Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Everywhere a Sign

8:55 AM PDT on June 25, 2009

Today on the Streetsblog Network,
we ever-so-gingerly broach the issue of etiquette when pedestrians and
cyclists share the same space. Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has
proclaimed pedestrian safety a top priority, and is backing up his
words with millions in federal stimulus funds and a pedestrian master
plan. Adam Voiland at DC Bicycle Transportation Examiner has also noticed a proliferation of signs instructing cyclists to dismount in pedestrianized areas.

signman.jpgRiding prohibited signs abound in Georgetown.

Do such signs work? Rarely have I actually seen a cyclist
abide by a dismount sign, though that's not to say they don't guilt
riders into somewhat safer cycling habits. I certainly feel
compelled to at least slow down when passing such signs. However, there
are also plenty of riders chafing at the new signs.

A colleague of
mine, a competitive mountain rider, shared her exasperation about the
signs after a pedestrian chewed her out for not dismounting -- as a sign
instructed -- near a bridge on the Mount Vernon bike trail. "The signs
probably caused -- or at least exacerbated -- the problem," she said.

"We’ve become overly concerned about safety, and we’ve forgotten that
what we really need on the bike paths [is] for people to exercise good
judgment."

Voiland goes on to cite the late Hans Monderman,
who believed that traffic signs often do more harm than good. Are
common bike-ped spaces appropriate laboratories for further testing
this theory?

Also today: Tuscon Bike Lawyer describes how local police add insult, and then some, to cyclist injury; Grist admonishes the media for soft-pedaling on climate change; a guest blogger on the N Judah Chronicles extols the communal virtues of San Francisco's MUNI; and BLDG Blog argues that transit product placement is a steal.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

South Pasadena to Remove Bike Lanes on Grand Avenue

The 0.6 miles of lanes are part of a batch of temporary Slow Streets installations that will mostly be removed, save for a few bits and pieces.

March 28, 2024

Legislative Update: Some Bills to Watch This Session

It's a good time to take a peek at how sustainable transportation and related topics are showing up on legislators' priorities. Here's a very NON-comprehensive list.

March 26, 2024
See all posts