Q: What are those signs on the road that look like a bicycle under a roof?
A: It’s a “sharrow” it identifies a “shared lane.” It’s a reminder to bicyclists to ride in the center of the lane, not on the tiny white line on the right side; and to travel in the direction that the arrow is pointing. It is also a reminder to the drivers to watch for bicyclists.
Q: Aren’t the bicycles supposed to ride in the Bike Lanes?
A: According to Bike Sassy’s Why You Should Be Riding Your Bike In The Middle Of The Traffic Lane in AltDaily, “Every lane IS a bike lane.” The difference is that cars cannot drive in designated Bike Lanes.
Q: But if it’s a reminder, then it’s not a law, right?
A: Virginia Code § 46.2-839, or the three-foot rule, is punishable by a $35 fine plus a $51 processing fee, for a total fine of $86.
§ 46.2-839. Passing bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.
Any driver of any vehicle overtaking a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a reasonable speed at least three feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle … and shall not again proceed to the right side of the highway until safely clear of such overtaken bicycle … .
Bike Arlington’s article, Virginia’s 3 Foot Passing Law , explains that a rule of thumb is to position the vehicle so that the driver’s seat straddles the center line. This assumes that passing is authorized at that point. If a solid line, either yellow or white, is on your side of the road you cannot pass.
ATU LOCAL 1177 