even if one walks the bike across, the curb is still a problem.

In response to "Bike safety" post:

Section 14-286(a) of the CT state statutes says: Each person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or across any roadway upon or along a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal within a reasonable distance before overtaking and passing a pedestrian....No person shall operate a bicycle upon or along a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk if such operation is prohibited by any ordinance of any city, town or borough or by any regulation of the state Traffic Commission....

Bike Safety may not have realized you were talking about something other than a regular pedestrian crosswalk. You're talking about a crossing that is specific to a walking/biking trail where it meets a MV roadway, so there is a standard usage of that crossing by cyclists. But either way the state law you quoted is clear in that it says cyclists must warn and yield to pedestrians on sidewalks or crosswalks. Further, it says cyclists must adhere to local ordinances with respect to whether cyclists can even use sidewalks. The bicycling community typically suggests sharing the roads with MVs and obeying the traffic signals - it's easier and safer than weaving through people on sidewalks.

Doug-- seems others are more interested in things other than my original input, which was bicycles crossing an intersection on a rail trail ... and specifically, the positioning of the crossing light button....
As experienced cyclists we know and follow the rules of the road. The bicycling community does NOT suggest that on rail trails, that we switch to the roadway to get across the intersection . That would be a very dangerous and foolish thing to do.

I think that you and "Bike safety" have hijacked this input to lecture cyclists. :-(

Doug-- seems others are more interested in things other than my original input, which was bicycles crossing an intersection on a rail trail ... and specifically, the positioning of the crossing light button....
As experienced cyclists we know and follow the rules of the road. The bicycling community does NOT suggest that on rail trails, that we switch to the roadway to get across the intersection . That would be a very dangerous and foolish thing to do.

I think that you and "Bike safety" have hijacked this input to lecture cyclists. :-(

Doug-- seems others are more interested in things other than my original input, which was bicycles crossing an intersection on a rail trail ... and specifically, the positioning of the crossing light button....
As experienced cyclists we know and follow the rules of the road. The bicycling community does NOT suggest that on rail trails, that we switch to the roadway to get across the intersection . That would be a very dangerous and foolish thing to do.

I think that you and "Bike safety" have hijacked this input to lecture cyclists. :-(

Well even if the crossing button is inconvenient, I think the spirit of the other guy's message is that you don't need the button when you're on a bike. You just wait, look both ways and cross when it's safe. If the road is too busy to do so, you probably have time to get off your bike, press the button, and remount... but either way if you really think the curb needs to go and more concrete should be applied, the think to do is to contact the people who installed it. Do you know whether it was the town or the state?

Actually, I know the intersection as I am a former Tariffville resident, and based on your photo it appears that you are correct in that it was designed poorly. I don't remember if the lights are long enough to provide a reasonable opportunity to get through there without using the button. Certainly people who are walking may have to hustle.

I'm pretty sure these are both state routes. But here's the town's contact info:

Thomas Roy, Director of Public Works (troy@simsbury-ct.gov)

Walter McDonald, Highway Superintendent

Patrica LaBissoniere, Administrative Secretary

860-658-3222

Meanwhile, here's the link to the state DOT "contact us" website:

http://www.dotdata.ct.gov/contacts/contact.aspx

And here's the main #:
860-594-2000

Good luck - let us know how it goes. They could very easily send a truck out there and have the concrete extended, curb pulled, and crosswalk widened in one or two afternoons.

I took the liberty of adding Mr. Roy as a watcher to both the Simsbury Center and West Simsbury watch areas. Hopefully he'll get involved.

Crosswalk lights are for pedestrians. Not cyclists. If you chose to use the light and dismount to push the button then walk the bike to cross the road. The law states yeld to pedestrians in crosswalks. If your on a bike your not a pedestrian. If the intersection is that dangerous all cyclist should walk their bikes for there own safety. Other wise a cyclist would have to follow the traffic signals, lights, stop signs ect. on Rt 202. Looking at the satelite view you can see that alot of the cyclists cut across Rt 315 before the intersection.

Bike Safety poster... suggest you re-read Section 14-286(a) of the CT state statutes.
with a name like Bike Safety, you need to be versed in the cycling laws on the books in CT if you are going to pontificate on the subject.

This crossing light is ON the rail trail which is multi-use and the design intention of the light is for everyone, including cyclists to use the crossing light. Some cyclists cross further down rt 315 as you observed because they don't have to deal with a troublesome crossing light and a troublesome intersection for a rail trail crossing.

You should be given credit for using the crosswalk, and not taking a short cut. The best way to fix the problem is to move the crosswalk. It should be placed in line with the old rail bed. Not at the intersection. The s-turn in the trail and bad crosswalk placement encourages people to take the shortcut. It's surprising someone has not been hit.
Don't you ride a mountain bike? Why not do a stoppie. Hit the button for the crosswalk, jump the curb and keep going? Make it a challenge!

Haven't had any feedback yet from Simsbury or CTDOT .. Hopefully this will be on their "to do" list

no resolution yet on this intersection ... but noticed that traffic signals are going up on the trail intersections on rt 20 and also on rt 189. and the intersection at the start of the collinsville trail on red oak road has been moved so it is much, much safer now... so folks are thinking about intersection design from the point of view of the cyclist/pedestrian.... which is very good news.

no action yet.... hopefully in the spring?

I don't believe Simsbury monitors this site or is a Town sponsored. I called in and no one knew about it.