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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />November 30, 2011 <br /> <br />CONTACT: <br />Tom Larsen, City Traffic Engineer, 541-682-4959 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br /> <br />First Bike-Only Signal Phase to Be Activated Dec. 1 on Alder Street <br />Eugene’s first bike-only traffic signal is scheduled to be activated on Thursday, Dec. 1, at <br />th <br />the intersection of Alder Street and 18 Avenue. <br />Alder Street is a main route for cyclists, and more than 16,000 vehicles travel through <br />the intersection on an average day, so the City has been focusing on ways to improve traffic <br />safety and reduce conflicts for all modes of transportation in that area. <br />The new signal displays red, yellow or green bicycle symbols that give cyclists on Alder <br />th <br />Street the exclusive right-of-way to cross 18 Avenue. When the bicycle signal turns red, <br />cyclists must stop, and cars get a standard green signal that gives them the right of way, <br />th <br />including making left turns from southbound Alder Street to eastbound 18 Avenue. When traffic <br />th <br />on 18 Avenue has a green light, cars and bicycles on Alder Street have red lights. <br />“The new signal is designed to prevent the conflicts that can occur when a car turns left <br />th <br />across the path of a cyclist crossing 18 at Alder,” said Tom Larsen, the City’s traffic engineer. <br />“The key to success is that everyone takes their turn. That includes cyclists and pedestrians <br />stopping when their signals are red to allow cars to make their turns safely.” <br />While fully functional, the new traffic signal is considered temporary until a new, yellow <br />signal housing and permanent mast are installed. <br />Other recent changes designed to increase safety for cyclists in the area include <br />thth <br />converting the block of Alder Street between 19 and 18 avenues to one-way southbound for <br />thth <br />motor vehicles to allow for striped two-way bike lanes from 18 to 19, and creating a two-way <br />th <br />buffered bike lane on Alder Street from 18 Avenue to Franklin Boulevard. Work is currently <br />under way to install a new signal at Alder and Broadway/Franklin to provide a safer crossing for <br />bicycles and pedestrians at that location. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ● City of Eugene ● 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ● Fax 541-682-6826 ● www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />