City attempts to clear up confusion on Seattle’s Second Avenue protected bike lane

We knew adjusting to the protected bike lane on Second Avenue in downtown Seattle was going to take a while, but the city hasn’t done itself any favors with the new traffic lights and signs that came with it.

The lights were causing a lot of confusion, so the city has already made a change.

The new multi-panel traffic signals on the left side of Second Avenue are certainly a shock the first time you see them. There are bicycle icons. There are arrows and green and red lights share the same panel.

Bikes were blowing through red lights. Drivers were still turning into the bike lane on the red because there was also a green light next to it allowing traffic to go straight.

I ran into Seattle traffic engineer Dongho Chang on Second Avenue early Friday morning as he was biking to the office.

Chang said it’s been a tough adjustment for drivers and bicyclists. “We had a very quick implementation. It was over a weekend that we put this entire installation in, unveiling it on Monday, so it was a shock to a lot of people.”

He said it became quite clear that the signs the city had put up explaining the intersections weren’t working.

“We were talking to the drivers and bicycle riders, and we got their feedback,” Chang said. “A lot of drivers said it would be easier for people to understand if you just say don’t turn on red and when the red light comes on, everybody understands what that means.”

So the city has installed “No Turn on Red” signs at each intersection, and it has changed the green light that indicates it’s time to go straight on Second Avenue with a green arrow that points down the street. Chang said the city hopes drivers and bicyclists will follow the arrows and get comfortable with the new alignment.

“We want drivers to look out for the signs, read them, understand what they need to do, and then follow the rules of the road,” he said.

But I have to report that it is still confusing, especially if you aren’t prepared to share the road with this protected bike lane. The light panels have a lot going on. It can make you more than a little antsy about what to do.

Just remember: Follow the arrows. A left green arrow means you can turn left. A straight green arrow means go straight. No turn on red.

Still confused?