New Federal Rules Improve Tools For Bikes, Pedestrians

Written by Kevin Buchanan on December 16, 2009 - 4 Comments
Categories: Bicycles, Transit & Infrastructure

Following up on the news that Texas is the first state to adopt new complete streets rules for their Department of Transportation comes word that the Federal Highway Administration has updated their official Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to allow engineers more tools to properly accommodate bikes and pedestrians in road design. Our friends out west at BikePortland.org have a good summary. Here’s a bit:

Several of the new updates will make it easier for city traffic engineers across the country to implement signs, signals, and markings that improve conditions for biking and walking.

Some of the key changes to the MUTCD that benefit bike and foot traffic are:

  • the addition of shared-lane markings (also known as “sharrows”),
  • the addition of “Bicycle Allowed Full Lane” signage,
  • an improved U.S. Bike Route sign,
  • the addition of bike route guide signs ,
  • new guidance for deciding when a new traffic signal can be installed,
  • and changing the formula used to calculate crosswalk times to give walkers more time.
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4 Responses to “New Federal Rules Improve Tools For Bikes, Pedestrians”

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  1. Jonathan
    December 16, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    What’s the law on taking a full lane in Fort Worth? Do we have something similar to the California law that requires motorists to change lanes to pass when the right lane is too narrow to share?

  3. Doug Black
    December 17, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Glad you asked, Jonathan. FW does not have it’s own law about that. The state does however, and it is to ride as far to the right as is practicable. See here for the Texas Cycling Laws – http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.551.htm
    I’ll leave it up to you to decide how far to the right is “practicable”. It’s generally the right-hand tire line for me.
    Unfortunately, last summer, Gov. Perry vetoed a measure which would have required motorists to move over when passing any number of vulnerable road users, including bikes, motorcycles, horses, stranded motorists, joggers/runners, etc. Since the legislature does not meet again until ‘11, there is a movement to have individual cities pass some form of the vetoed safe passing law. In October or November, Austin did just that. Around here, I have heard that Aledo is considering doing the same thing. I have not heard whether Fort Worth is looking at this, but now might be a good time to contact your councilmember and raise the issue. The city’s comprehensive bike plan is slated to be discussed, and hopefully passed, by the FW CC early next year.
    Safe cycling.
    db