Sharrows Have Their Limits

Sharrows are a great way to give cyclists access to the full traffic lane without designating a bike lane, but as this case in San Francisco illustrates, not all applications are good ones. The presence of a bus-only lane created the problem.

2 minute read

January 31, 2011, 12:00 PM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Sharrows, or 'shared lane' signage, are applied on traffic lanes to clearly mark these lanes to cyclists and motorists that both have access to them. Generally they are used on narrow curb lanes where vehicle parking exists to prevent cyclists from biking to closely to the parked cars so as to prevent being 'doored'. However, the far-right, bus-only lanes on Post and Sutter made that impossible, so the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) chose to sharrow the center lane as cyclists are not legally allowed to use lanes exclusive to buses.

"On two main thoroughfares in and out of downtown - Post and Sutter Streets between Van Ness Avenue and Union Square - the transportation agency has placed (sharrows) in the middle of busy, one-way streets. This puts cyclists in the center lane of three, surrounded by fast cars on all sides.

Joshua Citrak, an avid cyclist with 10 years' experience on San Francisco streets, pedaled the route at the request of The Bay Citizen." See his excellent video of biking the hills in urban San Francisco.

From Streetsblog SF (6/25/10): New Sharrows on Sutter and Post Streets Not Popular with Cyclists

New sharrows have been placed on the center lanes of Post and Sutter, but "drivers often zoom by at alarming speeds, breaking the 25 mile an hour speed limit, narrowly avoiding crashes, and treating the three-lane arterial like a highway...

The SFMTA recently installed the sharrows on both Sutter and Post Streets (Bicycle Route 16) as part of its Bike Plan directive to add 75 miles of new sharrows on bike routes across the city."

Thanks to SF Streetsblog

Friday, January 28, 2011 in The Bay Citizen

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 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business