Confused About Bike Lane Markings?

Bike Lane Markings

The quick answer to on-street bike lane markings:

1. 1.  Solid white marking–do not cross
   2.  Dotted/dashed white markings…you may cross into a lane.  That does include cars that may     need to turn right
   3. Green lanes–may be a conflict point of some sort-watch for pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists
   4. “Sharrows“  – A time when cars and bikes share the lane.  There is not a specific bike lane.  This is indicated with a cyclist stencil and chevron arrows
   5. Bike lane will normally have a cyclist stencil with an arrow for direction
   6. Buffered bike lane will be an additional 1.5-3 feet that is striped like a ladder on the traffic side of  the bike lane to give an additional buffer from traffic

These are just 2 examples of bike lane markings.

Examples of Bike Lane Markings

• Dashed yellow marking–trail is divided…ride to the right. (used on trails where there are walkers, runners and cyclists)

If the first three examples sound familiar, it is because that is the same information you would use in a vehicle.  Solid white-Dashed white.  Green thermal paint is relatively new, and it is a marking for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

You will be more comfortable with biking and when sharing the road with cyclists when you have more information.