I think it made a difference. It had a good run, it may have been right for the time, but that time is clearly over. It's just too timid, too hesitant, and far too subtle for today.
I've been a bicycle advocate for 32 years, i'm passionate about bicycles' right to the road, but even i,
when i see the classic SHARE THE ROAD sign, think: hmmm, Bicycles need to share the road!
It's time to retire this message.
It is the wrong message. Putting the bike icon on it makes it seem to apply only to Cyclists. Most of us correct that message in our head consciously but we are still sending the wrong message. We do not need to demurely request permission to use a tiny piece of motorists' own private pavement. We need to demand that motorists, however distracted or disinterested, obey the law of the land and the law of good sense.
UPDATE: Science shows that this weak, confusing message does not work. Neither motorists nor cyclists understand that it means Bicycles are legal in the lane. http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/09/02/share-the-road-signs-dont-work/
Let's stop saying Share The Road and start saying something more like Get out of my way!
About a year ago i was riding to work, i was descending Yesler way, a very, very steep 4 block two lane street with a double yellow line and TWO stop signs in those 4 blocks. I stopped at the first stop sign and waited my turn. I took the lane, it was the obvious, safe, legal decision. It is far too dangerous for a car to pass a bicycle on that section and i have to hold my brakes to keep below the speed limit, no car can legally pass me. Some wack job in a red BMW accelerated, crossed the double yellow into oncoming traffic, leans over, rolls down her window, and yells, Share The Road!! I thought she was going to throw her coffee at me. All this while descending a very steep, shorthill. Then she cut hard in front of me and slammed on the brakes and skidded through the stop sign.
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