Cars and cyclists have issues at intersections. A new type of intersection design from the Netherlands offers improved protection to cyclists. The solution is based on the four islands near each corner of the intersection.
"The so-called Dutch junction offers protection to cyclists at intersections, regardless of whether they’re turning left, turning right, or continuing straight. The key to its design are the four islands near each corner of the intersection. They prevent cars from entering the pathway of cyclists turning right. Meanwhile, they force cyclists traveling straight to move into the view of automobiles and out of their blind spots," according to an article by Ryan Holleywell.
Davis, California, became the first city to implement the Dutch junction in August. Salt Lake City followed with its own protected intersection (as they're also known) in October. "Fifty years ago, the city debuted the country’s first bike lane. Today, Davis is striving to achieve 30 percent bicycle ridership by 2020." Other cities in the U.S. such as Austin, Boston, and Salt Lake City are also looking at the junction design for their bike lanes.
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