Comments on: To Snap Drivers Awake, State DOT May Sacrifice Cyclist Safety

By: galen

galen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:37:32 +0000

I found this article linked in The Browser. Here in MD, we luckily have few roads with these rumble strips. But, I think there might be a middleground - redesigning the rumbles to be not as wide or as deep, spacing them much further apart and positioning them at the edge of and in travel lane or the fog line.

By: James

James — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:38:54 +0000

Try looking closer. There's about a foot between the outside edge of the rumble strip and the white line that demarcates the travel lane. Riding to the right of the rumble strip on Route 100's shoulder is fine, as there is a generously sized lane there. However, if a vehicle happens to be parked in the shoulder, you are SOL as any attempt to pass will probably put you on to the rumble strips and potentially cause a loss of control.

By: John

John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:48:38 +0000

The picture makes it look like there is about six feet of smooth pavement shoulder beyond the rumble strip. If so, what's the problem?

By: Stephen Moody

Stephen Moody — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:24:15 +0000

Trade-offs of the well-meaning: In urban environments, such as mine in Brookline, Massachusetts, these rumble strips are used to protect pedestrians and cars backing up from side-by-side parking areas, and have rough or catastrophic effects on bicyclists (comme mois). One solution to the rural area rumble strips in Charlie's note is a combination of frequent, generously-sized, periodic breaks in the rumble strips to allow entry and exit as well as fluorescent paint markings.

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:59:14 +0000

The biggest problem is not so much the rumble strips themselves, but the cars that park on the shoulder forcing cyclists to transition through the rough patch. I've ridden that road. Hitting the rumble strip in a road bike is scary. Hard to maintain control.

By: JJM 63

JJM 63 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:55:51 +0000

One of the things NYSDOT must look at when investigating a safety matter is the crash history. If they see a large number of vehicle run-off-road crashes, then rumble strips may be considered.

On the other hand, bicycle crashes are notoriously unreported, even though state law requires filing a report for every bicycle crash that results in a serious injury (http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv104c.pdf).

So, a diligent engineer may see a pattern of people running off the road in cars, but not see a pattern of bicyclist crashes in the same location. As a result, he or she may think there is no bicycle safety problem, even if there is one.

You know, there is nothing saying that the bike crash report form can't be filled out for lesser crashes. If you crash, and think a road condition contributed, maybe submitting the form would make a difference. In my 17 years as a practicing traffic* safety engineer, I've never seen one of these filled out.

*I use the legal definition: Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, bicycles, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.

By: jass

jass — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:40 +0000

kate, reflective bumps (cat eyes) are rare in northern states because snow plows destroy them.

By: kate

kate — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:51:32 +0000

In and around L.A. on the freeways are little reflective bumps that work for drifting drivers and would not be so hazardous to cyclists if placed right on the white lines. In fact, it might be a good thing to keep the cars from drifting into someone. These rumble strips are totally excessive and would be a major drag for cyclists.

By: ChipSeal

ChipSeal — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:04:52 +0000

More pandering to incompetent motorists. How long must we kowtow to their inability to operate their automobiles in a responsible manner?

A good article from Streetsblog Orlando express it nicely:

http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/07/10/the-incompetent-shall-inherit-the-roadway/

By: James

James — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:50:33 +0000

Glad to see this getting attention on here. I've ridden this road both before and after the rumble strips were installed and they are indeed a huge hazard. Any time a car happens to be parked in the shoulder, you are forced on to the rumble strips to pass, potentially putting you in the situation of losing control of your bike and ending up on the ground in the 50mph travel lane on Route 100. Hazardous in the extreme.

By: David_K

David_K — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:29:05 +0000

Good article. I hope DOT reads it; the benefits of rumble strips seem very small indeed compared to the expenses of implementing them, and the losses of recreationial bikers, tourists, and two-wheeled commuters.