Bike Sign Meanings: What Does Each Bicycle Street Sign Mean?
December 15, 2024
Signs, signs, everywhere are signs! This is for your safety, of course. Bike road signs are a way to communicate where and when you can ride. They ensure motorists understand as well, so you’re protected on the road and can continue to enjoy the ride.
There’s more than one kind of sign besides the one you’ll find riding in the bike lane. Here’s a list of bike sign meanings and other notable road situations, including bike laws and how they pertain to ebikes:
2. Bike Lane Signs and Their Meanings
2a. What Does a Cycle Lane With Solid Lines Mean?
2b. What Is a Buffered Bike Lane?
2c. What Is a Protected Bikeway (or Cycle Tracks)?
2d. What Is a Shared Lane, or Sharrow?
2e. What Does a Green Bike Lane Mean?
2h. What Does the “No Bicycles Allowed” Sign Mean?
2i. What Is the Purpose of a Bike Box?
3. What Are the Hand Signals for Bicycles?
1. Bike Lane Classifications
Different types of bikeways are classified by the type of path used and the parameters that define it. Currently there are four different types of classifications as specified by the California Highway Design Manual. These classifications may change depending on where you live. For further information, contact local transportation authorities.
What Is a Class 1 Bike Lane?
Class 1 ebike lanes are off-road paths and trails designed specifically for bike use. These lanes are often used to create new recreational spaces for cyclists along boardwalks, within parks, and by rivers. They’re also used to divert bikes around construction projects.
Since Class 1 bikeways are found off-road or on multi-use trails, they’re not shared with motor vehicles and are mainly a space for cyclists and other recreational uses. California’s Highway Design Manual says that the minimum width of a Class 1 two-way bike path should be 8 feet. Ten feet is the preferred width to give more space for cyclists going in both directions. When pedestrians are present, or heavy bike traffic is to be expected, they recommend at least 12 feet.
What Is a Class 2 Bike Lane?
A Class 2 bike lane is a dedicated lane on a city street that shares traffic with motorists. These are the types of bike lanes you likely see in your city. They are denoted by striped or solid lines and may be painted for higher visibility.
Since Class 2 bikeways are “on-road” bike lanes, they’re usually separated from traffic with a 2- to 4-foot painted buffer.
What Is a Class 3 Bike Lane?
A Class 3 bike lane is an on-road lane that is indicated by signage but doesn’t have any separation in the form of lines or physical barriers. These lanes are shared-use pathways where both bikes and motorists can travel. They’re often called bike boulevards or sharrows, a reference to the shared nature of the line and the arrows that indicate the bike lane.
Class 3 bike lanes are less common and a higher risk to cyclists since the lanes aren’t well-marked, so motorists may not see the signage along the road.
What Is a Class 4 Bike Lane?
Class 4 bikeways are protected bike lanes that are physically separated from any other form of traffic, including pedestrians and motorists. These lanes are clearly separated from motorized traffic lanes by physical barriers such as posts, inflexible barriers, street parking, or grading.
These types of bike lanes provide extra protection and ease of mind while riding on the road. If you live in high-volume traffic areas, contact city and transportation officials to implement Class 4 roadways.
2. Bike Lane Signs and Their Meanings
There’s more than just the average bike lane on the road. Here we’ll briefly go over what they are and the different bicycle road sign meanings for you as a cyclist, or a motorist, to keep in mind while on the road.
What Does a Cycle Lane With Solid Lines Mean?
A cycle lane with a solid lane is the standard bike lane you see in most cities across the country. These lanes indicate that the lane is for “bikes only,” meaning cars and pedestrians should not use the lanes. Oftentimes, these lanes will have arrows to indicate the direction of travel.
Cyclists aren’t required to stay strictly within the lane. This is especially useful when these lanes appear on streets where parking is allowed. By going outside of the lane, cyclists are able to avoid what’s called the “door zone.” That’s the space where car drivers open their doors to get in and out. By riding around, cyclists can keep momentum and avoid worrying about hitting a car door.
What Is a Buffered Bike Lane?
A buffered bike lane is a lane that indicates that motorists are allowed to enter the bike lane. These lanes feature identifiable markings, including a solid line near the curb and a dotted line along the traffic side. You may also see images for bikes in between the two lines and directional arrows to indicate the flow of bike traffic.
Cyclists should be alert when riding in a buffered bike lane. Since cars can enter the bike lane, it’s useful to have mirrors or check over your left shoulder to keep an eye on car traffic that may merge into your lane. Keep a safe distance from cars in front of you that are in the bike lane in case they need to stop quickly.
What Is a Protected Bikeway (or Cycle Tracks)?
