In 2009, as part of an experiment coordinated between the Austin Street Smarts Task Force and the University of Texas’ Center for Transportation Research Center, the city of Austin installed shared lane markings on four multi-lane roadways to evaluate their impact on cyclist and motorist behaviors. Streets included in the study were all deemed too narrow to support bike lanes, which have been installed on many streets throughout Austin.
Guadalupe Street, between W 20th St. and W Cesar Chavez St., is a four lane, one-way southbound arterial extending from the southern edge of the University of Texas campus into downtown Austin. Before the study, the corridor was popular with cyclists despite its designation as a ‘low ease-of-use street for bicyclists.’ It has peak-hour traffic volumes of 1,650 vehicles and a 30 mph speed limit. Bike and chevron shared lane markings were installed in the center of the right-most and left-most vehicle lanes 5.5’ from the parking lane to avoid the door zone at the center of each block. The results of the study demonstrated improved safety of the roadway, as well as a better bicyclist lateral position in the center of the lane instead of near the curb.
Images from:
Brady, J., Mills, A., Loskorn, J., Duthie, J., Machemehl, R., Center for Transportation Research. (2010). Effects of Shared Lane Markings on Bicyclist and Motorist Behavior along Multi-Lane Facilities. City of Austin.