Cyclists will soon be able to ride through some intersections where they have traditionally been required to dismount and walk. Crossrides and bike signals are being installed at select locations in Guelph this summer.
“It’s making it feel more comfortable for people to ride bicycles,” said Jennifer Juste, the city’s manager of transportation planning, noting bikes have traditionally been ridden in the road, with riders required to follow standard traffic laws, but separated paths are now more common. “The industry has known for a while now that people don’t feel safe on the street and in bike lanes.”
A crossride is a separate lane designed for people on bikes that allows them to stay mounted while crossing intersections. They connect in-boulevard cycling infrastructure, such as multi-use paths.
The first crossride is to be installed at the intersection of Vanier Drive and College Avenue in July, with two additional intersections slated for August – Stone Road and Gordon Street as well as Woodlawn Road and Arrow Road.
Additional intersections are likely to follow, Juste said, noting crossrides and bike signals will be included in any new infrastructure design work where there are in-boulevard cycling paths that connect on both sides of an intersection.
“It is a type of infrastructure that we are working toward designing and building more of throughout the city,” she said. “We will see more crossrides with bicycle signals coming … but these are the most-used ones – we wanted to start with those as a priority.”
The concept has support from the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation.
“This will encourage more people to ride as it removes another barrier to cycling by making it more comfortable and convenient,” president Mike Darmon in a message to GuelphToday. “Crossrides also makes biking more equitable as a legitimate means of transportation.”
Education is key, Darmon added.
“Good signage at intersections would be a good start in educating everyone to this newer type of intersection,” he said. “My one wish is that we didn’t have to push the awkward ‘Beg Button’ to get a bike signal. There should be detectors to automatically see a person on a bike.
“There are many other regular intersections in Guelph that do not detect cyclists and this discourages biking and encourages breaking traffic rules. We need to move faster on these things.”
When crossrides are installed, signage will go up with graphics explaining how to safely use them, Juste said, adding instructional postcards will also be sent to residents in those areas.
How to use a crossride (instructions provided in city news release):
Cyclists
- Cyclists must press the button at the intersection to receive the bicycle green signal
- When the bicycle signal is green, ride carefully across the intersection within the crossride paint markings, watching for left and right turning vehicles
- Travel at a speed that allows you to stop quickly if a vehicle makes a sudden turn
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
- Do not pass other cyclists within the crossrides. When passing pedestrians, ring your bell and pass carefully
Pedestrians
- Cross at the marked crosswalk and watch for vehicles
- Avoid using electronic devices, texting, etc. while crossing the road
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
Drivers
- When making a turn, be extra careful and watch for cyclists and pedestrians who are crossing the intersection
- Yield to cyclists and pedestrians who enter the intersection, they have the right of way
- Obey all traffic signs and signals.
