== Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==

Rumble Strips in NH

by Dave Topham, BWA-NH/GSW Board Member

June 29, 2007

Introduction

BWA-NH has been in contact with NH Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator Tom Jameson and others within NH DOT. In response, Tom explained what he knew about the subject. I wish to share with you some of the information derived from this 24-minute phone call. After weighing the facts, please feel free to take action as suggested below.

Rumble Strips

1. Rumble strips appeared the week of June 25, 2007 on Routes 9 and 202 between Hopkinton and Henniker. These roads are maintained by NH DOT. They are not within an urban compact area like a rumble strip issue in Nashua.

2. Tom Jameson stated that an internal NH DOT design review called for a single rumble strip to be created along the center-line of Routes 9 and 202. As such it would not affect bicyclists and thus there was no need to contact the DOT Bicycle-Pedestrian Transportation Advisory Board (BPTAB) for inputs. (BWA-NH / GSW member Linda Harvey and I have been on the BPTAB for years.)

3. Other facts mentioned by Tom Jameson include that the Federal Highway Administration and many people within NH DOT and safety organizations are in favor of rumble strips since they "wake up" motorists who drift out of their travel lane. We are likely to see more around NH before long.

4. On roads like Interstate Route 93, the right-side rumble strip is cut approximately 30" to the right of the white line (sometimes called the "fog line") to avoid the wheel on a winged snowplow from traveling along the rough strip. On roads that are narrower and the same type high-speed snowplows with "wheeled wings" are not used, the rumble strip placement could or should be closer to the fog line.

5. There are presently three different types (or cuts) of rumble strips used in New Hampshire. The spacing, depth, and wide vary, and they are relatively expensive to create and maintain. Two private contractors are employed by multiple states in the northeast US since the cutting equipment is quite specialized.

6. There is no "policy" for the state to follow concerning rumble strips. As in this Route 9 and 202 case, even an internal NH DOT review does not mean that the plan as presented will be incorporated. Where, when, and by whom the decision was made to add rumble strips to the shoulders of Routes 9 and 202 is an unanswered question.

7. If a rumble strip were cut on or just to the right of the "fog line" and if the shoulder were wide enough for safe cycling (three feet of more), then the strip should not seriously affect bicyclists. It would actually help cyclists by providing an audible warning to both the cyclist and motorist if a motor vehicle were to drift onto the shoulder.

8. If a rumble strip were cut about 30" to the right of the "fog line" leaving very little space (less than three feet) between it and the edge of the pavement, a cyclist could not ride to the right of the strip. Cycling to the left of the strip in the 30" zone places the bicyclist much closer than desired to motorists approaching from the rear. The motorist need not drift far over the fog line before hitting the cyclist before ever contacting the rumble strip. Not a good idea!

9. To date, other than the inquiry from BWA-NH, Tom Jameson knew of no complaints received by NH DOT about the rumble strips on Route 9 and 202. By contrast, the rough payment applied to Route 106 last September prompted many complaints from both bicyclists and motorists. If work done by either the state or local community is unsatisfactory, people must voice their opinion - strongly and in numbers -- to correct a bad situation and prevent a bad idea from being implemented in more places.

10. Having a documented and publicized state-wide policy on rumble strips is not only suggested by Tom Jameson but was one of the topics covered by the BWA-NH when we met with Governor John Lynch's "Special Assistant for Policy" Alice Chamberlin on February 21 in the governor's office. See the contact information below if you wish to help request a meaningful policy for rumble strips and other concerns affecting bicyclists.

Background about the Bike-Walk Alliance of NH

While the BWA-NH has been active since 2004 (starting as the Granite State Bicycling Alliance), many people including regular bicyclists and GSW members don't seem to know about our organization, why it was formed, what it does and plans to do, or maybe they just don't care. The following is offered as general information about the BWA-NH and everyone is invited to view our web site at www.bwanh.org . Of course, we'd like to have you as a member but that is not the point. Bicyclists and pedestrians helping each other to share good ideas, promote a better bike-ped infrastructure within NH, and advocating for better policies, bicycling education, and an active / healthy lifestyle is what it is all about.

The BWA-NH is only about three years old in concept, but the Board of Directors is comprised of five GSW members having over 130 years of experience cycling on NH roads and dealing with all the issues, communities, projects, state agencies, and politics encountered along the way. We do not profess to have all the answers to every question or problem, but we certainly know the State of NH quite well at all levels. We seek to involve and obtain support from people, companies, and organizations having similar goals and desires to improve the bicycling and walking environment for all NH residents and visitors. The Granite State Wheelmen as formed in 1971 is a recreational adult bicycling club and cannot, by virtue of its bylaws and IRS tax status, be a true advocacy and education organization representing bicyclists and pedestrians in NH. The by-line of the BWA-NH states its purpose:

"A Voice for New Hampshire's Bicyclists and Pedestrians"

What can you do to help? For starters:

1. Get involved with local planning issues affecting bicycling to identify and correct problems before they are implemented.

2. Call, write, and email people, departments, and agencies to voice your opinion about matters important to you and your community.

3. Join a group which supports your ideas as there is strength in numbers. (We would like to think you would consider the BWA-NH which includes a full membership in the GSW, but that's your business!)

4. Help set state-wide policies concerning such items as rumble strips, road surface treatments, bike lane/bike trail design, and the implementation of sidewalks on all new construction sites when deemed useful by the community.

5. Contact the following people to voice your concerns or support. Just don't talk to your friends over a pizza or chat via email. Do something if you want something to happen!

Tom Jameson
Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator
Bureau of Rail and Transit
N.H. Department of Transportation
7 Hazen Drive, PO Box 483
Concord, NH 03302-0483
(603) 271-1668
TJameson@dot.state.nh.us

John Lynch
Governor, State of New Hampshire
State House
25 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2121
http://www.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp

Jerry T. Moore
Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs
Bureau of Rail & Transit
NH Department of Transportation
7 Hazen Dr., PO Box 483
Concord, NH 03302-0483
(603) 271-3320
jmoore2@dot.state.nh.us

John W. Corrigan
NH Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Bureau of Planning and Community Assistance
N.H. Department of Transportation
7 Hazen Drive, PO Box 483
Concord, NH 03302-0483
(603) 271-1980
jcorrigan@dot.state.nh.us

Linda Gould
Executive Director
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH
163 Manchester Street, Suite C
Concord, NH 03301-5143
linda@bwanh.org
(603) 472-3877

Dave Topham
Education & Safety Director
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH
163 Manchester Street, Suite C
Concord, NH 03301-5143
dave@bwanh.org
(603) 898.9926

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