INDIANAPOLIS — Bicyclists say the roads and travel lanes around Indy aren't good enough.
Near misses and illegal turns have led to close calls for many of them.
"It's way better than it used to be, but I think that it still needs to be improved," Harol Wade said.
Wade, who uses a bike as his main form of transportation, says he can see areas for improvement.
Indy Bike Lane Defense, a community advocacy group, says they are tired of bicyclists nearly being hit on Indianapolis roads.
"We can't ask drivers to pay attention at this point. It's like asking them not to speed or run red lights. Everyone in the city knows that is a consistent problem right now. What we need is the infrastructure that stops it in the first place," Jarron Burdine with Indy Bike Lane Defense said.
The organization started a project, that was approved by DPW, to fix an area they say is downright dangerous.
"Drivers driving through the bike lane to make their turn onto the highway ramp," Burdine said.
WRTV saw that happen on Thursday firsthand at the intersection of 12th and Illinois in Downtown Indianapolis.
Another issue WRTV caught on camera was cars turning during a red light when it was time for bikes to cross.
"I think we need to be more proactive about the safety infrastructure projects," Burdine said.
Indy Bike Lane Defense has placed bollards in the roadway at that intersection to try and prevent dangerous situations from happening.
Though it has slowed cars down a bit, it hasn’t stopped everything.
"I think everybody just needs to get more used to it," Wade said.
Bikers say education on the roadways is key to their survival.
"You can still drive, and we can still bike. We can live in harmony here, we just need a little push in the right direction," Burdine said.
The organization partners with Indy Pedestrian Crisis organization to track data involving pedestrians and cyclists.
They are able to determine areas that might need to be looked at and improved on an infrastructure level.
This is part of the group's effort to improve infrastructure around the city of Indianapolis.
They said they will see how the project works and hopefully expand it from there.
-
Parents of transgender Hoosiers share impact of BMV gender marker rule change
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will no longer provide customers with the option to change their gender on their Indiana credential by using a court-ordered gender change or physician's statement
North side shooting leaves person in serious condition
A person is reported to be in serious condition following a shooting on the north side of Indianapolis on Thursday.
Speedway apartment complex shows progress in sewage cleanup as fines continue
The Town of Speedway is addressing an ongoing issue involving the discovery of raw sewage on the property at an apartment complex.
Jazz, Pacers fined by NBA for player participation policy breach
The NBA also docked the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz.
