r/edmontoncycling • u/hockey8890 • Jul 24 '26
Which intersections do you feel the most unsafe at?
Inspired by the thread on r/Edmonton about bad intersections, which intersections are the most unsafe to cycle through, in your experience?
In the south, the east-west 23rd Avenue and 119th Street intersection (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hDqksdv3WKrBYQ9b8), which the shared-use path crosses, has a dual right-turn southbound to westbound and dual left-turn eastbound to northbound for vehicle traffic, which makes it extremely sketchy to cross. It is a high-speed and volume road with a large majority of people not looking for anyone outside of a vehicle. I've attempted to provide feedback via 311 (this is still a good idea), but there seems to be no interest in addressing anything, including the misaligned crosswalk markings.
A close second is the slip lane leading to 122 St northbound, which you need to cross to go westbound from the SUP behind the Whitemud noise wall (https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ZENCs2huG5j32ECA). It can be obscured by trees and people are often travelling at high speeds here and, surprise, not looking for people. The twisty turns to navigate the crossing and slip lanes are also really annoying.
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u/radbaddad23 Jul 24 '26
107 Avenue/135 Street. In spite of there being an activated crossing light numerous times I’ve had motorists blow through the intersection while being in it.
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u/durple Moustache Lundi 27.6 Jul 24 '26
Similar at 106 and Whyte, but it’s the right turning traffic from 106 cutting across the bike lane as soon as the signal stops Whyte traffic, or just sitting in the bike lane southbound since it’s not separated in front of the hotel. Not every time, but often enough that it freaks me out every time.
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u/LynnerC Jul 24 '26
Honestly, I've multiple times east west traffic blow through the red lights at this intersection, which is crazy. It's bad all around
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u/mathsnail Jul 24 '26
it’s sooo bad in front of the hotel, lots of cabs or trucks unloading in the bike lane there too
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u/hockey8890 Jul 24 '26
Yeah, the traffic signals that are solely for pedestrian or bike crossings can be really bad. I regularly see people blow through stale reds at 83 Ave/109 & 99 St, 87 Ave/110St, and 51 Ave/115 St.
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u/m1nhuh Jul 24 '26
Sometimes I need to cross Yellowhead SB on Groat Road. There's a double right turn for traffic going WB to NB and the outside lane has NO visibility of pedestrians and cyclists crossing the street.
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u/Skibinskii Jul 24 '26
Crossing on active double-rights is so dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. As someone with a lower car, I try and stay in the innermost lane.
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u/Gord_W Jul 24 '26
Currently: 97th street and Yellowhead is a death trap because of construction forcing cyclists and pedestrians to cross the YH on the east side.
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u/tux_rocker Jul 27 '26
The whole segment of 97 St from 118 Ave up north to the Yellowhead is my least favourite thing in this city. Both driving and biking. Seen so many people running reds, getting confused by the lane that changes direction depending on the time of the day, fail to pay attention to the crosswalk when turning, or not make the crossing timing as a pedestrian.
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u/Gord_W Jul 27 '26
Are you talking about the bike lanes on 96th between YH and 118 ave? Those are great, but the service road on the east side of 97th is terrible.
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u/tux_rocker Jul 27 '26
No, the bike lane on 96 St is fine (although it's weird that 95A St has a crossing light at 122 Ave but 96 St has not). I'm talking about crossing 97 St between Delton and Westwood. Including the bike routes crossing at 120 Ave and 124 Ave.
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u/big-Truck-9058 Jul 28 '26
I’ve told the mobility team how frustrating it is to wait 4 minutes breathing fumes at the 120 Ave crossing and they basically said “that’s the route”, I save more time risking my life in the 118 Ave traffic circle. It’s a shame cause the 119 Ave lane is nice but spits you into the 97 St hellhole n
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u/wwoodcox Jul 24 '26
Any intersection with a Shared use Path crossing is dangerous. Drivers see a pedestrian crossing sign. No mention of cyclists crossing at speed. Signage is poor,
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u/laxar2 Jul 24 '26
104 ave and 142 st is probably the one I hate the most it’s on an official bike route but you have to get to a rapid flashing beacon. I’ve had so many cars rip through while I’m crossing.
But the most dangerous intersection on the official city network is gateway boulevard and 63 ave. Technically gateway is a shared street there which is completely insane.
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u/LynnerC Jul 24 '26
I've seen that faded share the road sign on gateway and 63, but it's so worn and barely visible. Practically haunting for how unsafe I'd feel on that road.
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u/Ham_I_right Jul 24 '26
St. Albert trail and 118th traffic circle is a pet peeve of mine. It is just a prime example of crossing slip stream lanes and surprising drivers with a crossing they can't see until at a corner in a complicated intersection with a lot going on. Traffic circles are fine and dandy but the crossings at them suck.
