Bikes Allowed in the Middle of the Road

Move over cars, bikes ARE allowed in the middle of the lane.

A pilot sharrow program is being launched in both east and west Menlo Park to remind both drivers and bicyclists of this law and keep bike riders safe, says Scott Lohmann, vice chair of Menlo Park’s Bicycle Commission, perhaps by the end of the year. 

El Camino Real, University and Santa Cruz avenues and Valparaiso are first on the list of streets in town to have them installed.  

Sharrows are markings painted on the street that indicate cars and bikes are supposed to share the lane. They look like two chevrons, or arrows, floating atop of a bike. (See photo to the right of these words.)

The launch date for the program has not yet been set. 

But, the Bike Commission’s top five priorities for the next two years have been:

1. Be a Gold Medal Bicycle Friendly Community, as defined by the League of American Bicyclists.

2. Increase education about safety in both children and adults through
additional outreach. They will be attending the Menlo Park Summer .

3. Replace broken, missing, or hard to read Safe Routes to School signs. Add some on Valparaiso.

4. Launch pilot sharrow program by painting them in trial locations.

5. Install new wayfinding signs, and replace broken, missing, or hard to read ones.

Editors note: The first two paragraphs of this story were changed for clarity.