Last month, the City of Boulder completed a road project along Colorado Avenue. However, Debbie quickly noticed the finished product could prove deadly for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. As a result she notified the City of Boulder and sent a letter to the Editor of the Daily Camera. The letter stated:
I am writing to express my concern about a significant safety hazard involving the bike lane/sidewalk on Colorado Avenue at the Hudson Building at 1200 28th Street. This particular section of the bike lane runs on the sidewalk, creating a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the view of this bike lane is obstructed by a utility building adjacent to a parking garage, and this obstruction is putting both cyclists and pedestrians at risk.
I own a personal injury law firm in Boulder and have an office at the building on 28th and Colorado. As such, seeing this safety hazard gives me immediate concern. As someone who helps people who have been injured in bike accidents and pedestrian accidents, as well as car accidents, I want to see something change to create awareness for drivers and to protect those who are vulnerable on the bike lane/sidewalk.
Drivers exiting the parking garage onto Colorado Avenue may be unaware that the sidewalk also functions as a bike lane. There is no signage. The utility building blocks their line of sight, making it difficult for drivers to notice oncoming bicyclists or pedestrians until it’s too late. In addition, there is no paint on the sidewalk at this section to help drivers recognize that a bike lane is present. The speed at which cyclists pass across the exit to the parking garage gives drivers little time to react, especially with an obstructed view.
Clear signage should be placed to alert drivers of the dual purpose of the sidewalk as a bike lane, and mirrors or other visibility aids should be installed to give exiting drivers a better view of oncoming cyclists and pedestrians. Addressing this issue promptly could help prevent a serious accident and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Debbie Taussig/Owner Debbie Taussig Law
We were thrilled to see that the City of Boulder listened! They swiftly put up signage and painted green markers on the sidewalk to indicate that there was two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic that could zip past the exit of the garage. Here is the letter that was sent to the Editor of the Daily Camera with the update:
A sign now indicates that the exit runs into a two-way crossing.
Green paint indicating there is a bike/pedestrian crossing at the exit to the parking garage.
I want to express my gratitude to the City of Boulder for promptly addressing a significant safety concern involving the bike lane/sidewalk on Colorado Avenue at the Hudson Building near 1200 28th Street. As someone who raised this issue publicly both with the City of Boulder and through the Daily Camera, I am thrilled to see the positive changes that have been made. As a reminder, a few weeks ago, I wrote to express my concern about a safety hazard involving the bike lane/sidewalk on Colorado Avenue near the Hudson Building at 1200 28th Street. This particular section of the bike lane, which runs on the sidewalk, creates a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the view of this bike lane is obstructed by a utility building adjacent to a parking garage, putting both cyclists and pedestrians at risk.
I am happy to update the readers of the Daily Camera about the steps the City of Boulder took to remedy this hazardous situation. First, they erected a sign that shows that there is two-way crossing of both pedestrians and bicyclists at the point of exit from the parking garage. Secondly, they added green marking to the sidewalk to indicate that the sidewalk is also used for bicyclists.
As an owner/attorney for a personal injury law firm in Boulder with an office at the building on 28th and Colorado, I know how devastating a crash could have been, and I am so appreciative to the City of Boulder for their quick response, creating a safer sidewalk for everyone.
I encourage all members of our community to remain vigilant when navigating shared spaces. I also want to thank everyone who took the time to consider this issue and contribute to the conversation, including the Editor and Readers of the Daily Camera. It is inspiring how speaking up can lead to positive change, and I hope we all can work to take action on other issues as they arise. Together, we can continue to make Boulder a safer place for all.
We are more than a personal injury law firm; we want everyone to be safe and not succumb to injuries for any reason. However, please contact us if you HAVE been injured because of the negligence of another person. You can call us at 303-442-0176.
