Description
My recollection is that Tennessee Law permits bicycles on the traveled way of public roads (streets). Why is metro spending thousands of dollars placing bicycle related markings to assign ROW already in the law. Stop wasting money, particularly when an unclear message results?
7 Comments
Public Works (Guest)
You are correct, riding bicycles is legal on public streets. The "Bike Lane" and "Share the Road" signage and markings are put in place for public safety. Nashvillians are utilizing bikes as a way of transportation more than ever, and we want to promote safety for all users of the streets. Markings and signage are a low cost way to promote safety and make drivers aware of potential bike riders/pedestrians.
We hope this helps answer your question.
Feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Public Works
615-862-8750
Harris M. Deere (Guest)
Please reevaluate effort.
Thanks,
Pete Deere
Harris M Deere (Guest)
No, the Metro said the markings were a cooperate effort with the bicycle interests.
I travel West End (Harding Rd.), Charlotte frequently and see no bicycles. The bicycle markings are expensive and in my opinion cause more confusion. The city agreed that the law considers a driving lane available to the bicycle. This is an economic, confusing political issue, not a clear violation of MUTCD, or practice. It is a violation of judgement and application. In a time of economic distress, it is not time to spend so much $ on confusing markings. Within 4 years they will be ragged or resurfaced over. It makes no practical sense. Good luck with this, if you want to hang in there with it.
Thanks,
Harris M. Deere
Guest (Guest)
It appears to be a political issue, where the cyclists have gotten to someone. It is clear that confusion results because there is considerable inconsistency, and often outright conflict of message. For instance, a bike lane marked immediately before an interstate on ramp, or elsewhere on a right turn right, one wonders where the bikers go. Naturally they get in the through traffic lane, which is their right. Any confusion is hard to comprehend, an error in conveying traffic information.
We recently returned from France, and traveled widely. Although Europeans ride bikes far more that the USA, we witnessed few related markings.
I doubt that we can make a change here, while I think it leads to confusion, and is expensive, what is being done is not against the law, and the markings generally agree with the standard. Don't stretch your time to much on this. It will take getting to the mayor, and I expect he is pro-cycalist.
Thanks,
Pete Deere
Harris Deere (Guest)
I think the Mayor is behind this, and little thought has been given to the subject. Much of what I have seen has caused more confusion than resolution. The effort is flawed, but cost too much to reason out every conflict, but no bicycle or other marking should be placed without study. This is the common method.
Harris Deere (Guest)
Edward (Registered User)
Harris Deere, if Woodlawn Dr. is only 16' wide as you indicated, even up to about 28'-30' wide, then the markings are correct.
The markings may be new but the applicable law (TN 55-8-175 and Nashville 12.60.060) are not.
The applicable statues have been the law for over 40 years.
Shared Lane Markings, also known as 'Sharrows' placing the bicycle in the middle of the lane is the correct marking and is in perfect agreement with the state and local law.