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Family calls for safety fixes after Boulder bicyclist killed at Edgewood crossing; city staff outline near‑term steps
Summary
Relatives of an 88‑year‑old bicyclist who was struck and later died asked the Transportation Advisory Board to make immediate safety changes at the Goose Creek Greenway crossing on Edgewood. City traffic staff said some fixes have already been made and others are planned; trimming on private property will require owner cooperation.
Scott Allman, a longtime Boulder resident, told the Transportation Advisory Board on Sept. 8 that his cousin, Dan Benge, 88, was struck by a truck and later died after a collision on Edgewood near the Goose Creek Greenway on Aug. 4. Allman urged the board and city staff to move a large stone trail marker, add an additional single‑lane speed bump, trim bushes along the creek, add a manually operated flashing light and replace and reorient an existing stop sign at the crossing.
Why it matters: The public comment brought immediate attention to a location where residents say sightlines and traffic behavior may put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk. Board members asked staff for follow‑up and staff described work already completed and further steps under consideration.
Traffic engineering response: Valerie Watson, interim director of Transportation and Mobility, and Devin Joslin, the city’s principal traffic engineer, said staff and the TAB had already discussed the crash and were taking action. Joslin told the board the city has lowered the height of the stop sign, added additional signs on the path to warn users the path ends and trimmed a tree to improve views of the sign. He said the city plans to schedule a contractor to relocate the large stone trail marker in the coming months.
On other suggestions, Joslin said the city will research additional changes, including single‑lane speed bump options and the placement and timing of a manually operated flashing light. He warned that the row of trees and bushes along the creek that affect visibility are on private property and “there don’t appear to be any code violations,” so the city cannot require the owner to trim them; he said he understands how trimming would improve visibility.
Relatives’ account and requests: In public comment, Scott Allman described the monument, saying “for vehicles traveling from the west, the stone readily obscures bicyclists” and suggested removing the bottom 23 inches or moving the marker farther from the street. His wife, Susan Gail Allman, asked that lower branches on an east‑side tree be trimmed and suggested a larger, lower stop sign and a manually activated flashing signal. She said her husband rode 300 miles a month and that the family wants action to “make Boulder safe.”
Next steps and limits: City staff said two of the Allmans’ suggestions — lowering the stop sign and trimming the tree obstructing the sign — have been completed, and the trail marker is scheduled for relocation. Staff will collect data and research other measures, including speed bump configuration and signal options, to determine feasibility and cost. Staff noted legal limits: the city cannot compel private property owners to trim trees without code violations. No formal vote or policy change resulted from the comment; staff described these items as maintenance or project actions under review.
What to watch: Staff said they will schedule the marker relocation and continue to study additional engineering countermeasures. Residents asked for a clear acknowledgement that staff would pursue specific steps; Joslin’s comments indicate two items were already done and at least one contractor‑scheduled action (marker relocation) is planned.
