In our February 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 Horsetooth Road and Ziegler Road?”
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:
- “It’s dang near impossible to get into the car lane as a biker but taking the sidewalk is equally as bad because the cars are flying through the roundabout and don’t see people on the sidewalk in enough time to stop for them. I’ve both driven and biked through this intersection and in my opinion it’s not safe to drive, bike, or walk through it.”
- “High speed vehicle traffic in so many directions/turning movements.”
- “Drivers do not know rules for yielding in roundabouts!”
- “Very busy double lane roundabout. I usually dismount and cross at crosswalk as cars will yield there.”
- “Cars go fast in 2 lanes. Bikes just don’t fit well here.”
- “Heading north on Ziegler and wanting to turn left onto Horsetooth, I normally move, when safe, to the left side of the right lane. A left turn from the right lane is legal, and I use my left arm too. Several times, an impatient driver has used the left turn ONLY lane to overtake me and go straight on. The most recent incident required me to carry on straight to avoid a collision with the illegally driven vehicle.”
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:
- “I think this is great. You should have another Round-About on Horsetooth a bit west, at exit from Fort Collins High School athletic parking lot (at the Crosswalk, at Caribou I think). It would be safer, faster, and easier for everyone.”
- “I think the best option is to change it to a streetlight intersection instead of a roundabout.”
- “Perhaps no turn on right when cyclists/pets present; lower speeds approaching the intersection.”
- “Traffic slowing devices at entrances to roundabout. Yield to traffic coming from left signs.”
- “I don’t know.”
- “4 way stop again. Or bikes separate from traffic.”
- “Is there a case to be made for making the right lane only for straight ahead and right turns. That way, a cyclist can take the left lane without a risk of being undertaken by a left turner in the right lane. Also, how about some police presence from time to time? I have never seen FCPD monitoring this roundabout, even though I have used it regularly ever since it opened. Please don’t suggest using the pedestrian crossings as a cyclist. That option is convoluted and presents far more points of conflict.”
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