Road Infrastructure

Poor Quality Roads

The condition of the road can affect where cyclists decide to ride. Legally, cyclists must be treated as another vehicle on the road in order to maintain traffic laws and flow. Most of the time—especially when a vehicle is passing—cyclists will ride close to the shoulder because it helps keep more distance between the rider and the vehicle. Areas where road infrastructure is not improved is when a cyclist can be put in more danger because it will likely reduce the distance between them and a vehicle. 

Common Infrastructural Issues on Rural Highways:  

• Unpaved road shoulders 

• Potholes/deteriorating road (quite common throughout the entire state of Michigan) 

• Wide lanes  

Wide Lanes... A Problem?

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found in a 2018 study, conducted in Washtenaw County, that wider lanes were associated with significantly less vehicle lane-crossing when passing a cyclist (Feng). This is problematic because it also showed that the illusion of a spacious road can become associated with faster speeds for many drivers. Today, this type of driver behavior resulting from wide lanes can be seen in Washtenaw County.  

Repair the Roads

Ensuring that the road shoulders and the pavement are in good condition can be crutial to improving cyclist safety. Although improving the quality of all rural highways in the county would be extremely beneficial, this solution would be more difficult for Washtenaw County to pursue because of high costs associated with repaving roads in addition to the sheer amount of repaving that would have to be done.