FORT WAYNE – As the city tries to become more friendly for bicycles, drivers will need to be more aware of their presence on the roads.
Q. Downtown on Wayne Street there is a bike lane on the right side. What happens if a car wants to make a legal right turn and a cyclist plans to go straight? I think we have all had the experience of having a bicyclist being less than cautious coming through heavy traffic at a faster rate than the cars are traveling. – D.M.
A. A timely question, D.M., as bike riders will likely become more prevalent throughout our city. The city has recently adopted a plan to increase its bike lanes and shared-use lanes to give people more transportation options than cars.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said right-turning vehicles should yield to bikes going through the intersection. This is the same principle that requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, although not everyone is great about doing that, either.
The installation of bike lanes is a guide for motorists to look for increased bicycle traffic on these routes, he said, adding this is also why the city is careful about the routes it selects for bike lanes because the city doesn’t want to create conflicts on roads where there is a large volume of turning vehicles. Obviously, regardless of where they are placed, there will always be some conflicts.
Gunawardena said bicyclists also have a responsibility to follow the same rules as drivers when using streets, such as traveling in the same direction as traffic, not weaving between vehicles and using hand signals when turning.
He also encouraged bike riders to make themselves more visible by wearing brightly colored clothes and having proper lights and reflective materials when riding at night.
Because drivers and bicyclists must share the road, they should practice defensive tactics at intersections when there will be increased activity from drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Signals installed
New signals on Covington Road will be activated Monday to improve traffic flow and safety. The city will turn on the signals at Covington and Scott roads and Covington and Homestead roads at 10 a.m.
The signals will also include push buttons to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross the street on the Covington Road Trail and Homestead Road Trail.
Both trails are expected to be completed this fall.
Road restrictions
•The state will reduce lane sizes on U.S. 33 between West Cook and O’Day roads to install a box culvert. The $1.2 million project will be completed in late October.
•Estella Avenue between Old Maumee Road and Orange Avenue in in the Riverhaven area will be closed until Sept. 22 for the installation of water, sewer and storm utility lines.
•Lanes will be intermittently restricted at Anthony Boulevard and Crescent Avenue next week. Crews plan to mill the pavement in the area Monday and resurface it Tuesday, causing times when traffic near the intersection will be delayed or detoured.
Radio Sage
This week’s bonus audio question comes from Amy, who asks about the intersection of Aboite Center Road and North Westlakes Drive. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be heard online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
