W16-1 Share the Road (Legacy)
The SHARE THE ROAD plaque (historically W16-1P) was a supplemental plaque mounted below a W11-1 Bicycle warning sign, reinforcing that motorists and bicyclists share the roadway. NOTE: this legend was deprecated and REMOVED in the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023); it is retained here as a legacy reference. The code W16-1P now designates a different sign — the "In Road" plaque (with W16-1aP "In Street") per FHWA SHS 2024 (B3-194/195) and the CA MUTCD 2026 draft (§2C.67).
- Sign Name
- Share the Road (Legacy)
- General Meaning
- The SHARE THE ROAD plaque (historically W16-1P) was a supplemental plaque mounted below a W11-1 Bicycle warning sign, reinforcing that motorists and bicyclists share the roadway.
- MUTCD Code
- W16-1
- Official designation
- SHARE THE ROAD (W16-1P) — LEGACY. Deprecated and removed in the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023). In the current standard the code W16-1P is reassigned to "In Road (plaque)" and W16-1aP to "In Street (plaque)" (FHWA SHS 2024 App. B3-194/195; CA MUTCD 2026 draft Table 2C-1, §2C.67). No "Share the Road" plaque exists in the current CA MUTCD 2026.
- Typical Use
- Mounted directly below the W11-1 Bicycle sign it supplements.
- Sign Category
- Warning Signs
Specifications
- Standard Shape
- Rectangle (Vertical)
- Background Color
- Yellow
- Legend / Symbol
- Black legend
- Border
- Black
- Reflectivity
- High Intensity (for nighttime visibility)
- Compliance
- MUTCD / CA MUTCD
Standard Sizes (inches)
- Conventional Rectangle (Vertical)24"–48" tall
- Expressway Rectangle (Vertical)36"–60" tall
- Freeway Rectangle (Vertical)48"–72" tall
Material / Application Notes
Legacy (2009 MUTCD-era) supplemental plaque below a W11-1 Bicycle sign. Confirm placement and supplemental plaques against the applicable CA MUTCD standard.
View this sign on the Federal MUTCD (FHWA)California Notes
California-specific application notes and adoptions may differ. Review California requirements where applicable.
What It Means / When This Sign Is Used
In the field, W16-1 Share the Road (Legacy) is typically positioned at the mounted directly below the w11-1 bicycle sign it supplements. Common deployments include legacy (2009 MUTCD-era) supplemental plaque below a W11-1 Bicycle sign; deprecated — removed in the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023); not in the CA MUTCD 2026; retained as a historical/legacy reference only. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Learn more about Share the Road (Legacy) sign requirementsWhen & Where It's Used
- Legacy (2009 MUTCD-era) supplemental plaque below a W11-1 Bicycle sign
- Deprecated — removed in the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023); not in the CA MUTCD 2026
- Retained as a historical/legacy reference only
Placement on a Traffic Control Plan
- Where it sits
- Mounted directly below the W11-1 Bicycle sign it supplements.
- CA MUTCD reference
- CA MUTCD Part 2, Chapter 2C (Warning Signs and Object Markers)
- Typical minimum size
- 24" × 18" (supplemental plaque); sized to match the sign it supplements on higher-speed roadways
California / Field Use Notes
This "Share the Road" legend is NOT in the California MUTCD 2026 — it was removed with the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023). It appears in legacy (2009 MUTCD-era) materials only. For current California use, refer to the treatments that replaced it; the W16-1P code now designates the "In Road" plaque.
In Los Angeles, this sign must conform to CA MUTCD 2026. Work in City of LA right-of-way is reviewed by StreetsLA and the Bureau of Engineering (BOE); state highways in LA County are permitted and reviewed by Caltrans District 7; county roads are permitted by LA County DPW. Sizes, retroreflectivity, and placement must meet CA MUTCD minimums — local agencies may require larger signs based on roadway class, speed, pedestrian volume, and proximity to schools or transit.
Common Plan Review Comments
- Sign not shown at the correct advance distance for the posted speed.
- Advance warning sign missing or out of sequence on the TCP.
- Wrong size specified for the roadway classification (conventional vs. expressway).
- Sign sheeting / retroreflectivity class not noted on the plan.
"Share the Road" (legacy W16-1P) was removed in the 11th Edition MUTCD (2023) and is not in the CA MUTCD 2026 — do not specify it on new California plans. Confirm the current replacement treatment with the reviewing agency. Public Ready can review current sign selection.
Related Signs
View All W-Series Signs
Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements. Local jurisdictions may impose additional requirements, and final selection, placement, and dimensions may require engineering judgment or agency approval. Written against California MUTCD 2026 (effective January 18, 2026) and the Federal MUTCD 11th Edition. Official sources last verified June 2026.
Need to Rent or Purchase This Sign? Contact Public Ready.
Public Ready supports sign selection, project-ready sign packages, and equipment sourcing through qualified providers — with expert support built for compliance.