By Sol Hurwitz
In July the City of Rye began using “sharrows” painted by https://www.outdoor-surface-painting.co.uk/ on Forest Avenue. That’s short for “shared-lane marking arrows”, which are designed to remind motorists they’re sharing the road with bicyclists and to remind bicyclists they’re sharing the road with motorists.
I saw my friend Bob parking his bike at Playland Market, and I decided to get his take on the idea.
“What do you think of the sharrows?” I asked.
“The what?” he replied.
“The sharrows — shared lane marking arrows. You know — those bike symbols and arrows painted on Forest Avenue. They’re supposed to encourage motorists to share the road with cyclists like you.”
“You jest,” said Bob with a smirk. “Yesterday a truck came so close to me it forced me over the curb and into a lady’s flower garden.”
“Bad luck,” I said sympathetically. “That’s not supposed to happen. They’re supposed to share the road.”
“Not in my lifetime,” Bob retorted.
A truck driver was unloading crates of soda, so I decided to get his thoughts on the subject.
“What do you think of the sharrows?” I asked.
“The what?” the trucker answered.
“The sharrows — those bike symbols painted on the road out there,” I replied. “They’re supposed to remind you to share the road with bikers.”
“Are you on drugs?” he exclaimed. “I don’t do sharing. I deliver soda. If a biker gets near me, he’s risking his life.”
“I get your point,” I answered.
My neighbor Felicity was passing by on her run, and I stopped her mid-stride.
“Hi, Felicity,” I said. “You must have noticed the sharrows on Forest during your run.”
“The what?”
“Those bike symbols painted on the road.”
“What about them?” she said, dodging a runner pushing a two-child jogging stroller.
“They’re supposed to remind motorists and bikers to share the road.”
“Well I can tell you one thing,” said Felicity as she started her stretches. “They’re making life miserable for walkers and runners like me.”
“How so?” I asked.
“The cars and trucks push the bikers to the side of the road, so there’s no room for walkers and runners. The other day, I fell over a Home Depot lawn bag to avoid a bike that was avoiding a truck.”
“A runner like you needs her exercise,” I said. “What are you going to do about it?”
“I’m joining the Rye Y and hitting the pool: 50 laps a day and not a bit of traffic in my lane.”
