Priority Shared-Lane Markings

 

Stephen sent me this photo of an alternative sharrow, "priority shared-lane markings", design that was spotted in Allston, Massachusetts. He adds that

There are also signs telling drivers they need to move to the left to pass. I'm only one data point, but I rode in the "lane" for its full half-mile length without being passed unsafely, honked at, or tailgated.

It sounds like the concept is still being evaluated, but I think it is miles ahead of the normal sharrow, which in my experience produces no change in driver behavior whatsoever.

There is more here, courtesy of the Boston Globe. They call it part of a national experiment to test innovative bike facilities.

In coming months, Boston Bikes staff will take a census of how many cyclists use that stretch of road to determine whether the “sharrows on steroids” increase ridership. Next spring, they will paint the area between the dashed lines lime green, and conduct another ridership survey.

Freedman’s office will report their findings to the federal government. And if they’re successful, the idea may get exported to other cities around the country — and to other parts of Boston.

Comments

[bobco85]

It's an interesting concept. I like that the "sharrows on steroids" idea reinforces the fact that bicycles are allowed to take the lane. Also great are their placement out of the door zone and increased frequency (sharrows spaced too far apart is a pet peeve of mine). I can see these helping to educate less experienced cyclists in taking the lane when on a road, too.

However, I don't think that the dotted lines are necessary. I think they will be confusing to drivers (confused drivers will do dangerous things). Also, painting the area between the dotted lines green would further add to the confusion as it would then look like a bike lane.

I'm interested to see the results of this experiment, but right now I am uncertain how effective it will be.

[Greenbelt]

I like this design a lot since it highlights the 3" passing zone and the door zone.

[Jonathan Krall]

I was riding on US 101 just north of San Diego where the right lane was marked with huge sharrows painted on a green rectangular background. This was in Solana Beach, in the right-hand southbound lane, in the commercial area.

That example of sharrows on steroids didn't seem to be doing much and the many cyclists I saw were riding to the right of the sharrows. The speed limit is 45 mph there, IIRC. Perhaps the dashed lines and signage of this example would embolden cyclists to take the lane.

I recall reports, from 3-4 years ago, of another example where the sharrow lane was painted green. I think it was in the Los Angeles area. Motorists in that case were reported to be confused by the lane. The dashed lines of this example may be a sensible middle ground. I look forward to more results.

[Joey]

Wouldn't these be great on 16th Street, Florida Ave, Massachusetts Ave, New York Ave, Rhode Island Ave, Connecticut Ave, and Wisconsin Ave?

Yes, they would.

[bobco85]

@Jonathan Krall:
I found what you were referring to (Long Beach super sharrows in 2009 which were later removed). Here are 2 articles on them that may give us a better idea of what may happen with Allston's super sharrows if they paint them green:

http://www.longbeachize.com/the-end-of-sharrows

https://calbike.org/greenlanes-cancelled/

[Crickey7]

Our sharrows have helments.

[JJJJJ]

The concept was borrowed from neighboring Brookline which pioneered them in 2010.

[rek]

I would find the increased frequency more annoying than useful. IMO the ones I've seen around here are frequent enough.

On the down side, I've noticed that sharrows tend to stick up from the pavement enough to hurt forward momentum (like a little bump). That might just be me though; I like to run skinny tires at max pressure ;-)

[ACyclistInTheSuburbs]

Note, this is the Allston section of Boston, MA -Allston is not an independent jurisdiction.

[Jack]

That is a lot of sharrow symbols for a short stretch of road. Each one has four lateral lines, which together make for a little rumble strip, not something I want to ride over every 50'.