This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Bikeway Signage Improvements Aimed at Driver-Biker Safety

Additional signs at major road and Minuteman Bikeway intersections are aimed at easing safety concerns.

The number of bicyclists using the Minuteman Bikeway in Lexington has noticeably increased since last year, which has Peggy Enders, chairwoman of the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee both excited and nervous.

"It's both a good thing and a bad thing," said Enders.

She is concerned about the safety of the locations where the Bikeway intersects major roadways, such as Hancock, Revere, Woburn and Westview streets.

Find out what's happening in Lexingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Both bicyclists and motorists blow through intersections without slowing down or stopping," said Enders.

Enders is working closely with Town Engineer John Livsey to improve signage along the Bikeway and at the intersections.

Find out what's happening in Lexingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We want to do something that is consistent at all intersections," Livsey said. "So there is a driver expectancy and bike-user expectancy – so you don't have different rules at each intersection."

This past spring, Town Meeting approved $20,000 for the Department of Public Works to fund improvements on the Bikeway, and Livsey said he hopes to complete a good amount of the work by the end of this construction season in mid-November.

Plans include the installation of florescent, lime-green signs which drivers will see more easily at the Bikeway, and approaching the Bikeway 100 feet back. The DPW will also stripe the crosswalks at the bikeways to make them clearer and wider.

In addition, Livsey is planning to hire an outside consultant to evaluate the two signalized intersections with the Bikeway (Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue) to determine whether they are in compliance, then recommend needed improvements.

Long term improvement plans for the Bikeway

"Signs aren't the magic bullet for fixing this problem, it's deeper than that," said Enders.

The DPW and Bicycle Committee are also collaborating on a longer-term improvement plan to redesign the intersections to get people to slow down and improve sight lines between cars and bicyclists.

"The problem is, the Bikeway was designed in the early days of bike trail building in 1991," said Enders.

"Since then, bikeways that are this popular would be wider and designed differently so when you come up the streets, there would be a different approach, so bikes would be forced to slow down," she continued.

The committee has received many reports of drivers jamming on their brakes as bicyclists cross. While there have been no major accidents to date, Enders worries that will not always to be the case.

"We have to figure out a way to impress upon them the importance of coming to an almost complete stop before crossing the street on a bike and respect the fact they don't have the right of way.

"Pedestrians do, but bicyclists do not unless they are walking their bike across the street," said Enders.

Matt Pawlowski of Lexington always walks his bike across the street.

"The law is you are supposed to walk across," he said. "It can get confusing for people as it changes along the bikeway and roadways."

Brian Gregor of Sudbury enjoys riding his recumbent bike on the Bikeway, but said he has observed the path's safety issues, particularly at the busy Revere Street intersection.

"There is less of a sight line to oncoming cars due to the curve of the road," he said.

He also thinks signage is necessary to warn drivers who are not familiar with the road about the Bikeway crossing, he said.

More funds are needed for future changes such as replacing all the gates and ballards, to make them consistent, said Livsey.

"I think we'll get there some day," said Enders. "In Europe, where there are many more bikes and they have been riding longer, this has all been worked out. The streets and roadways are much more bike friendly and there are many more bike paths."

More information about the Minuteman Bikeway is available at www.minutemanbikeway.org.

Download the movie

Download the movie

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Lexington