A friend and I were discussing what the markings [in the bus/bike lanes] meant. She said it meant that only buses and bikes can be in that lane. I said that buses and bikes must use that lane, but passenger cars can use it as well. Who's right?
When the new circulator buses went in downtown, they included a few blocks of bike/bus only lanes, but since then there's been some confusion about what the lanes are and what the laws are.
And casual observers aren't the only ones confused and concerned. WABA would like to see the lane's usage restrictions enforced, especially since the bus/bike lanes are planned for other parts of the circulator route. The lanes could be enforced under general bike lane laws, but the Bicycle Advisory Committee is still going to look into creating a more explicit law to cover these.
Here's what bicyclinginfo.org says about their design:
A growing number of communities are using shared bus and bike lanes to give preferential treatment to both bikes and public transport. Examples currently include Tucson, Ariz.; Madison, Wis.; Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, BC; and Philadelphia, Pa. Often the lanes are also able to be used by taxis and right-turning vehicles. Because buses and bikes will pass each other in these lanes, lane width is an important issue. The city of Madison likes to use 16 foot lanes to allow a clear three feet of separation between the bicyclist and a passing bus, but if either bus or bike traffic is light and space is limited the width of a shared lane might be 14 feet or even less.
And the answer to the question asked in the intro:
Technically, neither one of you. The lane is reserved for bikes and buses, but all vehicles may use it when making a turn.
Also, there's a Moonlight Memorial Ride scheduled for this Saturday night. Sign up here.
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