Originally Posted by Machka
So ... what's the difference between one of these "bike lanes" and a shoulder? It still sounds like the same thing to me. And who determines that this "bike lane" is for travel by bicycle? Anyone can travel on a shoulder. In fact, they are actually there for cars to pull over onto, not technically for bicycles.
The attached picture shows one of the roads near where I live. I am standing on what I call a "shoulder". Is that what everyone here calls a "bike lane"?
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Jeeze that thing looks to be nearly 10 feet wide. If bike lanes were only that wide.
Bike lanes are generally about 5 feet wide, and are marked in some manner to indicate "Bike Lane."