Rumbles? No. AVPMs? Yes!

Huh?

OK , in English.  Effective 2009 the Florida Department of  Transportation will require “Audible and Vibratory Pavement Markings” on projects widening or resurfacing rural highways (state roads only).  These are a huge improvement over the ground-in rumble strips that have been installed on some highways; the ground-in rumbles are treacherous for cyclists.

AVPMs are best described with a photo (click photo to enlarge).

The dimples or ridges create a sound that cyclists can easily hear when a car tire runs on the stripe, and the sound and even vibration transmits into the car’s passenger compartment as well.  The dimples or ridges will not pose a safety problem for the cyclist riding over the stripe.  (A number of cyclists on FDOT staff test-rode them to be sure!)

AVPMs can also be used in urban areas where run-off-the-road crashes are a problem, such as this curve on Tuskawilla Road in Seminole County.  AVPMs could mitigate the run-off problem without creating problems for cyclists as (for example) these posts and raised pavement markers do.