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Residents urge council to accelerate low‑stress biking and pedestrian network; city highlights Active Travel signage pilot
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the council to adopt higher pavement standards and to accelerate a low‑stress bikeway network, including support for a protected intersection at Highland and Circle/Tenth; staff and the mayor described small, low‑cost Active Travel signage being piloted in neighborhoods.
Residents addressed the council on Jan. 6 to urge faster implementation of low‑stress streets for walking and bicycling and to support a proposed protected intersection at Highland and Circle/Tenth.
Jay Thatcher, representing Mid‑Valley Bicycle Club, told the council he and other advocates were “really quite pleased about the recent activity for transportation safety coming out of the public works department and this council.” Thatcher recommended higher pavement standards on streets and walkways in the proposed low‑stress network so people using walkers, canes, wheelchairs and bicycles would ride and walk more comfortably and safely.
A second speaker described the mechanics of a protected intersection and asked councilors to review the diagram in the meeting packet before a work session that will discuss the Highland/Circle project and the accelerated bikeway plan. “The point of a protected intersection is not so the cyclists can go faster through the intersection ... it slows everybody down, including the cyclists, and that's one of the ways that makes things safe,” the speaker said.
In mayoral and staff remarks later in the meeting, Transportation staff and the mayor noted a small, in‑house pilot called Active Travel Corridors that installs signage indicating pedestrian/bicycle through routes; the mayor’s office said the signs were low cost and receiving attention from other cities for their apparent benefit.
Why it matters: commenters argued improved bikeway and pedestrian facilities will increase safety, equity and climate benefits by encouraging more people to walk and bike. The council has planned a work session to discuss the Highland/Circle protected intersection and an accelerated bikeway plan.
Next steps: staff will make the work session materials available (packet referenced) and hold the Safe Streets Task Force meeting the week following the council meeting; councilors directed residents to staff webpages and upcoming meetings for further input.
