TDOT working on bike safety

To improve bicycle safety across Tennessee, steps are being taken to add bike lanes to city streets and to renew emphasis on safety and awareness of cycling laws.

Jennifer Wilson, a bicycle/pedestrian planner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said she was disappointed by recently released rankings that listed Tennessee as No. 43 in the nation in terms of bicycle friendliness. The rankings were released by the League of American Bicyclists.

Speaking Tuesday to the Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency’s Bicycle Task Force, Ms. Wilson said she has been employed by the transportation department since January on a variety of issues related to pedestrian and cycling safety.

“I am so excited to have this role at TDOT and be able to help out and push for more bicycle-friendly policies within the department,” Ms. Wilson said.

Along with adding bike lanes to some roads, TDOT is studying “rumble strips,” she said. The strips, which are used to warn drivers when they are drifting off the road, are very difficult for cyclists to ride on, she said.

The state will be setting up a test strip of “rumble stripes,” which will put the grooves in the white lines on the side of the road, creating smoother areas for cycling on the road shoulders, she said.

Ms. Wilson said she also is working to improve awareness of the “three foot” law that requires drivers to give bicyclists a three-foot buffer zone when passing.

“We have talked about reinstating the three-foot law in the driver’s manual, which was omitted at some point,” Ms. Wilson said. “Another thing is putting a question on the driver’s test about the three-foot law.”

Working with local law enforcement is an important component to improving bicycle safety, task force members said, and Chattanooga officials were praised for their attention to the need for a better understanding of existing bicycle laws and safety concerns.

“The city of Chattanooga police department has identified one of their bike patrol officers that will be best to work with us and work internally in the department,” said task force committee member David Baird.