Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth Ave. to protect bicyclists

[Allen Muchnick]

Hi Yon,

Please explain how "motorists that drive in the bike lane to make right turns...[are] creating a hazard for bicyclists".

1) Do such motorists endanger bicyclists when no bicyclists are present?

2) Are any motorists driving faster than 10 MPH in the bike lanes and/or entering the bike lanes more than 200 feet in advance of the intersection?

3) Is even there sufficient roadway space along Commonwealth Ave approaching E Glebe Road for motorists to drive in the bike lanes for any significant distance or faster than walking speeds?

Unless #2 above is true (or motorists are otherwise not yielding to bicyclists riding ahead in the bike lane), I believe the Police should encourage, not discourage, right-turning motorists to merge into the bike lane at least 50 feet before executing a right turn.

To best protect bicyclists on Commonwealth Ave, especially from right-hook crashes, the Alexandria Police should be enforcing § 46.2-846 of the Code of Virginia [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846] which reads in part:

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Required position and method of turning at intersections; local regulations.

A. Except where turning is prohibited, a driver intending to turn at an intersection or other location on any highway shall execute the turn as provided in this section.

1. Right turns: Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway.

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Because bike lanes are part of the roadway, right-turning motorists should properly merge into the "bike lane space" well in advance of executing their turn.  

Also, the MUTCD recommends striping bike lanes so the left bike lane stripe either ends or is dashed approaching intersections, starting at 50 to 200 feet in advance of the stop line for the intersection.
 
Allen Muchnick
League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor #538
Arlington VA


--- On Wed, 8/13/08, Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov <Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov> wrote:

> Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth
> Ave. to protect 
> bicyclists
> FYI >> http://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/