Share the Road Initiative

The Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation has been a leader in educating both cyclists and motorists about their rights and responsibilities in sharing roadway space. In 1982, the Division undertook its first statewide safety campaign on the theme, Bicycles Are Vehicles. The thrust of this campaign was to increase awareness among motorists that bicycles have an equal right to use the state’s highways while educating bicyclists to the need to ride responsibly as vehicle operators.

To alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists in certain heavy traffic areas, the Division worked with others within the North Carolina Department of Transportation to create a "Share the Road" sign, a yellow/green diamond warning sign with a bicycle schematic and a plaque below with the words "Share the Road." These signs were first produced and erected along roadways in 1987. The sign was later adopted as part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that is used throughout the country.

For more information, go to Share the Road Signing Initiative in the Projects section.

“Share the Road” License Plate
Bicycle enthusiasts across North Carolina can now show their support for bicycle and highway safety by purchasing a new specialized license plate. The plate, which features the “Share the Road” traffic sign, was approved by the NC General Assembly. Orders can be placed by filling out an application (228K, PDF) and forwarding it to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Click here for more information and to order now.

North Carolina Driver’s Handbook
The Division has also worked closely with the Division of Motor Vehicles within NCDOT to incorporate information for motorists about the law and the proper way to interact with bicyclists and pedestrians on North Carolina’s highways. The North Carolina Driver’s Handbook has an entire section devoted to bicycles, bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities, and how motorists should behave. You can view it online by clicking on this link.

Likewise, the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook has some information about how motorists should watch for pedestrians, although the section is very limited in scope. You can view it online by clicking on this link.

02/13/07