Bike Delaware, our constituent organizations, and bicyclists all over Delaware thank Tom Hicks (above, left), P.E. Director of SHA's Office of Traffic and Safety, for revising Maryland State Highway Administration’s rumblestrip placement guidelines. Kudos as well to Michael Jackson (above, right), MD's Department of Transportation's Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, for answering the call and shuttling this request along.
Bike Delaware first met with MDOT's District Office on January 22nd 2009, out on Route 273 to investigate first hand what went wrong. Others working in MD bike/ped safety themselves brought bicycles along, to verify that this application (pictured left) did not meet bicycle-friendly guidelines. Today, we can proudly say the manuals have been revised. We are relieved to know that the rumblestrips applied along Route 273 in Cecil County, which prompted our concern as well as those of local racing teams and recreational clubs, will not be repeated on MD roads and highways where bicycling is permitted.We commend SHA for recognizing this design as problematic in that it created conflicts between drivers and cyclists. Switching to the guidelines accepted as bicycle-friendly according to the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Bicycle Facilities will encourage bicyclists to ride in the correct position on the shoulder and facilitate cooperation between all user groups. Further, it will allow bicyclists to ride behind the rumble strips instead of at the white line, as well as move safely into the lane when cars are turning in front of them or to avoid debris.
This will make cyclists safer and lower the stress level of all road users.(pictured left: Frank Warnock, Maria Wilburn, Stephanie Yanovitz , and Mary Davidson join MDOT District Officials on Jan. 22, 2009, at the Highs on Route 273. Jeff Butcher was also present)
View the letter to Mr Hicks in pdf HERE.
See the revised guidelines, including a letter to Bike Delaware in pdf HERE.
Timeline for this issue on Bike Delaware News HERE.
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