Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

July 24, 2002
Refer to: HOTO-1

Mr. Keith A. Richardville
Nevada Department of Transportation
Traffic/Safety Division
1263 South Stewart Street, Room 413
Carson City, NV 89712

Dear Mr. Richardville:

Thank you for your May 24 letter requesting an interpretation on the use of the Bicycle Warning sign (W11-1). We apologize for the delay in responding to your request. All first class mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service to Federal agencies in the District of Columbia must be processed in a special way to protect government employees from the possibility of handling anthrax-tainted mail. The irradiation process delays delivery by several weeks.

We have reviewed your request and offer the following comments:

Section 2A.06 Design of Signs, of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), allows for the "State and local highway agencies to develop special word message signs in situations where roadway conditions make it necessary to provide road users with additional regulatory, warning, or guidance information." This section also allows for minor changes in the proportion or orientation of symbols. The bicycle symbol proposed on this warning sign is not an approved sign symbol found in the MUTCD. The bicycle sign symbol shown throughout Part 9 of the MUTCD should be used in place of the proposed symbol. The use of the approved bicycle symbol along with the pedestrian symbol may preclude the use of the diamond-shaped sign warning sign. You may want to consider using a horizontal rectangular warning sign (see MUTCD Table 2C-2, Warning Sign Sizes).

For reference purposes, we have assigned your request the following official interpretation number and title: 9-71(I)-Bicycle Warning sign. Please refer to this number in future correspondence.

If you have any questions, please call Ms. Cherie L. Kittle at 202-366-2188.

Sincerely yours,

Shelley J. Row, P.E.
Director, Office of Transportation
Operations