America's Second Protected Intersection Now Open

The first protected intersection opened in August in Davis, Calif., a university town with the nation's highest percentage of bike commuters. Salt Lake City's new protected intersection is explained on NPR's "Here & Now" report with audio and videos.

2 minute read

October 5, 2015, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Here & Now’s Robin Young gives an excellent introduction to protected bike lanes and the protected bike intersectionmentioning the rise in bike fatalities and recent controversies:

  • "In 2013, there 743 bicycle fatalities across the country," and the controversy in some bike lanes, including
  • the recent removal of a small stretch of protected bike lanes in Boulder, Colo.

"'Protected intersections,' designed to prevent car-bicycle collisions, have long existed in the Netherlands, but they are just catching on in the U.S.," states Young. She credits "a young, former video designer named Nick Falbo (who) made a video that urban planners understood" for the recent interest.

That video is available here in an earlier post on the protected intersection. Four key elements of Falbo's design are posted here

 

YouTube fly-through of protected intersection, 200 West at 300 South - Link

Credit: SLC Moves: Transportation - 200 West Improvement Project

If you had problems following the Falbo video, particularly with left turns, click on the above link for an aerial simulation. Some cyclists may prefer to "take" or share a left-turn lane in one "unprotected turn" versus two protected crossings of traffic. [See my comment under the Davis "Dutch Junction" post as it is referred to locally.]

The Salt Lake City intersection is the third and final phase of the 200 West Improvement Project that was scheduled to open in October. It appears to have opened early!

Young discusses the protected bicycle intersection—which protects pedestrians as well, with

  • Robin Hutcheson, transportation director for Salt Lake City. 
  • Jennifer Dill, director of the National Institute for Transportation & Communities at Portland State University.

Dill notes proudly that Falbo was a one of her students.

Hat tip to The AASHTO Daily Transportation Update (Oct. 1).

Wednesday, September 30, 2015 in WBUR

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1 - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

May 1 - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

May 1 - Newsweek

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.