How Sharrows Function on Fauntleroy

[Al]

I have had it. As a “responsible” cyclist I have been using Fauntleroy southbound with the Sharrow lane. Today I was purposefully buzzed by a man in a blue Bronco or some other type of older “suv” type vehicle and then immediately honked and yelled at by a woman driving a blueish older Toyota or Mazda with a “12” sign in her back window. I wear a bright vest, had two lights flashing on the rear of my bike and have much reflective items all over me and my bike.

Situation: I am riding in the right lane, far to the right, over the Sharrows so vehicles can pass me by using either the left lane (empty) or by sharing part of the right lane/(empty) left lane. Just past the gas station, the Bronco passes me within literally inches, inches, I do scream at him and he gives me a little wave to show me he knew exactly what he did. Normally I don’t yell at people, but this was dangerous. He could have killed me yet end up with merely a scratch on his bumper.

Then, as I move further to the left to prevent the next car from doing the same thing (in my experience, they do) the car behind me honks and the woman passes me while apparently screaming and waving her arms at me. I did nothing illegal or wrong. I was holding my line of travel. The left lane was empty. Use it.

When I got to the “merge” near Hudson, I moved left again. It is dangerous to pass a cyclist here. It’s a MERGE, not a passing lane. A vehicle passed me too close to my left, then a motorcyclist squeezed by. It takes me seconds to clear that area. Exercise patience and let me get by. You can kill me. I have emailed SDOT again to request that the barrels along the left side of the roadway be removed – they are a hazard, that’s understandable, but vehicles must wait until it’s safe to pass and that doesn’t mean enough room to “squeeze” by.

Most drivers have been SUPER! Thank you all who pass safely, who understand that when I make a left turn signal it means I’m turning left, who wait behind me for a few seconds in the merge zone. It’s the few that don’t that are causing serious problems and this road is not for the unskilled. Here is some information for you about what Sharrows are for and how to legally and safely execute a pass.

http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/sharrows.htm

Unlike bicycle lanes, sharrows do not designate a particular part of the street for the exclusive use of bicyclists. They are simply a marking to guide bicyclists to the best place to ride and help motorists expect to see and share the lane with bicyclists.

Motorists:

• Expect to see bicyclists on the street

• Remember to give bicyclists three feet of space when passing

• Follow the rules of the road as if there were no sharrows

Bicyclists

• Use the sharrow to guide where you ride within the lane

• Remember not to ride too close to parked cars

• Follow the rules of the road as if there were no sharrows

Section 11.53.200 OVERTAKING A VEHICLE ON THE LEFT. The operator of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of such overtaken vehicle at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.

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