Bike Lanes and Sharrows

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="05ad05a3.jpg"> <div> <B>    </B><B>     </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                                                                      </B></FONT><I>   </I><I>Bike San Mateo County</I><I>                      </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>                 </I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="05bd2123.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bike San Mateo County"><U><B><U>HOME</U></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web Site Content"><U>Web Site Content</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Using your bike"><U>Using your bike</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Campaign Projects"><U>Campaign & Projects</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Issues"><U>Current Issues</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dangerous Conditions"><U>Dangerous Conditions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Google Discussion Groups"><U>Google Discussion Groups</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meetings"><U>Meetings</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resources"><U>Resources</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Local News Updates"><U>Local News & Updates</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bikes on Transit"><U>Bikes on Transit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Route Suggestions"><U>Route Suggestions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact/ Join Bike SMC"><U>Contact/ Join Bike SMC</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Getting Involved"><U>Getting Involved</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Improvements"><U>Improvements</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In Case of an Accident Legal Considerat"><U>In Case of an Accident & Legal Considerations</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Bike Lanes and Sharrows</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bikes lanes</B> are a striped lane usually on the right hand side of the roadway dedicated for use by bicycles. A 6" wide stripe separates the bicycle lane from the motorized traffic lane. On roads with bike lanes, with limited exceptions, bicyclists are expected and required to ride with in the bicycle lane. The rideable section of the bicycle lane is usually around 4-5 feet wide. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Sharrows</B> are pavement markings consisting of a bicycle logo and a large arrow. Sharrows are placed on the roadway to both indicate that bicycles are encouraged and to be expected on the road and to indicate the best place to be riding on the roadway to be clear of the door zone. Sharrows should be located outside the parked car door zone to both remind bicyclists to ride outside the door zone and inform motorists that bicyclist are expected and allowed to be riding out into the lane clear of the door zone. They are usually used on roads when a bike lane can not be installed.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Door Zone:</B> The door zone is the space to the left of parallel-parked cars where the car door opens into. A very common bicycle accident occurs when the door of a parallel-parked car is opened in front of the bicyclist. The bicyclist either runs into the door or swerves into the traffic lane, possibly getting hit. The door zone is a real danger to bicyclists, which is not always apparent and appreciated. Poorly designed bicycle lanes and improperly located sharrows can significantly increase the danger of the door zone.</div> <bR> <div> BIKE LANES</div> <div> Per California Vehicle Code Section 21208</div> <div> Permitted Movements from Bicycle Lanes</div> <div> 21208. (a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations: </div> <div> (1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane. </div> <div> (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. </div> <div> (3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions. </div> <div> (4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. </div> <div> (b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement. </div> <div> Amended Sec. 5, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997. </div> <bR> <div> California Driver's Handbook 2007 Bike Lane Pages 24-25</div> <div> When making a right turn and are with in 200 feet of the corner or other driveway entry you must enter the bike lane for the turn. Do not drive in the bike lane at any other time. You may park in a bike lane unless "No Parking" signs are posted.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Bike Lane Design Standards</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>California Standard per Chapter 1000 Calif. Highway Design Manual</I></div> <div> Section 1003.2 Class II Bikeways (Bike Lanes)</div> <bR> <div> Three Types</div> <div> Urban type curbed street with marked parallel parking: Min bike lane width 1.5meter  (5 feet). Additional .3 to .6 meters (1 to 2 feet) if high parking volume or high parking turn over.</div> <div> Urban type curbed street with parking (parallel) allowed, but with out marked parking strip </div> <div> Bike lane 3.6 meter (11.8 feet) with vertical curb</div> <div> Bike lane 3.3 meter (10.8 feet) with rolled curb</div> <div> Bike lane 3.9 meter (12.8 feet) if substantial parking or high turnover.</div> <div> Urban type curbed street where no parking is allowed</div> <div> Generally the most desirable configuration</div> <div> If no gutter bike lane 1.2 meter (4 feet)</div> <div> If standard 600 mm gutter, bike lane 1.5 meter (5 feet)</div> <div> Goal is to have at least .9 meter (3 feet) between traffic lane and longitudinal joint at gutter.</div> <bR> <div> Typical traffic lane next to a bike lane is 3.6 meters (12 feet)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Notes and explanation</div> <div> Type 1 (with parallel parking, with marked parking spaces) is the width of the bike lane from the outer marking of the automobile parking marking to the bike lane stripe.</div> <div> Type 2 (with parallel parking, but with out marked parking spaces) is the total distance from the curb to the bike lane stripe. This distance includes both the space to park an automobile and the bike lane space.</div> <div> Type 3 is where there is no automobile parking. The distance is the distance between the curb and the bike lane stripe</div> <bR> <div> <I>Additional Information from California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Page 9C-3</I></div> <div> Bike lane with parking (parallel) permitted: 3.3 meters (11 feet) to 3.9 meters (13 feet) between bike lane strip and curb.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Guidelines from City of Chicago Bike Lane Design Guide</I></div> <bR> <div> Use 5-foot minimum bike lane. Do not stripe bike lane less that 5 feet.</div> <bR> <div> Design Guidelines for standard 2 traffic lane streets</div> <bR> <div>                Road Width</div> <div>                44'     46'     48'     50'</div> <div> Parking Lane          7'     7.5'     7.5'     8'      </div> <div> Bike Lane          5'     5.5'     5.5'     6'</div> <div> Traffic Lane          10'     10'     11'     11'</div> <div> Traffic Lane          10'     10'     11'     11'</div> <div> Bike Lane          5'     5.5'     5.5'     6'</div> <div> Parking Lane          7'     7.5'     7.5'     8'</div> <bR> <div> <B>VTA Guidelines:</B> Bike lane widths increases with speed</div> <div> See: http://www.sccrtc.org/bikes/VTA_BikeTechGuidelines.pdf</div> <bR> <div> <B>OPTIMUM BIKE LANE WIDTHS</B></div> <div> <B>Posted Speed (mph)      Without parking (feet)      With parking (feet)</B></div> <div> <B>0 - 35                     5                 13</B></div> <div> <B>36 - 50                     6                14</B></div> <div> <B>50+                     8                 16</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Door Zone Considerations</I></div> <bR> <div> Improperly designed bike lanes can increase the danger of the door zone by indicating (and maybe legally requiring) bicyclists to ride in the door zone.