SALISBURY, Md.- People who frequently use Business Route 13 in Salisbury may have noticed bicycle markings on both sides of the highway.
Their purpose is to get bike riders like Frank Lanham and drivers like Corbin Ellis to share the road.
"I feel like they work," said Lanham, "I mean it could be worse, because there could be no areas or anything but I mean I use them a lot when I across that road."
""In everyday driving you have to be alert and it's that same type of alertness that to watch out for bikers and watch out for pedestrians as well," Ellis said.
The Maryland State Highway Administration said it started placing all 20 of the markings on the roadway a few weeks ago.
Gee Williams, the administration's community liaison in Salisbury, said each marking cost about $300, which equals roughly to $6,000 earmarked for bicycle safety.
"Like anything else, people adapt to the reality and the reality is there will be more bicyclists on the roadways in the next several years and in the next decade than anything we've ever seen before," Williams said.
Some people who frequently use the highway said the markings are a good idea but may not work.
"It is a distraction," said driver Darlene Brown. "Let alone you have to worry about the other drivers on the road, now you have to worry about the bicyclists as well. Nnine times out of 10 they are not going to be paying attention while they are cycling on the road."
"For the most part I would say it would be safer for the riders to stay away from the road because the cars that are going fast can hit you," said Stefan Gaszynski, who rides his bicycle to and from Salisbury University.
Williams said the administration plans to put similar markings along parts of Route 50 near Hebron.
(Photo: WBOC)
