Ayres Knowledge Center Using Bike Boxes to Increase Visibility and Safety | Page 6

“The results of this study show that bicycle boxes
accompanied with ‘No Right Turn on Red’ signs can improve
the safety of bicyclists and motorists at intersections,”
the City of Austin Bicycle Team stated in its report titled
“Effects of Bicycle Boxes on Bicyclist and Motorist Behavior
at Intersections.” The study observed that drivers gave
bicyclists the right-of-way more often with the presence
of bike boxes, with a significant increase in the percentage
of bicyclists departing the intersection first upon the light
changing to green – ahead of vehicular traffic.
The Austin report saw some evidence of color adding
to bike boxes’ effectiveness: “When color was added,
bicyclists tended to follow and stay within the colored
area. At Speedway and 38th Street, motorists encroached
on the bicycle box less frequently when the color was
added. Bicyclists were also given the right-of-way more
often after installation of the skeleton bicycle box, and
more often still after the application of color.”
To study the pure effects of the control devices on human
behavior in the Austin study, no public education efforts
were conducted before the Austin study. Observers in the
6 | USING BIKE BOXES
study found a high rate of encroachment by drivers and
a low 15% to 25% rate of bicyclists’ use of the bike box,
although bikers still generally benefitted from the ability
to come to a stop in the bike lane at a position forward
from motor vehicles, providing them better visibility.
The difference between coming to a stop in the bike lane
versus coming to a stop in the bike box is that the bike
lane position provides visibility to the bicyclist, while
commanding a position literally in front of vehicular traffic
provides both visibility and a physical barrier preventing
a right-turning vehicle from overtaking and cutting off a
through-traveling bike.
“Shoal Creek Boulevard observed a high percentage of
motorists that turned right on red illegally after the ‘No
Right Turn on Red’ signs were installed. Researchers
observed bicyclists repositioning themselves at the
intersection to allow motorists to turn right on red, so
it may be possible that the heavy right turning traffic
discourages use of the bicycle box.”