USM Roundabout Sharrows

[John Brooking]

We talked last year about the incorrect sharrow placement in the USM roundabout, at the edge rather than in the center. I think of this every week when I pedal to band practice in Portland on Tuesday nights.

I figured that spring would be the best time to remind the city about that, as they're presumably lining up their summer striping plans. Shall we draft up a quick letter? I could do that. Or will just an email do?

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingSavvy4ME/, http://cyclingsavvy.org

[Zack Barowitz]

Probably both. 

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

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[John Brooking]

Draft email and/or letter:

-----

To Whom It May Concern,

The Portland Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee wishes to request that the City of Portland correct the placement of bicycle shared lane markings ("sharrows") which appeared last year in the USM roundabout. For whatever reason, they were painted on the extreme edge of the roundabout, between the entrance and exit points.

This is in contradiction to guidance from the MUTCD 2023 edition, which states that

If used, shared-lane markings should be placed in the center of the lane when used inside of circulatory roadways. (MUTCD 2023, Part 9, Section 9E.10)

As the city engineers and planners are no doubt aware, the reason for this placement is to guide bicyclists to a lane position that maximizes their visibility and relevance to motorists considering entering the roundabout ahead of them, or exiting from behind. The edge placement is therefore inappropriate guidance which places bicyclists in more danger than would the lane control position suggested by centered sharrows. The edge placement also results in reinforcing the mistaken impression among much of the public that the proper position of bicyclists on roadways is always at the edge, whereas the actual statute and safety guidance is much more subtle.

We therefore respectfully request that as part of this year's restriping effort, the edge sharrows be blacked out, and replaced by centered sharrows.

Thank you for your consideration.

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingSavvy4ME/, http://cyclingsavvy.org

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[Zack Barowitz]

Good letter John, I don’t have any changes other than to suggest that the apparent standard size for sharrows is too small and they should be made bigger (thius more emphatic), like they do in Europe. 

Thanks 

Zack 

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

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[Aaron L. Rosenblum]

Good letter! I would only change “wishes to request” to just “requests.” The letter isn’t a wish, it’s a request! 

Aaron 

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[John Brooking]

Thanks for the feedback.

By “wishes to” I think I was going for “is writing to”, but that's a more accurate way of saying it. Or I’m fine with your suggestion to drop the phrase altogether.

Zack, I’d prefer not to complicate the ask with a request to go beyond the published American standards. I know, ask for more then you’ll settle for, but to be honest, I’m fine with the standard size, and being centered instead of on the edge will all by itself greatly increase their conspicuity. But I guess we could at least mention size if the group wants to. 

Leadership, what’s the next step to sending this to the City? Copy to Committee letterhead?

John Brooking

Cyclist, Cycling Educator, Technologist

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingSavvy4ME/, http://cyclingsavvy.org

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[Zack Barowitz]

Maybe a larger (~10’) sharrow standard is another letter, but it is a worthwhile conversation. The bigger markings take the whole lane and, semaphorically, make send a stronger (and clearer) message about where bikes should be. 

I’ve never thought that the standard ~3’ sharrow was a particularly good bit of iconography—more of a whisper than a shout—and requires an explanation. It’s understandable that an uninformed vendor would place the marking on the edge because it (almost) fits and it is one interpretation of “sharing the lane.”

Also, as a general  style rule, I prefer using fewer words to convey a thought; so since “wishes to request” and “request” have essentially the same meaning in this context, I’d opt for the latter. 

Thanks again,

Zack

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

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[Maya Lena]

Hi Everyone! 

Thank you for your work on this. I don’t want to muddy the waters of the Sharrow talk but I wanted to add this as it relates to road paint near the roundabout. 

The parking spots/bike lane just east of the roundabout on Deering Ave have the same issue as Stevens Ave - very narrow parking spot adjacent to the bike lane. I have attached a screen shot.  If you think it makes sense to include this issue in the letter, please do!

