Sharrows, shared use markings

Cyclists and drivers will have noticed a new symbol appearing on the streets of Vancouver. Technically known as shared-use markings, and colloquially called "sharrows", these road markings help cyclists and drivers share the street safely.

Used where bicycles and motor vehicles share busier streets, but where there is not enough room for separate vehicle and bicycle lanes, "sharrows" help:

• Position a cyclist in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking, reducing the chance of a cyclist being hit by a parked vehicle’s open door;
• Assist cyclists with lateral positioning in lanes that are too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to travel side by side within the same traffic lane;
• Alert road users of the lateral location cyclists are likely to occupy within the traveled way
• Encourage safe passing of cyclists by motorists; and
• Reduce the incidence of wrong-way cycling.

Examples of "sharrows" can be seen on West 4th Avenue adjacent Jericho Beach Park and on Yukon Street beside City Hall. In their broader travels, Vancouverites should keep an eye out for "sharrows" in many other Canadian and US cities, including Toronto, San Francisco and New York City. They have been approved for use across Canada and in many US states.