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The Hazards of Rumble Strips Reduced? 2010 - 2012 |
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"Improperly placed rumble strips or improperly sized shoulders containing rumble strips can be
hazardous to bicyclists. The uneven road surface and vibrations resulting from riding over any
of the groove type rumbles can cause a bicyclist to lose control, potentially resulting in a
crash." This is how the problem is framed in the new Wisconsin Department of Transportation
(WisDOT) publication entitled "Advisory
on Installation of Bicyclist Compatible Rumble Strips", a document the Heartland Bike Club
had a hand in inspiring and producing. Rumble strips are those grooved sections of roads usually prior to hazardous intersections to alert drivers to the danger ahead. When a vehicle passes over the strips, noise and vibration attract the driver's attention if they became inattentive at the wheel. |
Crossing longitudinal rum- bles is unsafe for cyclists.
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In the fall 2010, the Heartland Bike Club, based on member concerns of rumble strips constructed in ways hazardous to bicyclists here in Portage County, appointed a 3-member Rumble Strips Action Team. This Team immediately began talking with local officials about the dangers of rumble strips to cyclists. The group also contacted staff at the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (BFW) and the WisDOT, and began researching local and state laws and guidelines on rumble strip construction. Quickly it was learned that, for the most part, there existed sufficient engineering guidelines for the proper/safe design and installation of rumbles, but that the guidelines were not readily available in one location. It also became apparent to the Team that the problem of hazardously constructed rumbles was not limited to Portage County. The Team, therefore, based on a suggestion of the WisDOT staff, proposed the production of an advisory that could be circulated to all the highway departments in the state.
Throughout the winter and spring of 2011, the Team worked with WisDOT and BFW staff to create the advisory. On June 8, 2011, the "Advisory on Installation of Bicyclist Compatible Rumble Strips" was published by WisDOT and made available on their website.
The Team continues to work with WisDOT and BFW staff to disseminate the advisory around Wisconsin, and to talk with highway departments about how to safely design and construct rumble strips.
Then, since rumble strips installed completely across roads are so dangerous, the Team, in 2011, began discussions with the Portage County Highway Department to see if there was a way to correct the problem with current rumble strip installations in Portage County. In the winter and spring 2012, Stephen Schlice, Asst. PC Highway Commissioner, embarked on an abatement project to fill in sections of rumble strip grooves on all current installations around the County. In February, 2012 he had finalized the project.
Heartland Bike Club
Rumble Strips Action Team
Jack Friess, Team Leader
Rolf Garthus, Member
John Gardner, Member
Updated: 7/25/2012