A total of 30 bike advisory signs, installed as a collaboration between the Town of West Hartford and the West Hartford Bicycle Advisory Committe, are intended to raise awareness of cyclists sharing the road.

Submitted by Renee McCue, Town of West Hartford

Photo credit: Joy Taylor

Beginning last week, motorists began seeing two new yellow bicycle advisory signs on the Boulevard, between Farmington Ave. and Trout Brook Drive. The project calls for a total 30 signs that will also be installed on North Quaker Lane, Quaker Lane South and Steele Road.

The public awareness project is a collaboration of the West Hartford Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Town of West Hartford’s Engineering Division.

More than 20 designs and iterations were created over the past six months to get the right message on the sign.

“The ‘Bikes in Lane’ sign was especially vital to the advisory committee,” said Scott Franklin, chair of the committee, “because we wanted to remind motorists that bicycles have the right to share the road as a means of transportation.”

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“The diamond-shaped ‘Bike in Lane’ signs show both users of the road and offer a warning to both motorists and cyclists to share the road,” said Duane Martin, Town Engineer, Town of West Hartford.

In addition, new rectangular “State Law: 3 Feet Minimum” signs will be placed where major streets come together and will encourage the safe passing of bicyclists by motorists.

Both the “Bike in Lane” and the “State Law: 3 Feet Minimum” signs reinforce the cyclist symbols that are painted on the pavement on such roads as Mountain Road and the Boulevard. The markings, known as “sharrows,” are wide-shaped chevrons over a cyclist symbol.

The new bicycle advisory signs are part of the Town of West Hartford’s commitment to improving the safety of its streets for both motorists and cyclists.

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In May 2014, West Hartford was designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community by The League of American Bicyclists.  The bronze level award recognized West Hartford for its commitment to improving its roadways to accommodate bicycles wherever possible, its public safety measures that enforce the rules of the road, its bicycle safety curriculum in the schools, and its cycling community that encourages everyone to consider cycling over driving whenever they can.

American Bicycle League President Andy Clarke said, “Making this healthy and active transportation mode safe and easy is of growing importance to residents. We’re excited that West Hartford has made the smart and vital investments to become a designated Bicycle Friendly Community.”