The installation of “rumble strips” on roads in North Carolina is causing unsafe conditions for cyclists and motorists. Cyclists can be thrown from their bike by the strips or be forced to verge abruptly into the traffic lane at gaps between rumble sections. In many cases the rumbles have made previously usable paved shoulders unsuitable for bicycling, resulting in bicyclists using the travel lanes and consequently requiring motorists to change lanes to pass safely. Although NCDOT has provided general guidance there are no standardized, specific guidelines across the 14 DOT Highway Divisions. In addition, it appears that the contractors applying the rumble strips are either unaware of the guidance or are ignoring it. This issue must be addressed at local and state levels.
Read the full BikeWalk NC background paper here.