signs in place?

I've written to the Macomb County government a few times just wanting signs that inform motorists that bicycles would be present, but they fall upon deaf ears it seems.

One of the main roads used by cyclists around here says, "In a hurry? Use the highway. This is a scenic route and a shared road." It's generally okay but on weekends the 'slow' traffic can clog things up.

Once the whole road was backed up for miles because some couple had a horsedrawn carriage for their wedding. What idiots! ON a main road which is busy on weekends, they backed up traffic for miles, screwing up everyone else's day so they could be charles and Camilla. Oh, but it's her SPECIAL DAY.... puke.

Once the whole road was backed up for miles because some couple had a horsedrawn carriage for their wedding. What idiots! ON a main road which is busy on weekends, they backed up traffic for miles, screwing up everyone else's day so they could be charles and Camilla. Oh, but it's her SPECIAL DAY.... puke.

How is this different from cyclists screwing up everyone else's day because they want to be Lance and Tyler for a day?

How is this different from cyclists screwing up everyone else's day because they want to be Lance and Tyler for a day?
Yeah no ****.
If being slowed down by a couple who just got married is enough to "ruin" someone's day then that person (or persons in this case) should really try and re-evaluate what their priorities are.
How frigging hard is it to turn around and take a differant route.

How is this different from cyclists screwing up everyone else's day because they want to be Lance and Tyler for a day?

I don't get this comment.

What do you mean by "Screwing up"? Screwing up like an accident?

There is a big difference between horse carriage and cyclist. Width of horse carriage (how fast they are, 5 mph, maybe less?) takes up a whole lane, a cyclist and his bike doesn't. Specially, if it's a two lane street, this makes a big difference. A cyclist can ride on the shoulder(paved part) of the road and doesn't really have to slow other traffic down.

Or are you talking about somethig else that I'm not aware of?

The only problem with this sign is that drivers interpet it as "bikes stay out of my way".

They must be mentally deficient then. How do drivers get a sign that basically says "bikes are on the road, so be aware" to "bikes stay out of my way"? Incredible.

Koffee

They must be mentally deficient then. How do drivers get a sign that basically says "bikes are on the road, so be aware" to "bikes stay out of my way"? Incredible.
Koffee


You must mean this one...