Maryland SHA Rejects Signage to Make Cyclists Safer
June 27th, 2011 | 
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After years of careful research and debate, the federal Department of Transportation has approved signs that say “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” for lanes that are too narrow for a car to safely pass a bicycle. Experienced cyclists know that it is safer to use the full lane on these roadways, but motorists often don’t. These signs would both give notice to motorists to be aware of the potential presence of cyclists taking the lane, and would provide greater clarity than the common, but ambiguous “Share the Road” sign. These signs make the roadways safer for cyclists.
But the Maryland State Highway Administration wants to block the use of the signs in Maryland, so that most cyclists will continue to ride on the extreme right side of the roadway–even on roads where doing so is more dangerous than using the full lane. And drivers will continue to be surprised—and sometimes angry—when cyclists do use the full lane. Maryland law explicitly allows cyclists to use the full lane when doing so is safer than keeping right, but some state officials do not seem to agree with the law. And they are expressing their disagreement by disapproving a sign that makes us safer.
Sadly, this decision is coming at the end of the distinguished career of SHA Director Neil Pederson, who retires this week. A cyclist himself, Mr. Pederson has often pushed his agency to accommodate cyclists. Because the decision seems to have been made at a lower level, we do not know whether Mr. Pederson has been fully informed or not. We also do not know whether Governor O’Malley, who has been actively promoting Cycle Maryland in recent weeks, is aware of or supports this anti-cyclist decision by his Highway Administration.
1. Asking them to reverse SHA’s staff decision, and approve the use of the R4-11 “Bicycles may use full lane” sign so that cyclists and drivers alike will realize which roads are most safely ridden using the full lane, and
2. Thanking Neil Pederson for his years of service and asking the Secretary and Governor to ensure that he is replaced by someone with a commitment to making Maryland’s roads safe for all road users.
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Form letter from MDOT's Beverley K. Swaim-Staley: Consistent with Governor O'Malley's policy initiatives to encourage bicycle use and accommodate bicyclists, MDOT and SHA will develop guidelines for the appropriate use of the R4-11 sign. As we previously agreed, the SHA will consult with stakeholders before adopting a final set of guidelines. I apologize that incorrect information was communicated prior to any formal decision.
@William Furr. While some people may draw the inference you mention, it is not accurate to say that placing the sign in some locations implies that the law is something else in other locations. A few examples: 1. It is illegal to litter anywhere, even though there are signs that say "no littering". 2. Residential areas often have signs that say "Speed Limit 25 mph," but the speed limit is also 25 mph where there is no sign. 3. We have signs that say "yield to pedestrians in crosswalk" but one must yield to them elsewhere. 4. We have signs that say "[bicycle] Share the Road" but one must share the road with bicycles elsewhere. Along with any regulatory sign, SHA can also put a sign that says "End". A sign that says: "End Bicycles May Use Full Lane" would communicate that bicycles should not use the full lane. You might see such a sign at a place where the lane (including shoulder if any) goes from 13 feet to 16 feet. A study in Texas found that the short-term effect of the sign was to move cyclists about 3-6 inches on average to the left, but cars moved 3.5 feet to the left (i.e. passing buffer mode went from 2.5 feet to 5.5 feet). To me, that means that the drivers learned something, while cyclists remained where they were comfortable. Maybe a longer-term effect will be for cyclists to move left, once they believe that the traffic respects their right to be there.
I have mixed feelings on those signs. On one hand they educate drivers about my rights as a cyclist. On the other hand, the sign implies I can only use the full lane on that stretch of road whereas the law says I can do it anytime if I feel its safer. I think they would do more good than harm, but I still wonder every time I pass them. We have some of those here in Boston on one of the under construction bridges and yet I still see cyclists hugging the concrete barrier on the right despite it being far too narrow to safely share or worse weaving down the centerline between lanes. So maybe it doesn't really matter as no one apparently reads the signs anyway.
The problem is the word "may". If the lane is too narrow to share, the sign should explicitly direct cyclists to use the full lane, not just give them permission. How about "Cyclists use full lane"?
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