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Home "Shared Bike Lanes" vs. Segregated Lanes

We're Proposing Lakewood's First "Shared" Bike Lane In Lakewood and throughout Ohio, all standard traffic lanes (through lanes, turn lanes, etc.) can legally be occupied by cyclists, and BikeLakewood encourages reasonably experienced cyclists to bike on Lakewood's streets. That's because cyclists are safest when operating a bicycle the same as a motor vehicle: with the flow of traffic and in the proper lane. By contrast, sidewalk cycling can be less safe.  The 1999 AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (the standard reference work for design of bicycle facilities in the United States of America) warns against sidewalks, and gives a list of problems with them, stating in part that that "utilizing ... a sidewalk as a shared use path is unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Sidewalks are typically designed for pedestrian speeds and maneuverability and are not safe for higher speed bicycle use." The guide leaves out several factors that compromise the use of sidewalks by cyclists, not the least of which is that sidewalks become impassible to bike (and even pedestrian) traffic after a snowfall. Some communities (but none in Northeast Ohio) have used "shared lane markings" to encourage safe cycling in the roadways and to alert motorists to the possible presence of cyclists. Here is a description of the shared lane marking, from the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Note that while the shared lane marking is still considered "experimental", the NCUTCD has recently recommended it for full adoption. BikeLakewood is proposing Lakewood's first "shared" bike lane through the heart of Lakewood. It would follow Franklin, Hilliard, Madison, and Riverside Drive.  The route is shown in green below... The orange section in Cleveland shows how Franklin and West 110th might be used to connect our proposed shared lane with the  Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. Lakewood could help connect the Metropark All Purpose Trail to our west with the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway to our east, and (soon we hope) the Towpath Trail. That's well over a hundred miles of excellent cycling just a few blocks from every Lakewood resident! A detailed photographic tour of the route our proposed shared lane takes can be viewed here. Why is BikeLakewood calling Franklin/Hilliard/Madison/Riverside a "shared bike lane"? Good question.  There has been some rethinking in the conventional wisdom regarding bike lanes.  Traditional "lanes" that segregate cyclists, usually in a dedicated five-foot lane to the right of motorists, are being called into question because dedicated lanes can encourage inappropriate cycling behavior, including left turns from the right curb, passing slower traffic on the right, and riding in the "door zones" of parked cars. Shared lanes recognize cyclists as drivers of vehicles (similar to motorists). They encourage cyclists and motorists to "share the road."  Shared bike lanes use "shared lane markings" painted onto the roadway (as proposed for Franklin/Hilliard/Madison/ Riverside) to alert motorists to the possible presence of cyclists, and to encourage cyclists to use the road and not the sidewalk.  Shared lanes also encourage cyclists to ride with (not against) traffic. Click on "Shared Bike Lanes" vs. Segregated Lanes for more information about shared lanes. One quick note. The term "shared lane" is used almost universally to refer to roadways that are marked with shared lane markings. This is unfortunate because it implies that unmarked  roadways might somehow be be "unshared." In Lakewood, all traffic lanes are to be shared by motorists and cyclists. That's typically the safest way to cycle around Lakewood, especially for experienced cyclists traveling at bike speed. Painted markings are a visual reminder of that. So, though we're not thrilled by calling a lane with special markings a "shared" lane, the universality of  this nomenclature impels BikeLakewood to use it. FYI the NOACA Bicycle Map for Cuyahoga County (large PDF file) designates Franklin and Hilliard as suitable for "intermediate" cyclists, and Madison as suitable for "experienced" cyclists only.  By contrast, Lake Road (even the section between Cove and West 117th) is noted as being safe for cyclists with just "basic skills".  That doesn't necessarily make sense. Our proposed marked bike lane is generally safe for all but the least experienced cyclists, with or without markings. The sidewalks can be less safe for cyclists. Finally, the map shown above came from mapquest.com.  Please don't blame BikeLakewood for the misnaming of Birdtown or the misplacement of Clifton Park!