Description

With the high amount of traffic on Shattuck Ave it is extremely difficult for everyone, but especially bicyclists, to make left turns onto 55th Street in both directions, as since it is a single lane street one has to hang out in the middle of the intersection and hope that the drivers behind see them and yield. Even if a bicyclist is going straight through on Shattuck Ave they still have to look out for drivers illegally swerving into the bike lane to avoid other drivers waiting to make a left turn onto 55th Street.

Just yesterday a bicyclist was struck and injured by a driver at this very location. I can't say whether or not the collision was due to the lack of a left turn phase, but I can guarantee that there will be more issues if this is not taken care of.

A dedicated left turn arrow and phase for traffic in both directions on Shattuck Ave turning onto 55th Street would avoid both of these issues, and should have been taken care of when the signal was upgraded just last year. The best signal phasing should be 1) northbound Shattuck Ave traffic heading in all directions (left, straight, and right) 2) southbound Shattuck Ave traffic heading in all directions (left, straight, and right) 3) east and westbound 55th Street traffic heading in all directions. This also means that the signal would go back to a timed phasing instead of actuated for 55th Street, which is fine because the recent change from timed to actuated at this signal has been bad for pedestrian and bicyclist access anyway.