Protected Bike Lanes and Intersections

Protected Roundabouts – Wilson Avenue & 9th Street

Protected bike lanes are continued all the way through the roundabout intersection in this example.

It is critical to control the speed of traffic through the roundabout. The central island manages the speed of motor vehicle traffic. The crosswalk islands for the bike lane manage the speed of the bike rider’s entry into the bike crosswalk. This photo series shows the driver has yielded to the crossing bike rider at the crosswalk.

This rider is entering into the bike crosswalks approach. This approach area is positioned to allow people on their bikes to easily see traffic exiting the roundabout. The driver is waiting for the bike rider to complete their crossing.

Construction began in 2022 to modernize the Wilson Avenue corridor, in Bend, Oregon for all modes of traffic from SE 2nd Street to SE 15th Street. The tools being used include shared use paths and separated bike lanes. If you’ve been in Bend for at least a day, you know Bend does roundabouts (Bend has 43 roundabouts with more built every year). The Wilson corridor is no exception, and Bend has added one at SE 9th Street and is working on constructing another at SE 15th Street. Roundabouts use safety islands to make crossings on foot or bike easier and more comfortable. Bend has typically used shared use paths around the roundabout for people to use when they are walking or biking. But the Wilson project has also used new-to-Bend bike facility tools such as a protected signal design at 3rd Street and a protected roundabout design at the 9th Street roundabout. Protected intersections are proven, safe, comfortable, and efficient intersection designs for all modes.

Here is a link to a video for the Wilson/9th roundabout.

Neff Road at Purcell signal which will soon be under construction will also have a protected design. The roundabout at 9th and Wilson will use the protected bicycle concept and apply it to the roundabout.