How Sharrows Became Cycling’s Most Hated Symbol

Originally designed as a low-cost way to encourage safer road sharing between bikes and cars, the sharrow has become a symbol of the lack of commitment to protected bike infrastructure in many cities.

1 minute read

August 2, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Street-level view of sharrow symbol on asphalt with parked car in background

Rob Toftness / Bike sharrow

Many cyclists hate them. Most drivers don’t see or understand them. So why are sharrows—the painted symbols also known as lane-share markers—so popular with local governments and departments of transportation?

As Kyle Harris points out in a piece for Denverite, the answer is simple: cost. “Thrifty urban planners, disinterested in building significant bike infrastructure, have embraced them. Sharrows give city officials a cheap way to say they’re doing something for cyclists’ safety — even if it’s undermining it.” Indeed, “According to a 2016 University of Colorado, Denver study of bike infrastructure conducted over ten years and on 2,000 blocks in Chicago, sharrows might actually be more dangerous than no infrastructure at all.”

Harris outlines the history of the sharrow symbol, which was created by now-retired Denver bicycle traffic engineer James Mackay in the early 1990s, when the city resisted any efforts to make changes or invest in bike infrastructure. Mackay developed the symbol as an inexpensive way to encourage drivers and cyclists to share the road, but acknowledges that “Given funding and political will, Mackay knows Denver could have done more, such as cities like Copenhagen and Utrecht, to actively discourage driving and encourage biking.”

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 in Denverite

Chicago Intercity Rail

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects

Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

September 25, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Google maps street view of San Francisco alleyway.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’

A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

September 26, 2023 - Fast Company

Google street view of yellow "End Freeway 1/4 mile" sign on 90 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing

A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

September 26, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of coastal town of Santa Cruz, California.

Santa Cruz Transit Looks to Expand

A small transit agency in Northern California is making ambitious expansion plans.

5 hours ago - Human Transit

View of dirt trail between shrubs with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

Advancing Park Equity Through Needs Assessments

City Parks Alliance, in partnership with Prevention Institute, recently hosted a webinar about park equity and collaboration, focusing on the Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment.

6 hours ago - City Parks Alliance

Wood-frame houses under construction.

California Impact Fees Reach Supreme Court

An upcoming ruling could have a major impact on building and development in California and around the country.

7 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.