Indy’s Most Dangerous Bike Trail Intersections: Number Three

After the death of a well-known local cyclist (October, 2021) where the Monon Trail crosses 86th Street, many within the cycling community called for changes to make improve the city's cycling safety. We've noticed that there's been a change, but not much of one: traffic engineers reprogrammed the pedestrian crossing lights at the intersection where he was killed to give trail users a 10-second window when no motor vehicles have a green light. Now, if engineers could just reprogram those drivers who routinely ignore the “no turn on red” signs…

Although it's certainly a dangerous crossing, in our opinion the intersection where he was killed is not the most dangerous in Indy for cyclists, not even the most dangerous intersection of a trail and a street. So without further ado, here is our next nomination within the bottom six street crossings in Marion County, number three…

Number 3: Fall Creek Trail at College Avenue

The Fall Creek Greenway Trail comes to street level on both sides of College Avenue before crossing traffic lanes on a crosswalk at the intersection with Fall Creek Parkway North Drive. A pedestrian crossing signal is provided for trail users, who cross between the end of the bridge over the creek and the parkway.

We have no particular complaint with the design of the crossing, which is sufficiently wide and has better-than-average sight lines in all directions. We often observe, however, that the city could certainly do a more to fix the numerous potholes throughout the crosswalk… but hey: we’re in Indy; the Pothole Capitol of America.

What makes this intersection dangerous isn't the crossing layout, it's the drivers. Little traffic goes straight at the intersection to continue north on College; most of the traffic heading north takes the double right turn onto eastbound Fall Creek. Drivers who are in the curb lane habitually surge into the crosswalk before stopping on red – if they stop at all. Trail users, who are already maneuvering through pothole-dotted pavement, must simultaneously watch for drivers who are so intent on Fall Creek traffic that they can’t see something human-sized in the crosswalk.

A thoughtful city would mark the intersection “No turn on red,” a sign that, with luck, perhaps 50% of drivers would notice and obey…

Grade: D+ [Engineering: C, Traffic: F]

Dishonorable mention: Fall Creek Greenway at Central – 270 degrees of turn on both ends of the bridge that are sized for pedestrians instead of bicycles.

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