Protected bikeways (or cycle tracks) are exclusive areas for cyclists. They are physically separated from traffic and can either be one- or two-way lanes. Protected bikeways are usually separated from traffic by parking spaces, medians, flexible traffic cones, posts, curbs, planters, or any other kind of separating feature.
Motorized traffic is not allowed at any time on these paths. However, some cycle tracks allow other uses, like walking or horse riding. These bikeways provide comfort and ease of mind, as well as added protection for cyclists—without having to worry about car traffic.
What Is a Shared Lane, or Sharrow?
A shared lane is a bike lane where both motorists and cyclists are allowed. It’s also called a sharrow, which combines the words “shared” and “arrow.” This references the bike symbol meaning and design: a bike and two arrows above it. The arrows indicate the direction of travel.
Cyclists should be careful when riding in shared lanes. Keep an eye on cars around you in case they move into the lane. You may also want to use ebike features like turn signals to indicate your movements in a shared lane.
What Does a Green Bike Lane Mean?
The green bike lane is used to draw attention where motorists merge across a bike lane. This is a visual reminder for motorists to yield to cyclists, and for cyclists to keep in mind to stay alert and watch out for vehicles making a turn.
What Is a Bike Boulevard?
Unlike bike-friendly residential streets, the bike boulevard is bike only. The simple bike route sign is accommodating and provides cyclists with a more comfortable space where they can relax and enjoy the view without having to worry about motorists. A bike boulevard provides safe crossings at major streets and encourages motorists to travel at slow speeds.
Colored Bike Signs
Different colored signs indicate different meanings. Keep in mind, some colors may change their meaning depending on certain symbols located on the sign.
For example, green road markers can mean motorists are allowed to enter a bike lane, while a green bike symbol can mean the path is recommended for cyclists, located on scenic routes or low-traffic roads.
A yellow bike sign focuses on serving as a reminder to motorists that the road is shared with cyclists.
A blue-circled bike symbol is a “bike only” sign that indicates no other vehicles may pass.
What Does the “No Bicycles Allowed” Sign Mean?
Seeing a bike in a red circle sign means that bicycles cannot be ridden here. It’s also worth knowing that just a big red circle without anything in it means all vehicles, including pedal cycles, are prohibited in that area.
Aside from the no bicycle sign, there are also other types of restrictions that make use of the red circle. A pedestrian zone sign would have symbols of a car and motorcycle in it; this means that pedal cycles may be used in such a space.
Also, abide by the “Do Not Enter” sign, which is intended for cars and bikes.
What Is the Purpose of a Bike Box?
The bike box is designated for cyclists at the head of a traffic lane while stopped at an intersection. The bike box provides cyclists with protection through visibility during a red light and facilitates left turn positioning. When the traffic signal turns green, motorists are supposed to yield to cyclists.
3. What Are the Hand Signals for Bicycles?
Other than a bicycle sign on the road, riders can also make use of hand gestures to signal while riding in traffic. Here are two very important signals you can make with your hands:
The Turn Signal: This is a basic bicycle hand sign that involves sticking your entire arm out in the direction you intend to make your turn.
The Stop Signal: This can be signaled in one of two ways. The first is to lower your left arm straight down toward the ground with your palm open and facing behind you. The second is to place your right hand at your back and make a fist.
4. What Do Shoulders and Rumble Strips Mean for Cyclists?
While shoulders are designed to accommodate stopped vehicles and emergency use, cyclists can legally ride on them, though it’s not required. Shoulders are a safe place to ride, especially on high-traffic roads.
If there are rumble strips on the shoulder (grooves in the asphalt to alert motorists when they’ve veered off the road), use caution when entering and exiting. Some shoulders with rumble strips provide gaps for cyclists to maneuver around them and travel safely in the lane.
5. Roundabouts for Cyclists
Bicyclists can use roundabouts either as a pedestrian or in the same manner as a motorized vehicle. When using them similar to a motorist, bicyclists should “take the lane” (meaning center themselves in the lane) to be more visible to motorists.
6. Bike Laws
Consider bike laws surrounding ebikes in your area. To learn more about bike laws in your state, check out our blog “Understanding Electric Bicycle Laws By State: The Ultimate Guide”.
Reading the Signs
The more bicycles there are, the better. This means there is a cultural understanding of how important a role bikes (including ebikes) play in everyday life, for many people.
Besides the aforementioned bicycle sign meanings and following bike signs on the road in general, there are still a few things left on the table, or road for that matter. We can’t forget the basics, such as stopping at stop signs, giving pedestrians the right of way on sidewalks, and most importantly, staying under the speed limit.
Stay vigilant. Stay alert. Stay smiling.
