Oregon Is Second State to Drop “Share The Road”
It took a few years but Delaware has acquired some welcome company. The state of Oregon is now the second state to decide to drop “Share The Road” signs.
The Share The Road phrase “meant different things to different people,” said Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) spokeswoman Shelley Snow.
ODOT will replace confusing Share The Road signs with ones that feature an image of a bike with the words “On Roadway” underneath.
It’s good to be first. But it’s even better to see Delaware inspiring another state. “Our state’s motto is the ‘First State’ but we didn’t want to be first and we certainly didn’t want to be the only state to do this,” said Bike Delaware Executive Director James Wilson. “It’s great to have Oregon arrive at the same place Delaware did in 2013.”
Delaware discontinued new installations of the Share The Road sign in 2013. In a joint article published in April of 2014 Bike Delaware and DelDOT made the same observation as ODOT. The Share The Road sign is intrinsically ambiguous, is interpreted in diametrically different ways by cyclists and motorists and is, therefore, useless (at best).
In 2015 researchers at North Carolina State University published a study that confirmed that “Share The Road” is ineffective at conveying any information about bicycle or motor vehicle operations to road users.
Here’s your chance to support your friendly – and highly effective – neighborhood bike advocacy group and get something back. Hurry! Sizes are limited! (Click on the windbreaker!)
RELATED:
• Why “Share The Road” Is Gone in Delaware
• New Study Confirms: “Share The Road” Is a Problem
• Oregon to phase out ‘Share the road’ signs; meet their replacement
• Oregon will phase out ‘Share the Road’ signs (BikePortland.org)
One Response
….. “The Share The Road sign is intrinsically ambiguous, is interpreted in diametrically different ways by cyclists and motorists and is, therefore, useless (at best)”.
I’m sorry, but this is hitting below the belt, a huge insult to many past advocates, like Don Carbaugh, who put in the hard work years ago to make “Share The Road” standard MO throughout our suburban arterial and rural road system. It was an immediate plus for me relocating to Delaware, and has only had a positive impact on the acceptance bicyclists receive by other drivers, as legitimate road users. There is absolutely nothing *intrinsically* wrong with “Share the Road”. In fact, it is very likely that lives have been saved due to its very basic educational message that bicycles belong on the “ROAD”, regardless of what type of sharing is involved. Stop using stories like this as prop that you are engaged in on-road safety and advocacy. It’s been obvious for a long time now that Bike De’s sole focus for bicycling is separated infrastructure. Stop glory grabbing off the hard work of others. Thanks for listening.