WESTFIELD—There have been several new symbols painted on the roads of Westfield since renovations began in the city, but their exact meanings are a mystery to some.
The symbols are notices for motorists about bicyclists and pedestrians, as the city continues to push towards increasing foot and bike traffic throughout the city. The symbols help to create a safe environment for pedestrians and others who use the roadways along with motorists, but there can be some issues with their use.
“It gets a little confusing because on some roads they appear, then if city funds are used they may not be used,” Don Podolski, owner of New Horizons Bikes in Westfield, said.
The symbols that have become the most asked about, Podolski said, are what are known as “sharrows.” These have a bicycle under two triangles with their bottom portions missing.
A sharrow on North Elm Street.
“The shared lane marking is when there’s not enough room for a dedicated bicycle lane,” Podolski said.
Mark Cressotti, city engineer of Westfield, said that the symbols are meant to tell motorists and bicyclists alike that they must—fitting to the name—share the road.
“Bikes have a legal right to travel in the lanes,” Cressotti said.
Cressotti noted that they are currently on North Elm Street near the construction area, but are also expected to be implemented on Elm Street.
These are important because according to Podolski, “there are no dedicated bike lanes in the city of Wesfield.”
Another symbol that people may have seen throughout the city but aren’t quite sure what they are is the “Bicycle Signal Activation” symbol. This symbol features a bicyclist with a helmet on a bike and it almost appears as if the cyclist and their bike are on a pole.
The symbol is meant to notify both the cyclist and the motorist that the traffic light is video-activated. When a cyclist comes up to the symbol on the pavement, the traffic light is signaled through video that a cyclist has come near the intersection and wants to proceed. The light then changes after enough time has elapsed—depending on engineering and the intersection—and the cyclist and the traffic within that lane receive a green light.
A “bicycle recognition” symbol.
Signage for the bicycle recognition activation.
Also, depending on where the symbol is located, this may mean that the lane of traffic gets an additional amount of time to make it through the intersection in order to account for the cyclist.
Then there is a symbol that helps pedestrians that many people may have seen in several areas, but are unfamiliar with.
“These are called shark teeth, and they are replacing the yield sign,” Podolski said.
The symbol is painted prior to a crosswalk and are simply a set of triangles that extend across the road. They are pointed toward the crosswalk coming up and are meant to alert the driver to the potential crossing of pedestrians.
These symbols are becoming more internationally-friendly, getting away from English and instead using symbols to convey information.
“As these markings evolve, you see us becoming more uniform with international standards,” Podolski said.
And as the city changes through commerce and construction, the new symbols appear to fit with the philosophy.
