As dicey as that might sound, these "sharrows" have been implemented in Europe and some West Coast cities and could be coming to Salt Lake City.

Transportation officials are looking at launching such a pilot project on 200 South between Main and State streets. It would comprise a 4-foot-wide green sharrow lane painted in the middle of the right traffic lane on each side of the street.

"It's a new concept," said Tim Harpst, director of transportation for Salt Lake City, "and we had to go to the Federal Highway Administration for approval for the testing."

The green lane would carry the white bicyclist's symbol and chevrons (markers shaped like an inverted V) to alert motorists to expect to share space with two-wheelers.

"We want bicyclists out in the center of the lane," Harpst said. "We want them to take ownership of the lane."

Until now, the city's designated bike lanes have been to the right of motorists' lanes and striped in white paint. The sharrow lanes would be put where streets are too narrow for an additional bike lane.

And that's the case on 200 South between State and Main, Harpst said.

City officials aren't sure when the green paint will go down. First, the street must be resurfaced. And producers of the "slurry seal" needed for the new surface have notified Salt Lake City they could run out.

Still, Harpst hopes the sharrow test lane will be in place by September or October.

If the pilot project succeeds, he said, sharrows could be placed elsewhere in Salt Lake City.

The project is part of Mayor Ralph Becker's emphasis on improved bicycle transportation. In a recent town meeting, the mayor said he is seeking ways to make bike travel easier and safer.

"We need to do a better job of striping bike lanes," he said. "And there has to be a better education program for motorists as well as cyclists."

Salt Lake City is one of the nation's more progressive communities when it comes to bicycling, according to Dave Iltis, head of the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee.

He welcomes the city's sharrow pilot program. "The point of the sharrows is they highlight to drivers to pay attention to bicyclists."

Bicyclists have the same right to the road as motorists, Iltis said. But he added bicyclists also have a responsibility to be aware of traffic and ride safely.

csmart@sltrib.com

* Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's Bicycle Advisory Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in Room 335 at City Hall, 451 S. State St.

* Meetings are open to the public.

* More information is available at www.slcgov.com/bike.