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The Dispatch wrote
‘Bike boxes’ aim to keep cyclists safe
Saturday, October 11, 2008
BY TIM DOULIN
Part of one of the most popular Columbus routes for bicyclists is being upgraded to include pavement markings at a key intersection that will help bikes avoid collisions with turning vehicles.
The so-called “bike boxes,” pavement markings in the shape of a box, are to be installed next year on Milton Avenue on both sides of the intersection at W. North Broadway.
When the traffic signal is red, bicyclists will be allowed to ride past stopped vehicles on Milton to wait in the box at the head of the line until the light changes.
“The bike box gives bicyclists the right of way at the intersection,” said Mary Carran Webster, Columbus assistant public service director.
Sensors will be installed in the pavement to detect when a bike is there and trip the traffic signal. Currently, bicyclists use a pedestrian push button to change the signal.
Riders, pedestrians, drivers??? Thoughts?
I think it’s an excellent solution for this specific intersection. It’s heavily traveled by cyclists, it’s lightly traveled by cars, it gives signal priority to cyclists, and it increases the visibility of cyclists.
Don’t underestimate the impact that a little paint can have on roadways either. It shows everyone that the city is starting to get serious about the cycling rhetoric we’ve been hearing for the last few years.
Ah, gotcha. I guess I didn’t realize that when I first flipped through the article.
I agree with you that it could be an unsafe practice, but hopefully at this intersection it will work. I can’t see this being a solution for the whole city, but I guess that’s why we have different traffic configurations all over the place anyways.
I’m eager to hear any stories about anyone trying this out. Been awhile since I biked up that way myself.
If a cyclist is riding legally – he or she is already taking the lane – and waiting behind any vehicle that is already at the red light.
I don’t think it’s mandatory to take the lane and wait behind vehicles at the light. The Ohio Revised Code seems to allow cyclists to carefully pass a standing vehicle (like at a traffic signal) or one proceeding in the same direction.
4511.55 Operating bicycles and motorcycles on roadway.
(A) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
I’m not saying it’s always safe, but I don’t think it’s illegal.
Perhaps the tiny graphic isn’t doing it for you. Here’s the bigger one:
This looks to encourage bikers to take the whole lane at the intersection instead of sitting off to the side with the button to push to give them right of way.
I think it’s a much better solution than what was there before, and off the top of my head can’t think of anything better that would work out for both cars and cyclists in a better road-sharing configuration.
Honestly, I don’t think any one system is ever going to be 100% perfect for everyone. Somebody’s always going to have some complaints about something.
I think I didn’t explain myself clearly, Walker. This set up encourages bicyclists to ride inbetween/next to cars waiting at a red light so they can get up to the bike box. Hence “lane-splitting” problem. If a cyclist is riding legally – he or she is already taking the lane – and waiting behind any vehicle that is already at the red light.
I think the idea is great for when no one is at the intersection, because the *sensor* would allow the cyclist to wait in the middle of the lane rather than pulling up to the curb to hit the button. But when traffic is already there – the light is going to change soon anyway. There is no need for a cyclist to ride up inbetween cars to get to a box painted onto the road.
A lot of cyclists do this at red lights without bike boxes. I am guilty of it when I am in a hurry – and it’s NOT safe. Opening car doors could hit you. You could get in the way of a turning driver that doesn’t see you, etc. I have quickly learned that it’s not a very good idea.
+1
This is saying, go ride in the door zone, along the curb, or lane split putting yourself in danger to get to the head of stopped traffic. Its not safe to do, lots of cyclists do it at southbound on N. High and Lane.
The bikeway plan YIKES!
The good thing is there is no row of parked cars and they’re not going to allow any right turns on red. I haven’t used a bike box myself or seen them in action, but I’d probably ride as though it weren’t there. I also agree with Zach’s concern that this will encourage curb hugging. particularly among those that already do. Like I said before, some of the best signs to put up for bikes are those that tell cyclists to bike safely and legally with cars.
Why? To make a statement?
The main purpose of this bike box seems to be to trigger the traffic signal. There’s so little traffic on this road that you shouldn’t ever have to pass more than one car. It’d be shocking if that one driver decided to open their passenger side door at this intersection. Even if they did, you’d probably be going 1/2 mph.
Rode through Milton & East North Broadway this morning on a bike ride and they already have the pavement segments ground down for the installation of sensors. The new paving is a dream to ride…no more bumps and ruts. Gotta give it up to the City for a job well done.
Hell yes. It’s so much nicer. And those sections where the bike boxes will be have been there for about 3-4 days now. They did the whole repaving in like 5 days. Awesome work.
+1 on sensors and paving.
In Portland’s system, the bike boxes actually work in conjunction with designated bike lanes. The cyclist rides up to the front of traffic in the bike lane, then pulls into the bike box so that cars notice he/she is there. Once the light turns to green, the cyclist goes through the intersection and gets back into the bike lane. It prevents drivers making right turns into bikers who are traveling in bike lanes.
I definitely think this makes more sense. That’s kind of what I meant by calling it a half-assed solution. It’s great for THAT INTERSECTION. But we definitely need to put a little more effort into high street, summit, neil and 4th if we want to take bike boxes further.
I am also +1 for sensors and smooth pavement
and +1 for anything that draws attentions to cyclists on the road.
