Jimmy Nisser just might have been the nicest person in all of St. Louis Park. He had a trimmed mustache and buoyant eyes, and always knew the score to the Twins games. He was the type of guy who cleaned the storm drains on his block, showed up an hour early to church to prepare coffee for groggy parishioners, and never forgot to send a birthday card.
He was also a lifelong cyclist. Born with cerebral palsy and unable to drive, he used his bicycle as his main mode of transportation. On sunny days, he'd wake up and pedal to work at 4 a.m. to prepare for his job at the Minikahda Club, the delicately combed golf course where he worked for 43 years. His daily path took him down Excelsior Boulevard, a four-lane roadway lined by American elm trees and Virginia creeper vines that separates the fairways like a deciduous canyon. Its green leaves and branches arch over passing traffic like solemn guards.
Daniel Corrigan
Daniel Corrigan
Hurl Everstone, owner of CRC Cykel Garage, says he goes out of his way to avoid Lyndale and West 15th
On September 11, Nisser strapped on his helmet, turned on his safety lights, and took his bike to work. But a block away from his turn off Excelsior, a tan Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed into his bike. The Jeep dragged Nisser across the pavement about 30 feet before he fell in a heap. The Jeep sped off.
Nisser's death echoed like a gunshot through the Twin Cities' close-knit cycling community. He was one of four riders killed as the result of collisions with cars within the last few months. The reaction has been an upsurge of concern for bicycle awareness, including black-clad memorial rides and ghost bikes at accident sites.
Yet despite these high-profile incidents, it is actually safer to ride on the street than at any other time in recent memory, according to city statistics. Minneapolis reports that accidents are down 20 percent from the 1990s.
To nervous cyclists, it sure doesn't feel that way, which is why we decided to assemble a list of the city's 10 most dangerous intersections for bike riders. We obtained crash reports from the city of Minneapolis that pinpoint intersections with the highest number of car/bicycle collisions over a recent three-year period. But raw numbers don't tell the whole story, as not every incident gets reported. So we also went out and polled the local cycling community, bicycle shop owners, race organizers, city planners, nonprofits that allocate federal funding for bicycle infrastructure improvement, and messengers who make their living crisscrossing the city's streets.
"It's really about safety and convenience," says Doug Shidell, publisher of the Twin Cities Bike Map. "It's the same reason why people lobby to change intersections for motorists. We want to get through them safely and quickly."
The Light Rail Trail (LRT) and 26th Street
In 2006, Emily Wergin was waiting at this intersection when a truck pulled up and blocked her view. As Wergin pedaled forward, an onrushing van slammed directly into her, striking her front tire and handlebars with enough force to send her cartwheeling across the pavement.
"I ended up contorted in a very strange way," she says. "And my handlebars got torqued."
Luckily, she walked away with only bruises and cuts.
Even before her accident, this intersection frustrated Wergin, who works on projects, some federally funded, to make neighborhoods more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.
She says the technical term for the LRT and 26th is a "double threat intersection," meaning that a cyclist has multiple dangers to look out for. "When you get to this intersection you never know where to look," says Wergin.
It's also one of the busiest intersections in the city, with 2,000 cyclists passing through it daily. And the only time cyclists really get the right of way is when the Light Rail train goes by, once every five minutes during rush hours.
Wergin's idea to solve the tricky intersection would be the installation of a larger median in the center of the road. Cyclists could then make their way through the trouble spot in two steps. "But I don't even know if there's enough room for that. There is no easy solution to this one," she says.
Hennepin/Lyndale and West 15th Street
If a cyclist makes it north and out of the Franklin and Lyndale gauntlet, they come upon a two-lane bike path off the street. It runs parallel down the length of the Walker Art Museum, in the shadow of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist church, and is protected by raised pavement.
But all this safety comes to an abrupt end when the bike path suddenly vanishes at West 15th, spitting cyclists out into traffic.
Along this stretch there have been at least five car-bike accidents between 2003 and 2005. And about 900 cyclists a day ride this path.
"That one is a bad one," says Hurl Everstone, owner of CRC Cykel Garage. "I really think it has to do with the five stoplights. I avoid that one if possible."
The Minnehaha Roundabout
When Nick Mason biked into the Minnehaha roundabout, he was following the law to behave like a car. But someone should have told that to the drivers. As he veered around the lane on his Trek 5200 road bike, a vehicle shot out in front of him. Mason slammed into the side of the car, crushing the front end of his bike and sending his body skipping across the pavement.
Parked cars + drivers creeping out to judge traffic + cyclists on riding on sidewalks = Bad news. Maybe there should be some sort of parking law that restricts cars that are parked so close to the intersections that cross traffic cannot be judged until nearly in it.
