Why Sharrows are Bullshit
Why are Sharrows bullshit?
I am so glad you asked, dear reader. Let me offer a concise explainer of why from a safe-streets perspective, these lane markings are the bane of American roads: confusing, useless — worse than useless, actually—and deployed in bad faith.
Before I start throwing bombs, don’t feel sheepish if you have no clue what sharrows are. Good for you — it’s honestly a shame that something so useless must inhabit even a few of your brain cells.
I’ll lay it out for you quickly. Sharrow is short for shared lane marketing. There’s a decent chance you’ve seen them — two baffling chevron arrows and a bicycle icon painted on the street. Often in the US they are paired with equally baffling signs on the side of the road that also depict a little bike and say “SHARE THE ROAD.”
I am not going to waste much of your time (or mine) explaining the theoretical benefits of sharrows. The executive summary as that they are intended to make bike riding safer and more orderly. Theoretically, their primary job is to tell drivers to watch out for bike riders, who are legally allowed to ride in the middle of the lane.
