29.12 Shared Use Lanes

  • Road lanes designated for use by bicyclists and vehicles are called shared use lanes. They can be installed in several locations:
    • Bicycle boulevards
    • Traffic calmed streets with design speeds < 25 mph
    • On downhill segments
    • Within single or multilane roundabouts
    • Along front-in angled parking
    • Where streets are only wide enough to accommodate a dedicated bike lane in one direction
  • Sharrows are typically applied to road surfaces to indicate the shared lane environment and facilitate proper bicyclist positioning. Table 29.3 reviews guidelines for shared use lanes.
Table 29.3 Design Guidelines for Shared Use Lanes
Design Element Guideline
Lane Widths
  • 14 ft. or greater recommended so motorists can pass bicyclists without encroaching into the adjacent lane.
Signs
  • Install a Share the Road sign assembly (W11-1 + W16-1P) at the end of dedicated bike lanes and/or the beginning of a shared use lane.
  • Install a Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign (R4-11) at the beginning of roads that are too narrow for bicyclists and motorists to ride side by side.
Markings
  • On roads with on-street parallel parking, place shared lane markings at least 11 ft. from the curb face or edge of the traveled way.
  • On roads without on-street parallel parking, place shared lane markings at least 4 ft. from the road edge.
  • If a lane is too narrow for side-by-side bike and motor vehicle operations, shared lane markings can be placed closer to the lane’s center.
  • Bicycle priority lane markings are an option for encouraging bicyclists to ride farther from parked cars but not on sidewalks.
  • If a road is wide enough to accommodate separated bicycle lanes, they are a better option than shared use lanes because they create fewer traffic impacts and result in a safer road environment.

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CONTACT:

Chris VanDyke

Research Scientist | Program Manager

chrisvandyke@uky.edu