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Take a ride on the city’s green bike lanes and boxes

Watch our awesome new video explaining the purpose of green bike lanes, green bike boxes and how to use them.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has been installing these facilities over the past couple of years to encourage more cycling by creating a safe, more comfortable road environment. The video was created for SDOT by Max Hohlbein and Revolution Studios as part of the Art Institute of Seattle’s Winter Quarter 2012 Video Production Class.

Bike boxes improve safety by increasing driver’s awareness of cyclists and encouraging cyclists to make more predictable approaches to and through an intersection. When a traffic signal is yellow or red, motorists must stop behind the box. Typically at bike box locations, right turns on red are not be permitted. Cyclists using the bike box should stop before the crosswalk to make sure pedestrians can move freely. When the light turns green, motorists and cyclists may move through the intersection, as usual, with cyclists going first.

Green bike lanes highlight areas where bicycles and cars cross paths. Motorists should yield to cyclists and in turn cyclists should be alert and look for cars crossing the green lane.

If you haven’t already, make sure you fill out our online survey and interactive map to let us know what bike issues matter the most and where you make or would like to make bike trips. We are updating the Bicycle Master Plan and can’t do it without YOU!