Streets

Sharrow Pilot Project

In May 2009 the City of Cincinnati launched a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of shared lane pavement markings (sharrows).

Why?
Sharrows create improved conditions for bicycling, by clarifying where cyclists are expected to ride and reminding motorists to expect cyclists on the road.

In the absence of bicycle lanes, motorists often pass too closely to cyclists, and cyclists feel compelled to ride closer to parked cars. If somebody were to open a car door as a cyclist passed, the cyclist could get ''doored'' and possibly get injured, especially if there was passing automobile traffic. Sharrows show cyclists and motorists where cyclists should be riding to safely avoid the "door zone."

Where?
Based on the feedback received from our online survey, sharrows were initially installed in the following locations:

Clifton Ave (McMillan St to Ludlow Ave)
Ludlow Ave (Bowdle Pl to Clifton Hills)
Madison Rd (Beechcrest Ln to Torrence Pkwy)

What next?
Prior to installation of the sharrows, we conducted "before" tests to measure the distance between moving cars and cyclists, and cyclists and parked cars. We'll be conducting "after" tests in September 2009 and May 2010. We'll report our final findings to the Federal Highway Administration in June of 2010, and use that data to make decisions on whether or not to install sharrows elsewhere around the City.

Want more info?
Click here to view a handout with frequently asked questions. Or e-mail us at sharrows@cincinnati-oh.gov.