BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

On Share the Road signs:

story

Even "Watch for Cyclists" is too passive.

Would "Obey Traffic Laws Around Cyclists or Submit to the Iron Fist of the Law's Crushing Grip" be better?

In San Francisco I saw a sign that said soemthing to the effect of:

"Cyclist has the right to an entire lane. Change lanes to pass."

Actually, there's a sign similar to this on Garver's Ferry Road out in either Upper or Lower Burrell. It says someting like Cyclists have equal right to the road-- I haven't been out there in a while but I remember thinking "Wow, that's way better than share the road."

I once saw a biker with a cloth sign pinned to a backpack that said "Cyclists allowed full lane: 75 Pa. C.S. 3301." On second thought, maybe it didn't include the legal citation, but it's like a mobile road sign, exactly where you need it (i.e., where you are). I guess it's aimed at the driver angry that you're chugging up a hill at a speed slower than he thinks reasonable.

I would even prefer "Shared Road"

this is an active debate in the bike advocate world

erok, isn't every road a shared road unless otherwise noted?

A couple more gems seen on 376.

"Targeted DUI Enforcement Area"

"Watch for Aggressive Drivers"

erok, isn't every road a shared road unless otherwise noted?

yeah, but some need reinforcement, especially if there are high numbers of cyclists.

i think instead of the "Watch for Cyclists" signs, they should say "Watch for Cars"

Ha ha

My only fear is that such signs or sharrows will lead to drivers not understanding that cyclists have the right to every road unless otherwise marked, not just the ones that have bike markings on them.

I like "Watch for Cars". That would get people's attention.

My two favorites from around the state:

"High DUI Crash Area" (Saltsburg)

"Aggressive Driver High Crash Area" (near Sunbury)

There's a sign on the Parkway that you can see from the jail tail, IIRC, that says "Watch for drunk and aggressive drivers"

Mick

I do wonder if the areas with the big scary signs really do have more enforcement. I assume it's just BS.

I don't know if they took it down or if I've just stopped seeing it but there used to be a "High Aggressive Driver Crash Area" sign on Saxonburg Rd. a bit before you get to the entrance to Hartwood. Seemed like an odd place for aggressive drivers to be making a nuisance of themselves. I found myself wondering if there were extra signs they had to put somewhere.

maybe if you get deemed an "aggressive driver" by the state, they put a sign in front of your house so you have to see it every day.

Or how about a special license plate?

i guess that could be a badge of honor for some people

But in PA, a rear-plate-only state, it would only only confirm the fact to those you already ran over. Kinda pointless by then.

True. Maybe the state can put yellow reflective stripes all over the car.

What I'd rather see is aggressive drivers given a garage-sale 3-speed bike, and instruction in how to use public transit. Then yank their license for a year.

I rode some on back roads in Maryland. A good portion of the bikers I ran into were people that had suspended licenses for DUI.

Mick

i always feel like that's what people are thinking when i've ridden in my folk's town. it's one of the few times i'd feel more secure wearing spandex

I've heard flipped drop bars affectionately referred to as "DUI bars" pronounced kind of like "dewey bars" because the people you see rolling around with them are the guys that got suspended, go find a garage sale bike that doesn't fit them, then flip the bars so they can ride around.

Not so useless:

There, that's a good sign. Or maybe:

"Put Down the !@#$% Phone!"

While the design isn't perfect I think the message is. If you need to turn right, yield to the cyclist in the lane, think East Liberty bike lanes where the bike lane and turning lane mix.

Also saw another good at the entrance ramp to 376 from fifth ave. It says, "Yield to oncoming traffic," meaning watch out for the busses coming towards you.

Clear directives I like.

well i would hope that if you wanted to make a left there and you witness a pedestrian with no hands or feet being chased by their own bike, then you would yield - at the very least... IDK, it's just how I was raised.

That sign is for DC's counter flow bike lane, so I think it helps state as a fact to who has the right of way in that possibly confusing instance.

I'm really not a fan of "Bike route ends." There's one on Schenley Drive as you approach Carnegie Library from the park, just after the bridge. There is no actual bike lane that ends, either, so it's not informing of any change in road markings.

Besides raising the question "I was on a bike route?", I have a feeling car folks will think "Oh okay, so it's my road now."

Besides raising the question "I was on a bike route?", I have a feeling car folks will think "Oh okay, so it's my road now."

This is a good point. Esp. when there is no bike lane. I wonder why that sign went up? If there is a lane, maybe the sign should say "Bike lane ends, share the road." (Or whatever is better phrasing than share the road.)

god that's probably a leftover from the masloff administration. like the "share the road" signs on E Carson St, east of Hot Metal to the glenwood bridge

Right jeffinpgh. It should restate the law if there is one. Or it should say, "Bike Lane Ends, Cyclists May Take Entire Lane" or something better.

+1 erok

"If you need to turn right, yield to the cyclist in the lane, think East Liberty bike lanes where the bike lane and turning lane mix."

If you need to turn right, yield to the cyclist and *merge* into the lane when it's safe to do so, (in order to give cyclists a safe place to pass you on your left, and not make them stop behind you wondering if you're going to turn right and hit them or not.)

The alternative, with cyclists overtaking on the right, and motorists stopped on the left waiting to turn right, is just a low-speed right-hook in progress.

And if you're cycling in the lane and someone is signaling a right turn, back off and let them in. Only jagoffs accelerate and ride the tail of guy in front of them to prevent someone from merging into line.