Family urges safety fixes after bicyclist killed on Edgewood; city staff outline immediate steps

Relatives of an 88-year-old Boulder man who was struck and killed while bicycling asked the Transportation Advisory Board on Sept. 8 to make immediate safety changes at the Goose Creek Greenway crossing at Edgewood Avenue.

Scott Allman, who said his cousin Dan Benge “was struck and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Edgewood,” told the board that family members and neighbors walked the site after the Aug. 4 crash and identified several potential safety improvements. “Here are our thoughts,” Allman said, listing relocation of a large stone trail marker, additional speed-control measures, trimming vegetation and improved signage.

Allman’s wife, Susan Gail Allman, urged trimming lower tree branches and installing a manually operated flashing warning light at the crosswalk. “Preserving momentum is key for bicyclists,” she said, questioning whether a bicyclist would stop to push a button but suggesting that the mere presence of lights could attract drivers’ attention.

Valerie Watson, interim director of Transportation and Mobility for the city of Boulder, told the family the board and staff had discussed the crash at their most recent meeting and expressed condolences. Watson turned the meeting over to Devin Joslin, the city’s principal traffic engineer, to summarize actions taken and planned at the location.

Devin Joslin said staff have already lowered the height of the stop sign on the path, added additional signage on the approach to the crossing and trimmed some trees to improve sight lines. “Please know that that one’s already been taken care of,” Joslin said. He said the city plans to contract to relocate the large trail marker “in the coming months.”

Joslin said staff will research other family suggestions — including reconfiguring speed bumps to slow drivers before, rather than after, the crossing — and check available data to inform further steps. He clarified that some trees along the creek are on private property and do not appear to be code violations, so the city cannot require their trimming; he said, however, that he understood how trimming would improve visibility.

Board members and staff expressed sympathy and thanked the Allman family for their letter and photos, which were shared with the board. Mike Mills, a TAB member, displayed photos during public comment showing the stone marker and the prior height of the stop sign; Mills told the board he was glad to hear the sign had already been lowered.

Next steps: Joslin said the city will schedule a contractor to relocate the trail marker, continue data review on speed management and research other feasible interventions. He identified the private-property status of some vegetation as a constraint, meaning the city cannot compel trimming in those locations but can continue outreach to property owners and evaluate other options for improving sight lines.

Why it matters: The crossing is on a popular multiuse path and is used by cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Family members and board members said changes at the crossing could reduce the risk of another serious crash.

Provenance: - topicintro: transcript excerpt starting at 229.04 — "Our cousin, Dan Benge, age 88, was struck and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Edgewood" (public comment by Scott Allman). - topicfinish: transcript excerpt ending at 916.18 — "I do wanna clarify that the the trees along the creek, those are on private property" (Devin Joslin).