"Bicycles May Use Full Lane" Signage Communicates U.S. Roadway Rules and Increases Perception of Safety.

Hess, George; Peterson, M Nils · 2015 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136973

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study addresses the persistent safety concerns that deter bicycle use in the United States, specifically focusing on the lack of clarity regarding bicyclists' legal right to occupy full travel lanes. Because most US roadways are too narrow for motorists to safely pass bicyclists within the same lane, bicyclists are legally permitted to ride in the center of the lane to force motorists to change lanes. However, this right is poorly understood by both motorists and bicyclists, leading to conflict and unsafe passing behaviors. The authors investigated whether three common traffic control devices—"Share the Road" signage, "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signage, and Shared Lane Markings (sharrows)—effectively communicate this rule and improve perceptions of safety compared to unsigned roadways. The researchers conducted a web-based survey recruited via Twitter, analyzing 1,824 responses from US residents. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four scenarios depicting a motorist behind a bicyclist in a narrow lane: no signage, "Share the Road" signage, "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signage, or Shared Lane Markings. Respondents evaluated statements regarding the permissibility of the bicyclist’s position, the necessity of moving over, and the safety of the situation. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to determine the impact of signage on comprehension and safety perceptions, controlling for commute mode and weekly cycling distance. The results demonstrated that "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signage was the most effective device. It significantly increased respondent agreement that bicyclists are permitted in the center of the lane, do not need to move right for in-lane passing, and are safe in that position. Notably, this signage produced the largest shifts in comprehension among novice bicyclists (those cycling ≤16 km/week) and private motor vehicle commuters. In contrast, "Share the Road" signage showed no statistically significant difference from unsigned roadways in improving comprehension or safety perceptions. Shared Lane Markings fell between the two, significantly increasing agreement that bicyclists may occupy the center of the lane but showing mixed results on other metrics. The study concludes that "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signage is a superior tool for communicating roadway rights and responsibilities compared to the widely used "Share the Road" signs. The authors recommend that Departments of Transportation consider replacing "Share the Road" signage with "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs, potentially combined with Shared Lane Markings, to better educate critical target audiences. This intervention aims to reduce social friction between users and improve the perceived and actual safety of bicycling, thereby encouraging greater bicycle adoption for transportation.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• signage environment