Explanation of How We Got our Bike Boxes

This is an informational memo on the Ped Bike Motor Vehicle Commission agenda . . . there was no process, “staff” just decided to do it. No doubt with urging from the Mayor’s office.

September 23, 2010
To: Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission
From: David C. Dryer, P.E., City Traffic Engineer
Subject: Approval process and funding of bike boxes

Introduction

At the August 24, 2010 meeting of the PBMVC, member De Vos requested information related to the use of bike boxes. Specifically a request was made to identify the approval and funding process.

The first colored bike box was installed at the intersection of Blair St/Williamson/John Nolen Drive. This was the second step of the bike box project at this location. The first step was the marking of a standard white outlined bike box without providing a colored inlaid area. Our experience with the bike box in this form was poor as we found generally poor compliance by motorists with the requirement to stop at the stop bar and remain outside the defined space for bikes. The next incremental step was to pursue inlaying the white outlined bike box with colored pavement marking material. This location then was Madison’s first use of a color bike box. Flint Trading, a pavement marking material supplier agreed to provide materials at no cost for the City to test the concept and determine the materials ability to withstand Madison’s winter weather.

Background

A Bike Box (or Advanced Stop Line) is an intersection design treatment that allows bicyclists to move in front of motor vehicles that are stopped at signalized or stop-controlled intersections. It consists of a special lane for approaching bicycles and an attached special waiting area for bicycles. Bike boxes are used to make bicycles more visible at intersections and to reduce the risk of conflicts between bicyclists and motorists. Bike boxes have been adopted primarily in Europe, with some applications in the North America. Bike boxes are a treatment that had been called for in the City’s adopted Bicycle Platinum Plan.

At a bike box motorists are expected to wait behind the line. When the traffic signal is yellow or red motorists must stop behind the white stop line, behind the bike box. When the light turns green, motorists may move through the intersection as usual, with bicyclists going first. After about 100 feet, bicyclists have had a chance to get into their bike lane and motorists will be able to pass safely.

As noted earlier Madison already has some bike boxes, but these ones are not colored but rather are outlined in white paint. The coloring helps drivers to be more aware of the bike box and of cyclists on the road. It is an indication that bicycles have rights and responsibilities on public roads, similar to other vehicles. Green is a popular color to use for bike boxes, but other colors may be used. In this case, Madison is piloting red as it is the exclusive color used in the Netherlands and Amsterdam, the bicycle capitol of the world.

The subject intersection is one of the City’s busiest for bicycles and motor vehicles. It is a junction point for the Isthmus / Capital City Bike Path and connections to downtown and the near east side. It was selected because the treatment provides cyclists distinct advantages in getting in front of motorized traffic and it is a high visibility location for study.

Approval

The City Traffic Engineer has the authority to apply traffic control within the City of Madison per MGO 12.03 and specifically MGO 3.14 (3)(i) “To determine and make recommendations relative to pedestrian and bicycle safety related programs; and to plan, design and implement pedestrian and bicycle facilities for the City of Madison and, where applicable, the metropolitan area.”

Consistent with the requirements of the MUTCD the City plans to request permission of the US Federal Highway Department to experiment with the use of bike boxes as a traffic management technique, specifically seeking permission to test the color red for the inlaid area. Red is currently not a color the FHWA has approved for bike box use.

Funding

The initial white line non-colored bike boxes were funded from the general pavement marking accounts. As noted previously the initial colored bike boxes at Williamson/Blair/John Nolen Drive were installed by Flint Trading Company, with no cost for materials. It is estimated however that if the City were to implement bike boxes similar in scope and size to other City intersections each, individual bike box would cost approximately $8,000 (materials only).

The colored bike box program is in its first year of existence. Staff are eager to assess how well the material withstands Madison Streets Division’s plows and survives our Madison winters. If the materials are able to reasonably withstand our climate this may be a program that the Council may wish to expand to other locations, pursuant to funding initial installation and perpetual maintenance.