Also exiting vehicles from alleys should be very cautious of both bikes and pedestrians.
Dave 11/12/2008 11:48:00 PM
As someone who grew up in Minneapolis, rode my bike all over the place then and now, and now drives frequently, i find that bikers are uninformed abou tthe rules they have to follow and take unnecessary risks because they have a false sense of security, A.K.A. "right of way".
Some bikers with inflated self-importance asssume cars will always yield to them and, therefore, ride four feet from the curb or parked cars, ride two abreast instead of single file, and block right turn lanes at lights where rights on reds are permitted.
I have no sympathy for bikers who risk their lives or are involved in accidents because they're selfish and haven't bothered to learn the rules of the road.
For example, this story mentioned bike lanes on Hennepin downtown and being stuck having to cross three lanes of traffic. Whatever happened to pulling up to the intersection and using the crosswalk to get over to the right? If you're stopped, that's what you shold do. If the trtaffic is moving, maybe you'll have to stop and wait for the lights to change so you can cross perpendicular to the traffic without risking the weave between moving cars to get too the right.
Common sense is an important tool for drivers and bikers alike. And no one biker is more important than anyone driving a big, gas-guzzling box of steel.
Chris 11/08/2008 2:17:00 AM
Absolutely spot on with these intersections. I've biked through most of them, many on a regular basis, and have found all that I have to be problematic. I'd add: where the bike route coming from the Washington Street Bridge through the West Bank of the U of M campus joins on to 4th Street S and 21st Avenue S. It's one of two places where I got in accidents with a car or another bike that were nearly unpreventable. Thanks for the interesting story... I hope bikers will read it and take notice!
illwill 11/05/2008 11:53:00 PM
'the executive'........you are an ass,i hope you end up as road kill ,inside your 20000lb suv,sukkka
The executive 10/25/2008 1:26:00 AM
Im really tired of these bike messangers and cyclists complaining about being hit on the street. Now Im not talking about everyone but a good number of you bastards ride like you own the gotdamn road, worse then most car drivers!
Crazy bastards zig zagging in an out of traffic, running red lights, doing all kinds of stupid shit. Ive seen it first hand. Hell I saw some asshole doing a wheelie down hennepin near the 94 exit I was like WTF son u need to slow down.
You wanna tango with a 2000lb SUV go ahead but dont complain when you end up as road kill.
Uncle Sid 10/22/2008 5:36:00 AM
Karla Suckling is a little defensive when she responds to my comments about "the cycling community." Maybe she should be. None of the cyclists downtown pedestrians have reason to fear, who have responded to this article or my prior post, has referred to any websites or organizations, of which there are plenty, that try to teach safety to cyclists. Please, Karla and cycling pals, refer to www.sharetheroad.mn.org and find ANYTHING on the site that deals with the odds PEDESTRIANS must face from cyclists. And don't tell me to call the police; if I called them about cycling violations they'd remind me of the calls I already make to ask whether silent bodies on the Loring Greenway are dead or dead drunk.
pcomeau 10/20/2008 10:29:00 PM
Have to agree as a cyclist and driver that the LRT/26th intersection is horrible for cyclists. I normally drive through that area and fear hitting cyclist (not at the cyclists fault, they can be hard to see due to traffic.)
As for the minnehaha roundabout. As a cyclist my biggest problem has been with drivers who don't understand how a roundabout works. I've been cut off when I had right away, I've had cars stop for me to enter (when they should keep going), etc. Oh and to the first poster... I do hit the speed limit on minnehaha and get passed by cars going over it. At the low end I average 20 mph through there. If you in such a hurry use Hiawatha not the parkway (where there is pedestrian traffic too.)
One more I would add, from the driver's perspective, is the bike path that crosses Cedar Lake Prkwy (near the Dean Prkwy). It's at such an angle that it is hard to look to see if a cyclist is coming through, imo. So again as a driver I always worry I'll hit somebody (again due to line of site issues, not the cyclist.)
But overall as a road cyclist it has seemed better this year. Catcalls were up in the spring (thanks to KSTP) but overall traffic seemed more tolerant.
