Caltrans Cycle Track sign proposal
Scott Mace
2, 2024:
https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/ctcdc/20240502/20240502-24-05-class-iv-bikeway-signing-a11y.pdf
Recommendation: Motion by the committee to recommend inclusion of a
proposed CYCLE TRACK sign and changes to the CA MUTCD - Section 9B.106
"Class IV Bikeway Signing"
Has anyone else previously seen this document?
Scott Mace
Alan Wachtel
We discussed this last year on the CABO Directors list. Jim
reported that at the May 2, 2024, California Traffic Control
Devices Committee meeting, there was a generally supportive
discussion, but the item was tabled for subsequent meetings. Jim
also wrote:
Among the concerns raised were whether the MUTCD update to conform to the Fed MUTCD should include this in that process, whether "Cycle Track" is understandable, whether "Bikeway" is a more appropriate title, whether CVC should first be revised for Class IV regarding parking and pedestrian prohibition, etc. so that a regulatory sign could be used, etc.No action appears to have been taken since that time. However, in investigating this question I discovered that a draft version of CA MUTCD Chapter 9 (Traffic Control for Bicycle Facilities) to bring it into substantial conformity with the 2023 National MUTCD has now been posted here and was considered at the CTCDC meeting last week (which also constituted the public hearing). Public comments, however, are being accepted (see the bottom of the page in the first link; no cutoff date is given).
No one seemed to disagree that signage should distinguish between Class II and Class IV (whew!). It was generally acknowledged that Class IVs are being installed now at an ever-faster pace and that appropriate guidance, including signage, should be provided.
Deletions and additions in this draft are made with respect to
the national MUTCD, not the current version of the CA MUTCD, which
makes it harder to detect changes. The only major issue that
immediately struck me in a brief glance was that national Sections
9B.18, Two-Stage Bicycle Turn Box Regulatory Signing, and 9B.19,
Bicycle Jughandle Signs, have been retained intact, even though
there is no authority in California law to require bicyclists to
use two-stage turn boxes or jughandles.
Note also that the Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign (formerly
Section 9B.06) is now called Bicycles Allowed Use of Full Lane
(Section 9B.14).
~ Alan
Scott Mace
I appreciate the background. I'm unable to find the report out you mentioned from the May 2, 2024 CTCDC meeting on Cabodir.
Regardless, this has taken on new urgency in Santa Clara County. The new Class 4 bikeways on El Camino Real are being adorned with R81 (CA) Bike Lane signs -- including at least one, which I spotted last week, in the city of Palo Alto. Others exist in the Mountain View section of El Camino Real. In addition, Class 4 facilities on Winchester Boulevard in the town of Los Gatos (not a Caltrans facility) are sporting numerous R81 signs, although (like downtown San Jose), these may predate the conversion of Class 2 to Class 4 facilities. I've already noted my concern at the Mountain View BPAC, and will take my concerns to the Los Gatos Complete Streets and Transportation Commission later this week.
I will mention the CTCDC's efforts in this regard, and the urgent need for removal of inappropriate R81 signs. It would be nice if a statewide directive existed to at least remove those signs from Class 4 facilities. I'm sure they exist in other towns.
San Jose staff recently reaffirmed to me their pledge to remove
the inappropriate R81 signs when their quick-build Class 4
facilities downtown are replaced with hardscape separation,
sometime in the near future.
Scott Mace
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Bill Sellin WAS15@
On Aug 11, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Scott Mace <sc...@wiredmuse.com> wrote:
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Alan Wachtel
I appreciate the background. I'm unable to find the report out you mentioned from the May 2, 2024 CTCDC meeting on Cabodir.
Sorry, that answer was incomplete. Subject line "Today's CTCDC
meeting" on May 2-3 (CABOdir) and "Regarding Cycle Track sign at
CTCDC meeting May 2" on May 3 (CABOdir and CABOforum).
Regardless, this has taken on new urgency in Santa Clara County. The new Class 4 bikeways on El Camino Real are being adorned with R81 (CA) Bike Lane signs -- including at least one, which I spotted last week, in the city of Palo Alto. Others exist in the Mountain View section of El Camino Real. In addition, Class 4 facilities on Winchester Boulevard in the town of Los Gatos (not a Caltrans facility) are sporting numerous R81 signs, although (like downtown San Jose), these may predate the conversion of Class 2 to Class 4 facilities. I've already noted my concern at the Mountain View BPAC, and will take my concerns to the Los Gatos Complete Streets and Transportation Commission later this week.
At least as far as Palo Alto is concerned, Caltrans agreed that
only the Class II sections of the bikeway would be signed with
R81(CA) signs. If you let me know the offending location, I'll
report it.
~ Alan
Serge Issakov
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Scott Mace
There are several blatant offending locations, and many others that border in being offending.
1. This is SB El Camino Real in front of America's Best Value Inn, 4234 El Camino Real. Observe the R81 bike lane sign within a Class 4 facility:
2. Also SB El Camino Real just south of Los Robles Avenue. Although the sign is placed along a Class 2 facility, the facility quickly changes to Class 4 just a few feet beyond the sign:
3. This last example is one of many many examples in Palo Alto and Mountain View where the R81 sign is at the start of a block (as with #2), but then midblock is a Class 4 facility. This one is on SB 82 at Palo Alto Square.
Scott Mace
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