Menlo Park To Install Sharrows

Menlo Park will be installing sharrows onto the streets in the next few weeks, according to , city transportation engineer for the city. 

Sharrows are shared lane markings that mean different things to different people. For car drivers, they are a reminder to share the road with bicyclists. For cyclists, they are a reminder to ride in the middle of the road.  

Patel said that unlike bicycle lanes, shared lane markings don't designate a section of the street for the  

“They are simply a marking to guide bicyclists to the best place to ride and help motorists expect to see and share the lane with bicyclists,” he added.  

During conversations with avid cyclists, one of the most often cited dangers is the common car door. When a car is parked on the side of the road, the driver's side door will open into the bike lane if one exists.  The subsequent collision between the door and the biker is colloquially known as "getting doored." 

The sharrow installation project has been in the works for a few years, according to city liaison to the .  The sharrows will be placed on Menlo Avenue between El Camino Real and on University Avenue between Middle Avenue and Santa Cruz Avenue.

This installation is a pilot program that may be expanded to other streets in Menlo Park if it creates a positive impact on traffic flow.

Patel shared a few tips for staying safe on the streets: 

Motorists
• Expect to see bicyclists on the street
• Remember to give bicyclists three feet of space when passing
• Follow the rules of the road as if there were no shared lane markings

Bicyclists
• Use the shared lane markings to guide where you ride within the lane
• Remember not to ride too close to parked cars
• Follow the rules of the road as if there were no shared lane markings

California law states that a person riding a bike on a highway has all the rights that a vehicle driver does.  They also are subject to the same traffic laws that govern cars, including financial penalties for violating speed limits and failing to stop at stop signs. 

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