How Do You Spell SHARROW?

Pronunciation: [ʃˈaɹə͡ʊ] (IPA)

The word "sharrow" is a term used to describe a pavement marking that indicates a shared lane for cyclists and motorists. The spelling of "sharrow" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ʃæroʊ/. The first symbol /ʃ/ represents the "sh" sound, followed by the short "a" sound represented by /æ/. The third symbol, /r/, represents the "r" sound, and the final symbol /oʊ/ represents the diphthong "ow" sound. Therefore, the correct pronunciation of "sharrow" is "sh-æ-roh."

Meaning and Definition
Etymology
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SHARROW Meaning and Definition

  1. A sharrow, short for shared-lane marking, refers to a road marking used as a visual cue to indicate that the lanes should be shared between bicyclists and motorists. The term "sharrow" is an amalgamation of the words "share" and "arrow," representing the collaborative nature of road use by different modes of transport.

    The sharrow is typically a pictograph consisting of a bicycle symbol accompanied by chevron markings. It is painted directly on the roadway surface of a travel lane, and its placement is often strategic, such as on roads with narrow or no dedicated bike lanes. By incorporating sharrows into the infrastructure, they aim to increase safety and improve the interaction between bicycles and motor vehicles.

    The purpose of the sharrow is two-fold. Firstly, it serves as a clear visual indication to motorists that they should expect to encounter cyclists in the designated lane. By doing so, sharrows help raise awareness and reduce the chances of accidents related to driver inattention or negligence towards bicyclists. Secondly, the presence of sharrows encourages bicyclists to ride more confidently within the designated lane while informing them of the optimal position to ride, such as slightly away from parked vehicles or close to the center of the marked area.

    Overall, sharrows are a tool used in transportation planning and infrastructure design to enhance safety and promote harmony between bicyclists and motorists on shared roadways.

Etymology of SHARROW

The word "sharrow" is a portmanteau of the words "shared" and "arrow". It was coined to describe a specific type of road marking that combines a bicycle symbol with a chevron and is used to indicate that the road should be shared by both motor vehicles and bicycles. The term was first used in San Francisco in the late 1990s and has since been adopted in various cities around the world as a way to improve bicycle safety and raise awareness about the presence of cyclists on the road.

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