PRSR 10-12-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Feb. 8, 1983 BIKEWAYS -37_ • — Motorist expectation of entries to the crossing at Adequate signing is a critical requirement in success- pedestrian speeds rather than at typical bike travel speeds. ful bikeway design. Their proper use helps to warn bicyc- lists of hazardous conditions, establishes the right-of-way, — Cyclist disobedience of STOP or YIELD controls, excludes motor vehicles and/or pedestrians from the bike- way and warns motorists and pedestrians of the presence Independent off road bikeway crossings of roadways of bicycle traffic on shared facilities. However, too much merit particular attention to design detail. Measures to signing is a nuisance and improper placement of signs can alleviate some of the above problems include the following: cause some significant problems, especially on bikeways parallel to the roadway. Stop or yield signs placed to — Provide proper sight clearances. Sight clearance control the bicyclist may in fact cause confusion for some assessment must consider obstructions due to roadway vehicles on a through street. It becomes hard to determine cross-section profile (steep cuts or fills) as well as common to whom the stop sign applies. If that potential exists,con obstructions such as foliage. cider the following alternates: — Locate the crossing a minimum of 250 feet from 1) Paint crosswalk and remove stop or yield sign. any roadway intersection. If such separation is impossible, 2) Add louvers to sign to shield it from highway. the crossing should be brought into the intersection and • treated as a bikeway at an intersection. Generally signing driveway entrances and commer- cial entrances should be avoided because of the potential — Align the crossing to intersect the motor vehicle confusion. Consult the District Traffic Engineer for assis- roadway at right angles. lance. — Mark the crossing with "zebra" or "panda" B. SIGNS pavement marking. "BIKE XING" signs should be placed on the motor vehicle approaches 250 to 750 feet in ad- There are 3 main classifications of signs needed on vance, with specific location depending upon roadway bicycle facilities: speed limit and proximity to adjacent intersections. Refer • to MMUTCD. 1. Regulatory Signs - give notice to the bicyclist of traffic laws or regulations. — Place "STOP AHEAD" or "YIELD AHEAD" 2. Warning Signs - are used to warn bicyclists of signs on the bikeway approach approximately 150 feet conditions on, or adjacent to, bikeways and trails, steets, in advance of the crossing: further if downgrades make and highway that are potentially hazardous to them. bicyclist speed in excess of 20 MPH likely. 3. Guide Signs - Bike Route guide signs keep — Provide a landing area on the bikeway for its bicyclists informed of changes in route direction and approach to the roadway, so bicyclist can be seen by reminds motorists of the presence of bicyclists. Destina- motorist and bicyclist can comfortably wait for a gap to Lion and distance guide signs furnish additional guidance. cross. When signing at a roadway crossing, if the volume of the cross street is low, consider using the Yield sign instead VII. TRAFFIC CONTROLS FOR BIKEWAYS of a Stop sign. Generally, bicyclists do not stop if traffic is not present and the Yield sign allows this practice. A. INTRODUCTION C. PAVEMENT MARKINGS The purpose of this section is to inform individuals charged with the design, construction, and operation of Pavement marking lines are necessary to indicate bikeways of the basic concepts to consider on the use and separation of the lanes for motor vehicles and bicycles application of traffic control devices. Further, the neces- on streets and highways. Where bicycles and pedestrians sary official manuals are identified, which give standards share a common off road bikeway, lines are marked to on design and usage of traffic control devices. The separate the two traffic flows. The frequent use of sym- Minnesota Traffic Laws concerning the operation of bols and word messages stenciled in the bike lanes is a bicycles are listed for reference. desirable method of supplementing and reinforcing sign messages. illSigns and markings are the traffic control devices used most frequently to regulate, warn, and guide bicycle traffic. The installation of traffic signals are rarely needed solely for bicyclists. • •