New Road Design Will Promote Bicyclist Safety in Antioch
I’m Ed Smith, an Antioch personal injury lawyer. There is good news for cyclists that reside in the Contra Costa County city of Antioch. You may have heard that the eBART station is reportedly going to be completed by next spring, but did you know that road design is also going to be improved for public safety? Yes, it’s true – transportation officials in Antioch are currently working on road design that will improve the safety for local bicyclists that need to reach the transit hub.
The Current Configuration of the Road
Currently, the bike route that will takes cyclists to the train station by Hillcrest Avenue passes between multiple lanes of traffic. Two of these lanes do not have any sort of visual reminder that can signal drivers to continue on straight. As a consequence, motorists are commonly making right turns towards the Highway 4 on-ramp and passing through the bike lane, an accident-prone and high-risk area for any individual who also happens to be on that path.
Current Configuration for Bicyclists
Linsey Willis, the external affairs director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, said that “the [current] configuration is not something we’re comfortable with.” She went on to say that the new rules of the road are confusing motorists as they had been able to make right turns while the interchange was undergoing renovations.
A Safer Road for a Safer Future
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) started to brainstorm possible resolutions after they were given a video from a journalism professor at Los Medanos College, as he used his social media skills to highlight the problem. He uploaded his video to Youtube, for everyone to see.
CCTA is making a plan to have arrows painted in the far left lanes, in addition to adding signs to inform drivers that they cannot turn onto Highway 4. While those signs are being created by Caltrans, portable electronic signs will display warnings for motorists.
In the meantime, biking enthusiasts are optimistic that an additional BART project will eventually come up with a workaround to a hazardous gap along a paved trail that runs between Antioch and Brentwood for a total of 9.6 miles. Currently, the Highway 4 bypass interrupts this 9.6 mile trail. However, BART has teamed up with other transportation agencies to create another eBART station nearby the gap in the trail. So far, it looks like this project involves a bridge that will extend from both sides of the highway for all pedestrians and bikers alike.
Related Articles by Antioch personal injury lawyer, Ed Smith ~
- Antioch Pedestrian Accidents Injure Two
- Man Dies in Antioch Motorcycle Accident
- Antioch Accident Statistics
Antioch Bicycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Antioch personal injury lawyer. If you or anyone you know has been affected by or involved in a bike accident, call me for free and friendly advice at (925)-428-5220 or (800) 404-5400. I am also available online at AutoAccident.com.
For thirty five years I have been working collaboratively with the people of Antioch in their personal injury and wrongful death cases.
You can see what my clients have to say about my practice on these media platforms:
My previous verdicts and settlements can be viewed on my website, AutoAccident.com
I am proud to be listed on the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This group recognizes trial lawyers with settlements or verdicts in excess of one million dollars.