How cool! I’ve definitely been caught in places where I can’t seem to get the light to turn red, and I really hate running red lights, so this should be nice. Only thing is it sort of encourages bikers to pass by stopped cars and pull to front, which often pisses people off. Hmph. We’ll see how it works out! :-)
we need this for motorcycles too. why not keep us safe as well?
they have it in spain. pretty cool idea. and the motos accelerate faster than the cars do so it doesnt really cause any traffic problems.
i do it at probably 90% of lights on my motorcycle anyway…
info about spain’s box
http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/spain-front-row-seats-for-motorcycles.htm
I was having a little trouble visualizing how these would work. Like someone else mentioned, it sounded to me like bikes would move to the front of the line and ride through the intersection when the light turns green, only to be passed again by all the cars. Repeat at each intersection.
But then I watched the videos on the site that was posted a few pages ago.
http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/more-on-bike-boxes/
Makes it look much simpler…but really only with bike lanes in place. And also when bikes that are proceeding through the intersection don’t use the bike boxes and remain with the traffic.
http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/spain-front-row-seats-for-motorcycles.htm
Those damn motos waking me up at 3 in the morning. As long as they ban tinkering with the muffler for deafening roars, I´m all for this.
they have it in spain. pretty cool idea. and the motos accelerate faster than the cars do so it doesnt really cause any traffic problems.
i do it at probably 90% of lights on my motorcycle anyway…Columbus has 1% the motorcycle commuting population that Spain has. I’ve been to both Barcelona and Madrid. You can clearly see why it’s needed in Spain. Definately not necessary here. Besides, aren’t most motorcycle deaths caused by speeding?
no they are not. the vast majority of motorcycle deaths come from the failure of other motorists to see or recognize the motorcycle in traffic or at night. this is 70% of motorcycle deaths right here. the most common scenario is the blind cager turning left in front of a bike. i dont really like the excuse “i didnt see them” or “they came out of nowhere”. nothing comes out of nowhere. the bike did not just materialize an instant before the collision. they didnt see them because they were not looking.
other causal factors are road conditions, speed, riding skill (or lack thereof i guess…) and of course alcohol.
and true the boxes are not NECESSARY here, but it still would be nice. like i said, i do it 90% of the time anyway… would just be nice to be legal :)
Boogie on reggae woman, captain janks.
Editorial: [color=darkblue:4afb7daf14]Inside the box
Bike-safety measure could make intersections safer for bikes, cars
Thursday, October 16, 2008 3:06 AM
Columbus Dispatch
With plans for “bike boxes” at one of the city’s busiest intersections for bicyclists, Columbus moves to the leading edge nationally in efforts to help cars and bicycles coexist safely.
The bike-only pavement markings, planned for Milton Avenue on each side of W. North Broadway in Clintonville, allow bicyclists at a red light to go in front of motorists to wait, in the box, for the light to turn green. That way, bicyclists going straight can get through the intersection without danger of a right-turning car coming into their path — the so-called “right-hook collision” that urban cyclists especially fear.
Bike boxes are relatively new in New York City and in Portland, Ore., a mecca for alternative transportation. For them to appear in Columbus shows that city officials are interested in solutions to a vexing problem.
MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2008/10/16/bikebox.ART_ART_10-16-08_A8_4SBK2CD.html?sid=101
Editorial: [color=darkblue:d1391a74e0]Inside the box
Bike-safety measure could make intersections safer for bikes, cars
Thursday, October 16, 2008 3:06 AM
Columbus Dispatch
With plans for “bike boxes” at one of the city’s busiest intersections for bicyclists, Columbus moves to the leading edge nationally in efforts to help cars and bicycles coexist safely.
The bike-only pavement markings, planned for Milton Avenue on each side of W. North Broadway in Clintonville, allow bicyclists at a red light to go in front of motorists to wait, in the box, for the light to turn green. That way, bicyclists going straight can get through the intersection without danger of a right-turning car coming into their path — the so-called “right-hook collision” that urban cyclists especially fear.
Bike boxes are relatively new in New York City and in Portland, Ore., a mecca for alternative transportation. For them to appear in Columbus shows that city officials are interested in solutions to a vexing problem.
The Milton and North Broadway intersection is important to cyclists, because it lies between disconnected sections of the enormously popular Olentangy Multi-Use Trail, which runs from Worthington Hills to Downtown. Hundreds of bike riders pass through the intersection every day, along with plenty of joggers and hikers.
Still, the bike boxes might bring frustration and confusion, even to motorists who are used to the intersection’s alternative traffic. Some drivers will resent that bicycles are allowed to go to the head of the line; most will be unhappy that right turns on red aren’t allowed at bike-box intersections.
Those accustomed to bikes on the road know that turning right with cyclists in the vicinity can be nerve-wracking. When bicycles hug the extreme right of the road they’re hard for drivers to see. If the cyclists are in the bike box during the red light, drivers behind them can be much more confident they won’t cross paths while the cars make their turns.
Columbus is car-oriented, and bike-busy intersections are unusual. Bike boxes could have a significant impact on motor traffic and should be imposed with care.
The two planned for the half-mile stretch of streets between the bike-path sections will test the idea. If they’re effective and if cyclists and motorists can learn to accommodate them, they might be merited in other bike-intensive areas, such as the Ohio State University area.
Videos are available on the Internet to show cyclists and motorists how the boxes work. Hard-core cyclists probably already know about them, but occasional riders and most motorists most likely don’t. The challenge is to make the boxes as user-friendly and self-explanatory as possible.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2008/10/16/bikebox.ART_ART_10-16-08_A8_4SBK2CD.html?sid=101