Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Active Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cyclist and pedestrian advocate urges removal of Preston Street slip lanes, cites safety concerns
Summary
A resident and active bicyclist told council slip lanes at the Preston/Ridge McIntyre intersection create hazards for people walking and biking and urged the city to redesign those lanes into protected space or bike lanes to reduce conflicts.
A Charlottesville resident urged the council on Aug. 4 to remove slip lanes on Preston Street at the Ridge/McIntyre intersection, saying the roadway design creates repeated near‑crashes for pedestrians and cyclists. Movin D'Sampol said, “The slip lanes on Preston gotta go, folks. They gotta go,” and described multiple personal near‑misses with turning vehicles where bike lanes abruptly end and cars merge at speed. He told council that changing signs from yield to stop did not address structural cues in road design that encourage drivers to move quickly; instead he recommended converting slip lanes to protected bike lanes or otherwise redesigning the roadway to slow turning traffic. Movin described specific problem points where the bike lane ends approaching the Downtown Mall and where bicyclists must cross diagonally into traffic to continue straight. He said the city could convert the slip lane area into protected space for bikes and pedestrians to reduce conflicts and improve safety near high‑foot‑traffic destinations. Council members thanked the speaker and said staff would review the location. No formal action was taken at the meeting; the speaker asked the council to direct staff to evaluate engineering remedies.
