Greenwich To Install Shared Lane Bicycle Roadway Markers

GREENWICH, CT — In a continued effort to enhance and improve safety for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists, Greenwich will install shared lane bicycle roadway markers — or "sharrows" — at two locations in town.

The board of selectmen last week unanimously endorsed the installation of the markers. No formal approval was necessary, but Michael Kiselak, a civil engineer for the town's department of public works, presented the idea to the board which acts as the official traffic authority in town.

The markers will be installed between Byram Park and Bruce Park, and near Riverside School and Eastern Middle School — two areas where bicyclists of all ages can be found on the road, Kiselak said.

Particularly near Riverside School, a group of students bike to class with chaperones to ensure safety, Kiselak noted.

"We don't have space for formal bike lanes because of things like parking, which we don't want to take away, and we don't want to narrow the lanes too much or change any vehicle traffic operations," Kiselak explained. "These are really just an enhancement for visibility, awareness and to help people know where to [go] in the lane so they don't ride too close to a parked car and get hit by a door. It kind of helps them steer in the safest spot in the lane."

DPW hopes to install the markers in late spring early summer. Depending on their effectiveness and feedback from the community, Greenwich could identify more areas next year, Kiselak said.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the idea for the "sharrows" was first discussed before the COVID-19 pandemic hit with the then-called Bicycle Task Force, now known as the Active Transportation Task Force.

Since then, there's been even more of an importance placed on outdoor recreational activity and safety.

"This is good because our roads here are not that wide," Camillo said. "This is not like hiking, because you're sharing a road with cars. So you have to be careful with this, and that's why we're going very slow. This is very much needed."

Camillo has been focused on making Greenwich more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly, evidenced by various intersection improvements.

Greenwich also recently celebrated a $270,000 grant from the state of Connecticut to design a multi-use path with Stamford.