8.1 Pavement Markings, Bicycle Lanes & Crosswalks
Key Takeaways
White lines separate traffic moving in the same direction, while yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Crossing a double solid white line is not allowed, and a solid white line should be crossed only to avoid danger.
When a solid yellow line is on your side of a broken yellow line you may not cross it; double solid yellow lines may be crossed only to turn left when safe.
Bicycle lanes are five feet wide, and motor vehicles may enter them only when turning on or off the road, after checking for bicyclists.
A yield line is a row of painted triangles, and you may not drive over or park on a channelizing island unless a police officer directs you to.
Lines, symbols and words painted on the road guide, warn and regulate drivers. Color tells you direction:
- White lines separate lanes moving in the same direction, and a single white line can mark the right edge of the pavement.
- Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions, and a single yellow line can mark the left edge of a divided highway or one-way street.
Lines may be solid or broken (long dashes), single or double. A solid line that turns into a dotted line (short dashes) is the same line continuing through an intersection or interchange. Unless you are turning, exiting or changing lanes, stay between the lines.
White Lines
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Broken white | Separates same-direction lanes. You may cross it to change lanes after signaling, when safe. |
| Solid white | Marks the right edge of the road or separates same-direction lanes, including bike lanes. Do not cross it unless you need to avoid danger. |
| Double solid white | Separates same-direction lanes. Crossing is not allowed. |
Yellow Lines
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Broken yellow | Separates opposite-direction traffic. Stay right of it except to pass when safe. |
| Solid yellow beside broken yellow | If the solid line is on your side, you may not cross. If the broken line is on your side, you may cross only to pass when safe. |
| Double solid yellow | No passing in either direction. You may cross only to turn left when it is safe. |
When passing a vulnerable road user, such as a bicyclist or pedestrian, Massachusetts lets you use part of the next lane and cross the center line if it is safe and necessary to give 4 feet of space (Section 10.1).
Words and Symbols
Words and symbols are often used together with signs, signals and other markings:
- White arrows show lane directions or restrictions, such as left-turn-only lanes.
- A white diamond marks a special-use lane, such as HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) only or bus only. In the manual's diagram, the far-left lane of a three-lane road is reserved for carpools or buses.
Bicycle Markings
| Marking | What it means for drivers |
|---|---|
| Shared lane marking ("sharrow") | A bicycle symbol showing where riders should position themselves in a lane they share with cars, away from opening doors. Watch for bicyclists and give them space when passing. A sharrow is not a bike lane. |
| Bicycle lane | Usually marked by solid white lines, symbols and signs, and five feet wide. Motor vehicles may drive in it only when turning on or off the road. Look carefully for bicyclists and cross with care. Parking in a bike lane is prohibited. |
| Advisory bicycle lane | Dashed on one or both sides, on streets too narrow for a full bike lane. Motor vehicles may use the space when necessary but must always yield to bicyclists first. |
| Green pavement | Marks conflict areas between cars and bikes. Look for bicyclists before crossing it, and do not stop on green pavement at a red light. |
Transit Lanes
Red pavement marks travel lanes or station stops for public transit: buses, streetcars, trolleys, light rail and rapid transit.
Stop Lines, Yield Lines and Crosswalks
- A stop line is a solid white line across the lane at a stop sign or signal.
- A yield line is a row of painted triangles across the lane at a yield sign.
- A crosswalk is a pair of white lines, or other distinctive markings, guiding pedestrians across the road. It may have diagonal or vertical bars between the lines. Crosswalks appear at intersections and also near bus stops, schools, trail crossings and busy commercial areas.
You must stop behind stop lines, yield lines and crosswalk lines whenever a sign, a signal or a pedestrian in the crosswalk requires it.
Channelizing Islands
A channelizing island, raised or painted, guides traffic along set paths. You cannot drive over or park on one unless a police officer directs you to.
Crossing Guards
Several Massachusetts crossing guards have been killed or injured on duty. Watch for:
- Painted crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signs, at the roadside or mid-street
- Reflective vests, which crossing guards wear for visibility
- Stop paddles, hand-held stop signs raised as guards step into the street
Be ready to stop, and obey the guard's signals.
Marking Scenarios
- Solid yellow on your side and broken on the other, slow truck ahead: you may not pass.
- Turning right across a bike lane into a driveway: you may enter the bike lane to turn, after checking mirrors and blind spots for bicyclists.
- Red light while stopped on green pavement: do not stop on the green pavement. Stop before it, behind the stop line or bike box.
- A white diamond in the left lane during rush hour: an HOV or bus restriction applies, so use the lane only if you qualify.
On a two-way road, a solid yellow line is on your side of the center line and a broken yellow line is on the other side. What does this mean?
Passing is allowed only during daylight
Only oncoming traffic must stay in its lane
You may pass whenever the road ahead is clear
You may not cross the lines to pass
When may a motor vehicle drive in a regular bicycle lane?
For up to five minutes while picking up or dropping off passengers
Only when turning on or off the road, after checking for bicyclists
To pass a vehicle ahead of you that is waiting to turn left
Whenever traffic in the main travel lane is stopped or very slow
What does a row of painted triangles across a travel lane indicate?
A yield line
A no-passing zone
A stop line
A speed bump ahead
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.