New ‘sharrows’ remind motorists and cyclists to share the road

Motorists and cyclists alike will soon notice a new symbol on several of the City’s well-traveled streets. The “sharrows,” a distinctive bicycle logo with an arrow design, indicate that the lanes are Class 3 bicycle routes and remind drivers and riders to share the road.

Class 3 bike routes are areas where motorists and cyclists share the road. Class 2 bike lanes are dedicated lanes alongside traffic lanes, designated for cyclists only. Class 1 bike paths are non-motorized trails that are physically separated from motor traffic.

The sharrows join several recently installed Class 2 dedicated bike lanes in creating a connected non-motorized route to allow cyclists to share the road safely with motor vehicles.

Sharrows were installed last week on Citrus Avenue, Colton Avenue, Church Street, Crescent Avenue and Cajon Street. More sharrows and dedicated bike lanes are planned for other routes.

In addition to the recently installed sharrows, the City also created sections of Class 2 bike lanes using high-visibility green paint on the section of Citrus Avenue between Church Street and University Avenue that runs between the campuses of Redlands High School. The green bike lanes are used in high-density traffic areas, such as the busy RHS school zone, as an added safety measure. Additional green lanes will be added in other high-traffic areas of the City.

In addition, some Class 2 bike lanes are set off by an additional buffer zone of 18 inches or more separating the bike lane from the motorized traffic lane, also an added safety measure.

The City’s non-motorized transportation plan incorporates community input following public meetings as well as elements of the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) non-motorized transportation plan and the non-motorized transportation element of the City’s General Plan.

Mark Friis, Executive Director of the Inland Empire Biking Alliance recently lauded the City for its dedication to making Redlands “bike friendly.”;

“The addition of the ‘green bike’ lanes and sharrows have made a significant improvement already and we are looking forward to seeing even further infrastructure enhancements,” Friis wrote in a March 27 letter to City Manager N. Enrique Martinez.

During next week’s Redlands Bicycle Classic, the IEBA will present Mayor Pete Aguilar a plaque honoring the City’s efforts. Redlands is believed to be the first city in San Bernardino County to install green bike lanes and one of only a few to install sharrows.

Installation of the bike lanes is part of the City’s comprehensive street resurfacing program, part of the Pavement Accelerated Repair Implementation Strategy (PARIS), approved by the City Council in September, and the Pavement Management Program, adopted by the City Council in March.

On Sept. 18, the City Council awarded a contract for Phase 1 construction of the City of Redlands resurfacing program to All American Asphalt. The $2.46 million project is funded through funds from Measure I, a half-cent sales tax approved by San Bernardino County voters to fund local transportation projects, and the City’s Local Transportation Fund. No General Fund dollars have been used to fund this project. The City of Redlands Resurfacing Program, Phase 1 was designed and managed by the City of Redlands Municipal Utilities and Engineering Department.

Additional information can be found on the City website at http://www.ci.redlands.ca.us/

The Pavement Management Program and PARIS together form a comprehensive infrastructure approach to address the City’s surface street rehabilitation, repair and maintenance needs. When fully implemented, the program will result in rehabilitation and repair of two-thirds of the City’s street infrastructure within five years and continued repair and maintenance into the coming decades. The pavement rehabilitation will improve the City’s Pavement Condition Index from its most recent measured average of 53 to an average of 75. This compares favorably with the San Bernardino County average PCI of 70 and the statewide average of 66.

The Pavement Management Program and PARIS projects will create approximately 1,100 jobs. All contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and professionals are required to carry a City of Redlands business license at each phase of the project.