Maya

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[Myles G. Smith]

Hello John and all, sorry for my slow reply! This needed some digging into my emails. It came up last year, and I sent a letter to Bruce and Jeremiah on September 9, 2025. I've copied that correspondence below. Jeremiah acknowledged it, implied it was done in error, and said a to-be-hired construction supervisor would help him identify quality control issues like this. In subsequent emails, PBPAC members noted additional sharrows incorrectly placed to the far right of the lane at Forest Ave near Congress and Washington Street near Cumberland Ave.

John - please add this context and submit the letter. Please also ask if there have been updates to See Click Fix for bike infrastructure issues.

We do not need a vote as this is follow-up to a previous issue. Please feel free to copy me, Winston, and Clayton (cc:d). I leave it to your discretion whether you want to include Zack's, Maya's, or points as "suggestions." Note, at least Jeremiah is probably seeing these comments, as he is subscribed to this listserv :)

Zack's sharrows suggestion would be a component of design standards for all Complete Streets, and we have called on the city to adopt such standards. Maya's point about the parking is also valid, I'm not sure what the cross-section widths are at that point, but I've also noticed cars well into the bike lane. In fact, many of the markings and alignments on Deering from King Middle School to the circle are bizarre and inconsistent. This is a main student walking and biking commute route and serious efforts should be made to prioritize pedestrian safety. It makes no sense that the street is far wider on a straightaway near the bridge than it is entering the roundabout. I've heard that Deering Ave is finally getting some safe streets improvements soon, though I heard that second hand and would love to have an update!

Cheers,

Myles

On Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM Jeremiah Bartlett <jbar...@portlandmaine.gov> wrote:

Hi Myles,

Happy to get input - ideally if something is sent my way with a photo, I can get it on a work list for Traffic Operations to look at.  And yes - that is the sort of thing the Supervisor is tasked with doing.  That supervisor oversees all traffic signs, all pavement markings, all traffic signals, all RRFB's, all hybrid beacons, and all street lights for the entire City as well as support efforts for other departments, such as parking lot layouts, signage for other departments, etc.

Jeremiah J. Bartlett, PE, PTOE

Transportation Systems Engineer

Department of Public Works

212 Canco Road, Suite B

Portland, Maine 04103

jbar...@portlandmaine.gov

(207) 874-8891

He/Him/His

On Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 3:48 PM Myles G. Smith <myles...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you for the quick response, Jeremiah!

Compliant and safe road striping seems to be a persistent issue with our contractors. Would the supervisor's job be to oversee that compliance and make sure it gets remedied? That would be great. Anecdotally, I've noted problems with striping at Baxter and Vannah Street, Forest Ave and Dartmouth Street, and Washington Ave and Cumberland Ave (all-ways stop with turning lanes, which seems unnecessarily dangerous).

Thank you for the work you're doing! I know there's a ton to stay on top of. Let us know how we can be helpful beyond these kinds of anecdotal observations.

Cheers,

Myles

Myles

On Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 11:29 AM Jeremiah Bartlett <jbar...@portlandmaine.gov> wrote:

Hi Myles,

Thanks for this letter.  I did attempt to respond to the overall group but it looks like that did not work.

I am meeting with our Traffic Operations coordinator tomorrow on this and other topics. We believe that the contractor for the City likely did this and will look at next options.  The Operations group currently has no Supervisor but are working on hiring a replacement.

Thank you,

Jeremiah 

Jeremiah J. Bartlett, PE, PTOE

Transportation Systems Engineer

Department of Public Works

212 Canco Road, Suite B

Portland, Maine 04103

jbar...@portlandmaine.gov

(207) 874-8891

He/Him/His

On Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM Myles G. Smith <myles...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Jeremiah and Bruce,

Please find the attached letter, following up on the email listserv discussion yesterday. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

All best,

Myles Smith

Chair, Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee

CC: Regina Phillips, Maya Lena, PBPAC Members

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