</div> <bR> <div> Type 1 bike lane ( parking allowed, with marked parking). Using standard 5-foot bike lane, With Honda Accord parked at the outer parking mark, the opened door would extend 3 feet into the bike lane. With a bicycle width of 2 feet, the bicyclist if riding on the bike lane stripe would just clear the door, if riding with in the bike lane, bicyclist would hit the opened door.</div> <bR> <div> Type 2 bike lanes (parking allowed, but no marked parking). With total bike lane width of 12.8 feet, Honda Accord parked 1 foot off curb, opened door extends 9.8 feet from curb. With a bicycle width of 2 feet, the bicyclist if actually riding on the bike lane stripe would clear the door. If riding in the bike lane, bicyclist would not clear the door. Larger cars or parked further away from the curb would make this worse.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Car Dimensions (Measured)</div> <bR> <div> Car type               Width Door Closed     Width Driver's Door open</div> <div> Honda Accord          5' 8"               8' 8"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> SHARROWS</div> <bR> <div> The new MUTCD 2003 California Supplement Section 9C.103 with Figure 9C-107 are added as follows:</div> <div> <B>Section 9C.103 Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking</B></div> <div> Option:</div> <div> The Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking shown in Figure 9C-107 may be used to assist bicyclists with positioning on a shared roadway with on-street parallel parking and to alert road users of the location a bicyclist may occupy within the traveled way.</div> <bR> <div> Standard:</div> <div> The Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking shall only be used on a roadway which has on-street parallel parking. If used, Shared Roadway Bicycle Markings shall be placed so that the centers of the markings are a minimum of 3.3 m (11 ft) from the curb face or edge of paved shoulder. On State Highways, the Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking shall be used only in urban areas.</div> <bR> <div> Option:</div> <div> For rural areas, the SHARE THE ROAD (W16-1) plaque may be used in conjunction with the W11-1 bicycle warning sign (see Sections 2C.51 and 9B.18). Information for the practitioner regarding classification of rural versus urban roadways can be found at the following California Department of Transportation website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hpms/Page1.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hpms/Page1"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hpms/Page1.php</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Guidance:</div> <div> If used, the Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking should be placed immediately after an intersection and spaced at intervals of 75 m (250 ft) thereafter.</div> <div> If used, the Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking should not be placed on roadways with a speed limit at or above 60 km/h, (40 mph).</div> <bR> <div> Option:</div> <div> Where a Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking is used, the distance from the curb or edge of paved shoulder may be increased beyond 3.3 m (11 ft). The longitudinal spacing of the markings may be increased or reduced as needed for roadway and traffic conditions. Where used, bicycle guide or warning signs may supplement the Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking.</div> <bR> <div> Support:</div> <div> The Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking is intended to:</div> <div> * Reduce the chance of bicyclists impacting open doors of parked vehicles on a shared roadway with on-street parallel parking.</div> <div> * Alert road users within a narrow traveled way of the lateral location where bicyclists ride.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Be used only on roadways without striped bicycle lanes or shoulders</div> <bR> <div> Website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/policy/05-10.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signte"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/policy/05-10.pdf</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Additional Sources of Information</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.cvcbike.org/club/bikelaw.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cvcbike.org/club/bikelaw.htm"><U><U>http://www.cvcbike.org/club/bikelaw.htm</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Very useful discussion and information on laws governing bicyclists using public streets with an explanation of their application and interpretation.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>Web Links</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>California DOT (Department of transportation</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/english/chp1000.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/en"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/english/chp1000.pdf</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   For Chapter 1000  Highway design manual Bikeway Planning and Design, English version</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/chp1000.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/ch"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/pdf/chp1000.pdf</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > For Chapter 1000 Highway design manual Bikeway Planning and Design, Metric version</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/hdmtoc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/hdmtoc"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/hdmtoc.htm</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > General site for listing of DOT highway design manuals</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/policy/05-10.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signte"><U><U>http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/policy/05-10.pdf</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > DOT Policy Directive on Shared Roadway Bicycle Markings (Sharrows)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc2"><U><U>http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21208.htm</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Section 21208 Permitted Movements from bicycle lanes.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd"><U><U>http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > California Vehicle Code Article 4 Operation of bicycles.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vcto"><U><U>http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > California Vehicle Code Table of Contents</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Chicago Bike Lane Design Guide</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/bike_lane.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/"><U><U>http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/bike_lane.pdf</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>