City of Salem Public Works Department recently completed new pavement markings called "sharrows" on a number of city streets. A sharrow is a "shared lane pavement marking" which will indicate that motorists and bicyclists are to share the same travel lane.

The first sharrows were installed on Chemeketa St. NE between Front and 13th and in West Salem on Rosemont Avenue between Edgewater and 8th.

Sharrows provide visual cues to drivers and bicyclists that reinforce the existing rules of the road and help both parties align themselves within a shared travel lane. Sharrows improve safety by directing bicyclists to move a little further away from parked cars.

They are not, however, separate bike lanes. A motorist can drive over the sharrows. But if a bicyclist is nearby, drivers can use the sharrow to judge spacing so the driver and bicyclists can share the lane safely.

The city has a website that explains sharrows, including frequently asked questions and a short instructional video clip that was produced by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Go to www.cityofsalem.net, click on City A-Z, and then "Sharrow."

Future locations for sharrows include Commercial Street NE/SE through downtown and Musgrave Ln. NW leading to Wallace Marine Park. Other locations may be identified as part of the update to the city's bicycle plan. Information on the Bicycle Plan Update can be found on the City's website by going to City A-Z, Transportation System Plan, then click on the link referencing the update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Elements.