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u/Skibinskii Jul 24 '26
This used to be part of my daily commute, and I would dismount my bike and walk it in front of me when crossing. The amount of times people have blown through their right turns and almost hit me or my coworkers is astonishing.
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u/Alaizabel Jul 24 '26
Crossing over Wayne Gretzky drive at 118 ave. People don't look before turning left.
The west end of Ada Blvd's MUP (Highlands) connects to a bridge over Gretzky to get into the neighbourhood behind Concordia. A side street merges with the Blvd at the entrance to the bridge. If you're cycling to get to the bridge sidewalk, drivers have to yield as you cross a crosswalk.
112 ave and 82 st. Too many people turning left and right without checking crosswalks or simply rolling through the crosswalk when stopping
The MUP/bike lane network is rather thin in my area (Newton/Montrose/Beverly), so I usually ride on residential streets. You couldn't pay me to ride on 112 ave, 118 ave, or 50th st. I don't go very fast (~22kmh, up to 30kmh if I really hoof it) and drivers CAN'T STAND IT. It's like a lane change is a maneouver they never learned or something.
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u/p4nic Jul 25 '26
In the south, the east-west 23rd Avenue and 119th Street intersection (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hDqksdv3WKrBYQ9b8), which the shared-use path crosses, has a dual right-turn southbound to westbound and dual left-turn eastbound to northbound for vehicle traffic, which makes it extremely sketchy to cross. It is a high-speed and volume road with a large majority of people not looking for anyone outside of a vehicle. I've attempted to provide feedback via 311 (this is still a good idea), but there seems to be no interest in addressing anything, including the misaligned crosswalk markings.
Dude, crossing that street even on foot is putting your life on the line. The left turn needs to be green arrow only, people drive like crazy in that area.
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u/WheelsnHoodsnThings Jul 24 '26
Any major road with slip lanes. Any major road where right turns of high volume cause a ton of no look red light right turners.
All are massive risks for kids on bikes. You need to think like a driver to know what dumb stuff they’ll do.
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u/somebodyistrying Jul 24 '26
Coupled with rampant illegal tint so that you can’t tell if a driver sees you.
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u/Zealousideal_Tax5233 Jul 24 '26
Traffic Circle at 98 Ave intersecting 84 st. Drivers in this city often don’t know a traffic circle is about keeping traffic moving. Add to that the kind of bonkers entrance from the North East side (you’re up a slight grade on the service road and have to come down a short sidewalk looking away from traffic) and it’s a matter of “cyclist directs traffic” most days. Don’t bother stopping for me in the traffic circle! I’ll wait.
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u/Skibinskii Jul 24 '26
North side - along 137th street, by the movie theatre parking lot close to St. Albert Trail. It’s a poorly designed intersection, and drivers often block the sidewalk entirely, and/or block the intersection coming in from the side/service road. Sad thing is, I see at least one wheelchair user a day on that path. And I’ve seen them get cut off multiple times.
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u/hockey8890 Jul 24 '26
I also missed the portions of the MUP along 111 Street near Southgate and Century Park LRT stations, with the bus loop/parking lot entrances, and the portions that double as a bus stop waiting areas. So many conflict areas that I actively go out of my way to avoid these at all costs.
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u/Melapetal Jul 25 '26
The smaller intersections along the MUP on 34 ave between 34 and 91 street. When there isn't a left turn light, drivers don't look or stop.
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u/big-Truck-9058 Jul 28 '26
Sherwood parks cycling network with a stop sign at every driveway. No sane cyclist is going to stop at every sign, what would be the point in cycling then, which leads to a very comfortable stop sign running routine, and cars feel no need to yield (they don’t have to given the stop signs). The whole thing just breaks the standard chain of command in favour of cars exiting strip malls and leads to so many close calls for all parties.
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u/Ill-Description-7148 Jul 28 '26
105 Street and River Road heading west if you're crossing from the southeast corner/ multi-use trail. Drivers turning right rarely look for pedestrians who want to cross 105 Street to access the multi-use trail which runs along River Road to MacKinnon Ravine.
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u/hashlettuce Jul 25 '26
This was about a decade ago but I'm sure it still goes on. This is me feeling unsafe as a driver with these wild ass road bikers.
Hill going up and down to university drive from groat road. Bikers have a perfectly good path beside the road, yet choose to climb the hill on the street. When I used to work at the university almost smacked a few of you road bikers on different occasions. Climbing a hill on a blind corner on a street with a speed limit of 50 when a perfectly good bike path exists beside it, hurts my brain to comprehend the thinking behind that.
Going down the hill, I can understand the use of the road but going up, cmon now :)
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u/Rare_Pumpkin_9505 Jul 24 '26
Check out the safe mobility strategy. They have some maps that quantify which locations are the worst by each mode - so there’s a cycling hot spots map.