Sharrows lead cyclists on
‘‘Sharrows’’, or share arrows, are popping up around Blenheim to encourage cyclists to ‘‘claim their place in the traffic lane’’ but not everyone is on board.
The large street markings of double arrows saddling the traditional bike lane image have been confusing motorists on two of Blenheim’s quieter roads, as cyclists hold their position close to the centre line. But others say the meaning behind the sharrows is ‘‘clear and obvious’’.
The markings have been painted along Beaver Rd and Carr St, both of which are ‘‘neighbourhood greenways’’ with 30kmh speed limits. They are often lined with parked cars, making car doors a hazard.
Blenheim resident Robin Mainprize said on social news site Neighbourly that encouraging cyclists to the centre of the road was ‘‘dumb logic’’. ‘‘Many drivers [and] cyclists will not know what they [the sharrows] actually mean,’’ Mainprize said. ‘‘Come to that, neither do I.’’
But Beaver Rd resident Elinor Maclachlan said she thought the sharrows were clear-cut.
‘‘I think they’re very clear and I couldn’t imagine anyone could mistake them for anything else,’’ Maclachlan said.
‘‘They’re all the way along the length of the road, so people can bike up and down with ease.
‘‘I know the road is small and narrow in some places but there’s still plenty of room for bikes.’’
Susan Sexton, who also lives on Beaver Rd, agreed, saying the message behind the sharrows was ‘‘clear and obvious’’.
‘‘It’s to encourage them [cyclists] to ride their bikes in the right place and help motorists see the kids,’’ Sexton said.
‘‘I don’t ride a bike any more but my husband does and he thinks they [the sharrows] are really good. They’re very clear and easy to see, so let’s hope the kids use them.’’
Sexton said that after cars had parked up on either side of the road, there was not much room left in the middle for road users.
‘‘Beaver Rd is quite narrow ... but it’s not as dangerous as it once was,’’ she said.
But Blenheim resident Alan Wadsworth disagreed, saying on Neighbourly the changes were at the expense of vehicle safety.
‘‘The New Zealand Road Code states: ... always keep as close as possible to the left side of the road,’’ Wadsworth said.
‘‘I am stunned by what is being undertaken by the council in regards to cycle road safety.’’
A 2014 trial, carried out in partnership with the NZ Transport Agency, found more cyclists moved position to take the lane when sharrows were marked on the road.
Trials were held in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Palmerston North and Nelson. Several sites recorded a reduction in vehicle speeds where sharrows were installed.
Bike Walk Marlborough coordinator Braden Prideaux said the sharrows encouraged cyclists to take their place in the traffic lane, especially along narrow sections and around parked vehicles. ‘‘The road code recommends that cyclists keep left as practically possible, however there are instances when we encourage people on bikes to take the lane,’’ Prideaux said.
Beaver Rd resident Kaye Dickson said while she hoped the sharrows worked well for cyclists, she thought they would not work well for traffic.
‘‘How is a car supposed to get past a cyclist in the middle of the road?’’
Prideaux said cyclists should view the official code for more information on riding in traffic.