Cedar Rapids Installs Sharrows

The City of Cedar Rapids began installing Shared Lane Pavement Markings, also known as "Sharrows" yesterday.  The Sharrows are a bicycle symbol with two chevrons above it. 

Other communities have painted the sharrows on the pavement, but Cedar Rapids chose thermoplastic, a more permanent material.  Painted sharrows are cheaper to install, but will only last one season before needing to be repainted. 

Sharrows are lane positioning guides.  They are placed 4' from the curb or parked cars to give cyclists room.  They guide bicyclists to be more visible.  Studies have shown they reduce wrong-way cycling and increase passing bearth given by cars.