New shared lane pavement markings (Sharrows) will be painted on Central Avenue Saturday. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Public Works Department crews will be repainting crosswalk markings and placing sharrows on Central Avenue Saturday, July 11, weather permitting.
Sharrows, or shared lane pavement markings, are used to indicate the travel lane is shared use for motorists and bicyclists. These new pavement markings are part of the County’s complete street program.
Crews will install the County’s first sharrows on Central Avenue between 15th Street and Oppenheimer. Work will begin early Saturday morning and is expected to be completed by mid-afternoon. Crosswalk and sharrow placement will require short term closures of Central Avenue between 15th Street and Oppenheimer during the morning hours and will transition to flagging operations to allow access to local businesses by mid-morning. Expect delays while traveling in this area.
Direct questions or concerns about the work to the Public Works Department at 505.662.8150 or email lacpw@lacnm.us.
Los Alamos County thanks the community for its patience and cooperation.
Background on Sharrows
Shared lane pavement markings or sharrows are bicycle symbols carefully placed to guide bicyclists to the best place to ride on the road, avoid car doors and remind drivers to share the road with cyclists. 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 inform motorists that bicyclists may use the travel lane.
What do sharrows mean for motorists and bicyclists?
Motorists
- Expect to see bicyclists on the street
- Remember to give bicyclists five feet of space when passing
- Follow the rules of the road as if there were no sharrows
Bicyclists
- Use the sharrow to guide where your 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
