Bike Lanes

Bike Lanes

Bike Lanes are becoming increasing popular in large and small cities alike. Physical fitness, environmental, and financial minded alike find that bicycle lanes are an easy alternative to traveling by car. A Bike Lane is defined as a portion of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Bicycle lanes allow bicyclists a chance to ride their chosen speed without having to worry about cars and trucks bearing down on them from behind. Bike Lanes have no physical barrier that keeps motorized traffic from encroaching onto the bicy clist’s lane.

Bike lane configurations depends on existing traffic conditions such as traffic volume, landscape and easement of existing properties along the bike route.&

Conventional Bike Lanes

Conventional bike lanes provide for a designated space for bicyclists to navigate through with the aid of pavement markings, flexible delineator post, and traffic control signage and in some cases curb or parking lanes. Bike lane traffic travels with vehicle travel and flows in the same direction.

Benefits of Conventional Bike Lanes

• Creates separations between bicyclists and vehicles.
• Gives bicyclists confidence when navigating busy traffic.
• Increases the predictability of bicyclists from vehicles maneuvering for position.

Signs, pavement markings and bike lane delineatorsremind motorists of bicyclist’s right to the street.

Left-Side Bike Lanes

Left-side bike lanes are placed on the left side of a one-way street or a two-way median divided street. Left-side bike lanes are often used along streets with heavy truck or vehicle delivery, public transit or areas with high parking turnover of other potential hazards of a right-side bike lane.

Benefits of Left-Side Bike Lanes

• Avoids potential right-side bike lane conflicts on streets
• Improves bicyclist visibility by motorists by having the bike lane on the driver’s side.
• Provides consistent facility configuration in locations where right-side travel lanes are subject to rush hour parking restrictions and other flexible uses.
• Minimizes door zone conflicts next to parking because of fewer door openings on the passenger side of vehicles.
• Fewer bus and truck conflicts as most bus stops and loading zones are on the right side of the street.

Buffered Bike Lanes

Buffered bike lanes are conventional bicycle lanes paired with a designated buffer space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent motor vehicle travel lane and/or parking lane. A buffered bike lane is allowed as per MUTCD guidelines for buffer preferential lanes (section 3D-01).

Benefits of Buffered Bike Lanes

• Provides greater shy distance between motor vehicles and bicyclists.
• Provides space for bicyclists to pass another bicyclist without encroaching into the adjacent motor vehicle travel lane.
• Encourages bicyclists to ride outside of the door zone when buffer is between parked cars and bike lane.
• Allows for greater space for bicycling without making the bike lane appear so wide that it might be mistaken for a travel lane or a parking lane.
• Appeals to a wider cross-section of bicyclists.
• Encourages bicycling by contributing to the perception of safety among users of the bicycle community.
  

Dornbos Sign & Safety Inc. has your bike lane signs, sign posts, and flexible delineator post to make your bike lanes safe. Dornbos Sign & Safety Inc. manufactures MUTCD and FHWA specific traffic control signs and bike lane signs. We also carry sign post and flexible delineator posts from industry leaders.

For more information call 800.922.0029, email us at  info@dornbossign.com or visit us today at DornbosSign.com