Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Bicycling

Oakland’s Quick-Build Protected Intersections are Safer

Note: GJEL Accident Attorneys regularly sponsors coverage on Streetsblog San Francisco and Streetsblog California. Unless noted in the story, GJEL Accident Attorneys is not consulted for the content or editorial direction of the sponsored content.

Drivers yielded to pedestrians 23 percent and to cyclists by 87 percent more, according to a newly published study of the protected intersections around the Lake Merritt BART station. The intersections, built with a Safe Routes to Transit grant a little over a year ago, were a response to the high injury rate in the historic area.

"Chinatown is a vibrant community where many seniors and children rely on walking to get around, but it’s also home to some of the highest concentrations of high injury corridors," wrote officials for the city of Oakland in a release. These corridors represent "...just six percent of Oakland streets where over 60 percent of severe and fatal traffic crashes occur."

As Streetsblog readers will recall, the five protected intersections were installed around Lake Merritt BART, using paint and K71 bollards. There are no special bike signals. As the photos below show, the city took standard American-style intersections and extended the corners out to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and to force cars to slow as they turn. There's also a cut-through path for cyclists to increases the spacing and visibility between cyclists and turning motorists.

Image: the OakDOT study
Image: the OakDOT study
false

As noted in the above illustration, there was also an 11-fold decrease in close calls. "We are pleased to see the safety results from OakDOT intersections around Lake Merritt BART," Bike East Bay's Dave Campbell told Streetsblog. He noted that his organization and TransForm worked on helping the city get the grant to build them. "Also happy to see a project we helped coordinate get built and be successful."

It's worth noting that Bay Area cities (with the exception of San Jose and Fremont) typically build protected bike lane projects without protected intersection or, in the Lake Merritt case, protected intersections without protected bike lanes. The two are supposed to work together as a system to make cycling safe and comfortable for riders of all ages and abilities.

However, Campbell explained that OakDOT is now updating street designs to incorporate both.

OakDOT installing an integrated protected intersection at Telegraph and MacArthur. Photo: Dave Campbell
OakDOT installing an integrated protected intersection at Telegraph and MacArthur. Photo: Dave Campbell
false

For example, the Temescal Telegraph project, seen above currently under construction, was originally slated to have mixing zones with protected bike lanes--but is now getting a protected intersection at MacArthur. "They're borrowing from lessons learned at the protected intersection at Lake Merritt, using paint and bollards," said Campbell. "They're improving on the designs."

Oakland is also designing upgrades for the Lake Merritt protected intersections that will use concrete instead of plastic and paint. The plan is to add parking protected bike lanes too. It's unclear when those will be in place. Streetsblog has an inquiry in to OakDOT and will update this post.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wednesday’s Headlines

Some rollbacks in Oakland and Carlsbad. New traffic calming in SF. And much more...

July 30, 2025

Shifting Gears to Urban Bike Delivery

Bikes can revolutionize delivery in urban areas. A new report outlines how policymakers can spur them in their communities.

July 29, 2025

Bike East Bay Lists Incremental Victories

From Antioch to Oakland, advocates are making slow but steady headway that's sometimes eclipsed by the showier projects.

July 29, 2025

Rosemead Now Offers Zero Emission Microtransit

The service operates within city limits, but offers further rides for older and disabled riders.

July 29, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

New protected bike lanes in Long Beach and Oakland....less protected bike lanes in Vista.

July 29, 2025

What Will It Take To Give Victims and Advocates a Voice at US DOT?

A new bill would put a dedicated "roadway safety advocate" in the halls of US DOT — and you can support it right now.

July 28, 2025
See all posts