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Making Necessary Rumble Strips "Safer" for Bicyclists
Rumble strips should only be applied, when there is a demonstrated need, as a last resort, and when bicyclists can be safely accommodated.
The elements that must be met to mitigate impacts to bicycle safety when rumble strips are applied include:
- A minimum 5 feet from the outside edge of the rumble strip to the edge of clean, unbroken pavement and at least 6 feet if there is a guard rail or curb present;
- Installation on or immediately beside the fog lines;
- Use of only raised or rolled-in style rumble strips on non-interstate roads, not milled-in designs;
- Limited to 12 inches in width;
- Regular maintenance of the shoulder to uphold a high level of service for safety including frequent sweeping to remove road debris, broken glass, sand etc.;
- Regular breaks (gap spacing) in the rumble strip pattern (i.e. a 12 foot gap, then 12 feet of rumble strip) so that a bicyclist who may need to cross from the shoulder to the travel lane or back may do so in a safe and predictable manner; and
- Warning signs, especially on steep downhills, so bicyclists are not surprised and lose control.
More about rumble strips:
Better Bicycling in Maine Since 1992
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