Indy’s Most Dangerous Bike Trail Intersections: Number One

When a well-known local cycliest was struck and killed near the Monon Trail (October, 2021), members of the Indy bicycle community called upon the city to make changes that might make cycling in the city safer. To our uncertain knowledge, there has in fact been such a change. By “such a change,” we mean just the one: traffic engineers reprogrammed the pedestrian crossing lights at the Monon trail / 86th Street intersection where Frank Radaker was killed; allowing 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 decidedly dangerous, in our opinion the intersection where Frank perished is not the most dangerous bike crossing in Indy, not even the most dangerous intersection of a trail and a street. Without further ado, here is our nomination for the most dangerous bike trail / street crossing in Marion County…

Indy’s Most Dangerous Bike Trail Intersections: Number Two

After the death of a well-known local cyclist near the Monon Trail crossing at 86th Street (October, 2021), local cyclists could be seen calling for changes to make cycling in the Circle City safer. As far as we know, the sole change in response to their petition was for traffic engineers reprogram the pedestrian crossing lights at that intersection, which now allows trail users a 10-second window when none of the travel lanes for motor vehicles has a green light. Now, if engineers could just reprogram the drivers who routinely ignore the “no turn on red” signs…

Although decidedly dangerous, in our opinion the intersection where the man perished isn't the most dangerous bike crossing in Indy, not even the most dangerous intersection of a trail and a street. Without further ado, here is another in our nominations for the bottom six street crossings in Marion County…

Monon Trail Work Completed... Sort of

Well, it snowed yesterday, and that means – of course – that after eight long months, contractors have (finally) finished their work on the southern half of the Monon Trail in Marion County; the detour under the North Split not included. In other words, from 14th Street to the north entrance to Canterbury Park (about 56th Street), the pavement is finished. Every crossing has freshly painted crosswalk markings, and those irritating dropoffs where asphalt meets concrete at the street junctions are, at least for now, level and even. With the exception of a couple of spots where workers left tracked-vehicle ruts, the pavement is as smooth as a baby's behind.

2022: the Indy Cyclist's Summer from Hell

Never mind that the weather so far this year has been abnormally hot (an even dozen 90-plus degree days so far this year, including one of 99°) and, for most cyclists' tastes, a tad windy. No, we who choose two wheels and muscle power are inured to the fickleness of the weather gods. What's getting our goat this year is how much stress DPW and private construction companies are putting on cyclists. 

Take the Monon Rail Trail. Sure, purists and wannabe TdF competitors claim to eschew the trail, but take a look at it on the Strava heat map: it's white-hot! Well, it's a lot less white-hot this year...

More Monon Construction Begins; Fall Creek Trail Blocked

Updated 10 July 2022

The Monon south of Fall Creek is again closed in two sections. The original asphalt between 22nd and 25th Streets and between 29 Street and Sutherland has been scraped off and crews are working throughout the week. This is in addition to closures north of the Fairgrounds. Detours are marked, if somewhat poorly, and there is a nearly useless map posted on the DPW website (it does have a moderately useful timeline chart). You might want to ignore the "official" detour and use the marked bike lanes on Pennsylvania and Illinois/Capitol, although none is in particularly good condition.

Usable version of the DPW's "South Monon Bicycle Detour"

Monon trail closure

After three months of poorly-marked detours on streets that bear a striking resemblance to jeep trails, reconstruction work on the southern three miles of Indy's Monon Rail Trail is essentially complete. Only the detour around North Split construction south of 14th Street remain, a section that will not be completed for many months. Three sections of the trail have been widened and resurfaced: 16th to 23rd, 25th to 28th, and Sutherland to Fall Creek. With the exception of sections temporarily closed for the removal of equipment and tree trimming, the trail is now open between 42nd and 10th Streets.

Now begins the next phase: Fall Creek to 56th Street.

Monon Construction Update - June 27, 2022

June 29th: 

See next newer post...

Updated: 27 June 2022:

Still no activity other than tree trimming between 49th and Fall Creek Greenway. Barrier to southbound traffic removed at Fall Creek bridge, so (logically speaking) the section north of Sutherland is now open. Detour signs still litter the area, however. 

Updated: 23 June 2022: 

Signs are posted at 56th, 52nd, and 49th Streets advising that the trail will be closed "On or after June 20, 2022." Trail is open as of this date. Survey markings, flags, and stakes are abundant plus there is heavy tree and brush trimming on the east side of the trail between 46th and 42nd. No other changes in status.

Work Begins on Indy's Monon Rail Trail

Typical Monon detour

Get ready, Monon users, 'cause here it comes!

If you happened to brave the mid-March weather last week and put in a few miles on the Monon Trail, you might have noticed the signs posted at several locations along the southern portion of the trail. They mentioned that the trail would be closed for construction "on or after March 28th." They aren't kidding...