'Share the road' signs debut

Tue August 21 2007
Posted Aug 21, 2007
5,823

By Barbara Walker Journal city editor New signs will spring up today along a roughly six-mile stretch of County Road D-25 -- popularly known as old Highway 141-- between Memorial Park Cemetery and the city of Bronson to remind motorists to watch for bicyclists. That works both ways, of course. Cyclists shouldn't derive a false sense of security from the new "Share the road" signs, Woodbury County engineer Dick Storm said. The Siouxland Trails Foundation and Siouxland Cyclists group worked with Storm's office and the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors to get the signs posted. Storm said the cost to the county is about $1,200. Bob DeSmidt, president of the trails foundation, said four signs will be posted along the southbound portion of the popular bike route and three will go up along the northbound side of the highway. The signs will display car and bicycle icons, a yellow diamond and the words "Share the road." The two recreation groups approached the board of supervisors with the sign idea last spring, and, by coincidence, the Journal ran an editorial about that time saying cyclists shouldn't be on the old highway. "That helped build momentum," DeSmidt said. "There are some people who don't understand the rights of bicyclists, and more than anything, we felt that ... this sign would help promote safety." The Iowa Driver's Manual says "... bicyclists and motorists must share the rights and responsibilities of using public streets and roads ..." and reminds motorists to take care to avoid collisions with cyclists. DeSmidt said the Sioux City area is the only large community in Iowa that does not have an intercity trail system. Storm said he expects more safety-awareness signs will be posted in the county as time goes on, saying those along County Road D-25 will serve as a trial. "The geometrics and sight distance are not comparable with what a new road or a highway built in the last 10 or 15 years would be," he said of the old highway. "The only thing I would caution is that bicyclists still need to be cautious."