Have you ever wondered why you may see strange colored lanes on the road, or why it may seem like a bicyclist just "pulled out in front of you" as you were driving through an intersection?
The Knoxville Police Department shared some important tips with their Facebook followers Friday about how to drive safely alongside cyclists and the purposes different bike lanes serve.
Distinctive road markers is one type of lane to be on the lookout for. These are not like typical road markers, but instead are color coated lanes, usually but not always green, and serve as a reminder to drivers that bicyclist may be on the road way. These serve a great purpose by directing people on their bikes when traveling through a congested or dangerous area such as an intersection.
If you have ever seen a picture of a bike painted on the road with forward pushing arrows and no designated bike lane in sight, well, that also serves an important purpose!
Shared lanes for both automobiles and bicyclists are called “shallows”, which is what that symbol represents. These lanes assist bicyclists with lateral positioning to reduce the chance of impact to a car parked on the street. This kind of lane is used when a road is too narrow for a bike and car to travel side by side. Drivers can be alerted of when these lanes appear by paying attention to painted notices on the pavement.
Bike lanes are the more common and well known type of lane. This is simply when cyclists will have an on-road lane that allows them to ride their bicycle on the road alongside an automobile. These lanes exclude all motorized traffic and are strictly just for bikes, so don't mistake it for the turn lane!
KPD wants to remind the public that these lanes are to ensure safety for everyone and to allow bicyclists to get to a specific destination on a less congested roadway. This network has been specifically designed to allow cyclists to get around the community safely without having to travel through arterial highways, according to KPD.
Driving along cyclists can be tricky for all travelers, and it's important for everyone on the road to know where the designated areas for cyclist are.