Crossing Busy Roads

Crosswalks

A current focus for ODOT, City of Bend and the Parks and Recreation District is to eliminate the barrier that busy streets can have on otherwise nice, comfortable bike routes. Creating crossings of roadways so the easy trail, shared use path or neighborhood greenway experience doesn’t end at the busy street or isn’t blocked by the river, railroad, irrigation canal or highway is a really important community need.

In 2022, the City of Bend updated its standards to require crosswalks be integrated into all road projects and that these meet Low Stress criteria. Recent construction projects show these standards in action as there are more safety islands, marked and signed crosswalks, as well as grade-separated crossings. Empire Avenue, Murphy Road and 14th/Century Drive were each built with enhanced crosswalks and grade separated crossings. Are the city of Bend’s crosswalks comfortable enough yet?

Click here to experience a quick example of how one city in the Netherlands gets their bicycle facilities across busy roads.

Crosswalk safety island has been created by curbing a former left-turn pocket.

City of Bend has added several dozen crosswalks in the last couple of years that look like this one on Brookswood at Hollygrape. By adding a crosswalk safety island, marking, signing, and illumination more users can feel comfortable crossing and drivers stop to let people cross.

Trail and Path Under and Over Crossings

The City’s over- and under-crossings make great bicycling and walking routes for everyone to use. Bend’s grade-separated crossings include footbridges over the Deschutes, irrigation canals, railroad bridges and tunnels as well as highway bridges and tunnels. Here are some photos of Bend’s many grade separated crossings that help make multi-use paths and trails more accessible and useful.