Q: Gerald Collier of Claremont asked for an explanation of the new bicycle and other lane markings on Towne Avenue in Claremont, saying he does not know how to interpret the markings as a vehicle operator. A: The city of Claremont recently improved Towne Avenue from Foothill Boulevard to Base Line Road using design elements to reduce speeds and increase visibility for cyclists and pedestrians, city spokesperson Bevin Handel said. The width of the lanes was reduced, new landscaped medians were added, and protected bike lanes were created in sections where space allowed, she said. The city also added green paint to bike lanes in areas where drivers and cyclists are at a higher risk of colliding. “Green bike lanes make drivers and bicyclists more aware of each other as they share the road. This increased visibility enhances safety by reducing collisions,” Handel said. For drivers and cyclists unfamiliar with the green striping and signage, here’s an explanation from the city: Vehicles stream past the recently opened bike lanes along Towne Avenue between Foothill Boulevard and the 210 Freeway in Claremont as seen on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) • Solid green with dashed white lines: Bicyclists have the right of way and motorists may enter to cross the bike lanes when it is safe. • Solid green with solid white lines: Bicyclists have the right of way and motorists may not cross except to enter a driveway. • Dashed green area: Cars and bikes are intended to cross paths. Drivers must yield to bicyclists before driving across the dashed paint and must make a right turn from as far right as possible — this helps prevent a collision called the “right hook,” when a car makes a right turn in front of a bicyclist. On Towne Avenue, bike yield signs have been installed at the beginning of these sections. (Look for a white sign with a red triangle and bike symbol.) • Buffered bike lane: Bicycle lanes paired with solid white line buffer space provides a greater distance between cars and bicyclists. Cars may not cross. • Green bike box – intersections: An area at the head of a traffic lane at intersections with signals. At a red light, bicyclists are safely visible ahead of the traffic. This facilitates left-turn positioning at intersections during a red light and allows bicyclists to move from the right lane to the left-turn lane position. Motorists must stop behind the white line at the red light and allow cyclists to go first when the light turns green. Several sections of Towne Avenue also include protected bike lanes that are separated from motorists by concrete medians. Towne Avenue was not wide enough in some sections to accommodate protected bike lanes the entire length, Handel said. Related Articles News | Here are 10 tips for driving safely in the rain News | Is it ever legal to make a left turn on a red light? News | Does the DMV issue disabled license plates for motorcycles? News | Is it legal to leave an unused trailer hitch on a vehicle? News | Highway 330 repair work continues after Line fire caused structural damage Car seat help The California Highway Patrol recently received a $850,000 federal grant for a new, yearlong campaign called “California Restraint Safety Education and Training,” to reduce injuries and fatalities among child passengers statewide. The CHP will conduct presentations, training sessions and child safety seat inspections so families know how to correctly install and use car seats. The program also offers free child safety seats to families in need. Contact your local CHP area office for more information. Visit https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office to find your nearest CHP office. You can also find helpful videos at https://www.chp.ca.gov/home by clicking on the link “Child Safety Seats.” California law requires that children under age 8 be secured in a child safety seat in the backseat. Children under age 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh 40 pounds or more or are at least 40 inches tall. Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write [email protected] or call us at our new phone number, 951-368-9995.