Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’

The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

2 minute read

January 26, 2023, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Sharrow bike markings on black asphalt two-lane road with snowy trees

Saptashaw Chakraborty / Sharrow lane markings

Dave Snyder, senior director for infrastructure at PeopleForBikes and the former executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition, was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the sharrow, a lane marking designed to make drivers aware that they are sharing space with bikes and encourage people on bikes to claim the lane rather than riding in the dangerous ‘door zone.’ 

According to Snyder, “I thought the sharrow would educate bicyclists to stay out of the ‘door zone’ and usher in a new era of safer streets, one where motorists would patiently wait behind bicyclists ‘taking the lane’ because this painted symbol made it clear they had the right to do so.” But Snyder admits the markings are clearly not enough to change behavior. “Sharrow or no sharrow, most people on bikes dangerously hug the edge of the roadway, squeezing themselves into the door zone to avoid blocking car traffic.” Now, after two decades of data and lived experience, Snyder believes that sharrows “are great for navigation and, perhaps, concentrating riders on certain streets — that’s about it.” 

If anything, Snyder points out that sharrows have an unintended effect that is “insulting” to the bike-riding public: “They allow officials to take credit for doing something for bicycle safety without impacting car traffic, even though that something is next to nothing.”

Snyder emphasizes that bike advocates like him and his current organization, PeopleForBikes, now acknowledge the failures of sharrows and have stopped recommending them. “Today, we know so much more about what it takes to make our streets safer for bicycling. We need separate bike paths; we need protected bike lanes on busy roads; and where the lanes are shared, we need actual speeds reduced to 20 mph or slower.”

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today