In our March 2025 issue of The Pedal Post (eNewsletter), Bike Fort Collins posed the question: “Have you experienced conflict or felt unsafe while traveling through the intersection of East Prospect Road and I-25?”
Thank you to those who responded. Below is a recap of the results.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In addition, for those who reported conflict, we asked them to describe their experience. Here is a sampling of the responses we received:
- “I don’t feel protected at all when in the bike “lanes” as they become dashed lines for cars to quickly slip onto the interstate. The bike lanes on the bridge are nice but there are too many points for conflict especially in a place where drivers are not expecting to see cyclists most of the time. Also the bike lanes are really just shoulders on both sides of the bridge so there needs to be a more consistent bike lane experience all the way to the interstate crossing. Since the road is quite wide fully separated bike lanes with a barrier seems like it would be feasible especially given the high speed limit on Prospect.”
- “The I-25 overpass and intersection are actually quite good and feel very safe, the unsafe portions of roadway are actually the Frontage Road intersections on both sides of I-25 due to poor pavement condition. Prospect on east side in particular is unsafe since a bridge over a ditch there lacks shoulders and has pavement that has failed.”
- “Crazy cross traffic at high speeds.”
- “Drivers heading east enter the slip road to I-25 southbound far too late. Some prefer to overtake a cyclist and then move hard right over a double solid white line rather than waiting a second or two to enter the lane early.”
- “The new work really helped, but just East of there the bike lane disappears.”
- “Traffic entering I-25 feel dangerous confusing where to be when on bike.”
HOW CAN IT BE IMPROVED?
Finally, we asked respondents how they thought the intersection/facility could be improved. Here is a sampling of the responses we received:
- “Mentioned in my response to the previous question.”
- “Replacement of the ditch bridge on the east with a wider road cross section that includes bike lanes.”
- “Make a tunnel or bridge.”
- “Instead of a double white line, how about an actual barrier to prevent cyclists being right-hooked?”
- “Better dedicated bike lanes.”
- “Continuation of bike lane pass the frontage road intersection.”
Again, thank you to all who responded—and for sharing their experiences. Stay tuned for additional surveys inquiring about other intersections and bicycle facilities.
If you have an intersection that you would like featured, please contact Timothy Wooten at tim.wooten@bikefortcollins.org