Molly 10/20/2008 8:20:00 PM
Thanks for the article! Another surprisingly bad spot is Stinson Blvd between East Hennepin and New Brighton Blvd. The city has made efforts to make it bike friendly by adding a lane off the road, but at every intersection, cars turning right on red will roll right through the intersection without checking the bike lane. I don't blame the drivers - if they're not familiar with the area, there is no reason for them to know that they are pulling into a heavily-used bike lane. The city really needs to put up signs to alert drivers to the bike lane so they don't creep into the intersection as a biker is crossing on a green light. For the most part though, the lane is a helpful addition for both bikers and drivers.
all ill will 10/18/2008 11:37:00 PM
word to hurl 'the cappo'......and gene -o 'the godfather'
as an ex minneapolight,i say........cant truss it
you gotta ride your bike like your life depends on it,here in the UK drivers are activly seeking to hurt riders and its socially acceptable to voice this opinion in the open,madmad world....ive seen the future,ive seen that there is a way to get it right......if you are lucky enough to visit amster'gawdamn'......bikes are top of the transportation mode
its an oasis in a sea of ingnorance,word up,
BTW.......''we wanna be free,we wanna be free to ride our machines without being hasseled by the man,and we wanna get loaded..........yyyyeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh !!!!!!
your brother in arms,hiphopopotomous
Ben 10/18/2008 4:52:00 AM
The major problem I have with motorists is "nosing" and taking quick right turns into parking ramps, alleys and driveways.
I ride a motorcycle too and I have major problems with motorists doing similar things.
I attribute it to the general deterioration of social awareness and care for others. Its really sad.
Mark 10/17/2008 9:00:00 PM
The Lyndale-Franklin intersection is horrific for cyclists and motorists alike. Not only is it the intersection of two major arteries, but the situation is made tighter by parked vehicles on either side of Franklin (whose drivers sometimes attempt U-turns just yards from the intersection) and cars darting into or out of the hard-to-spot alley entrance to the Wedge. Especially treacherous at rush hour.
Samantha 10/17/2008 8:49:00 AM
As a bike rider this summer and a driver this fall who recently moved here from another state, I would have to say that bicyclists AND drivers in Minneapolis both act like they are the most important thing on the road and no one else matters.
The things I've seen drivers AND bicyclists do makes me think that everyone here is crazy and mean.
P.S. To all bikers who ride at night with dark clothing and no flashers (and there are a lot of you in Uptown). Please fix this. Flashers aren't that expensive. I know, I googled it.
DaveMN 10/17/2008 6:13:00 AM
My personal rule as a cyclist is to NEVER trust a motorist. For every conscientious driver there's another one who's clueless, distracted or careless. No matter how law abiding you are as a cyclist you can't argue with 2 tons of steel. You're always on the losing side.
A general rule is that most drivers hate to share the road. They have a sense of entitlement and eminent domain over the streets. They believe that anything that gets in their way or slows them down shouldn't be there. I make every effort to stay off busy streets because its a losing battle.
Drivers are always quick to point out all the times they see cyclists blowing stop signs, etc. But the bottom line is they're just annoyed that the bikes are on the street at all.
christeen 10/17/2008 3:17:00 AM
Thanks for this article. I am proud to say I've experienced each of these intersections on my bike. A friend of mine actually called me about this article because I'm always bitching about the 26th/LRT intersection. Just the other day I was blocked by a school bus! Just hanging out in the crosswalk...Incidentally I have never had an issue with Lyndale. If I'm going from Bob's on 27th to Morts on Franklin, I'm not going to bike two blocks out of my way and then contend with stop signs and speed bumps on top of it. I agree it's not very safe; I've just had good luck. I think it's extremely important to BE A VEHICLE! As a cyclist, you have to listen and watch and be ready to react quickly. I think worse than the 15th St area (where most people just go through Loring Park) I really hate the area right where the 94 turnoff is. It's unlit at night and very difficult for cars to see cyclists. I'm a militant bike rights advocate, and I have almost hit cyclists here, even as I am specifically looking for them!!!
I don't mean to nitpick; just adding my observations. Thanks for highlighting these areas and the fact that we face a lot of dangers that I think drivers don't realize.
christeen 10/17/2008 3:16:00 AM
Thanks for this article. I am proud to say I've experienced each of these intersections on my bike. A friend of mine actually called me about this article because I'm always bitching about the 26th/LRT intersection. Just the other day I was blocked by a school bus! Just hanging out in the crosswalk...Incidentally I have never had an issue with Lyndale. If I'm going from Bob's on 27th to Morts on Franklin, I'm not going to bike two blocks out of my way and then contend with stop signs and speed bumps on top of it. I agree it's not very safe; I've just had good luck. I think it's extremely important to BE A VEHICLE! As a cyclist, you have to listen and watch and be ready to react quickly. I think worse than the 15th St area (where most people just go through Loring Park) I really hate the area right where the 94 turnoff is. It's unlit at night and very difficult for cars to see cyclists. I'm a militant bike rights advocate, and I have almost hit cyclists here, even as I am specifically looking for them!!!
I don't mean to nitpick; just adding my observations. Thanks for highlighting these areas and the fact that we face a lot of dangers that I think drivers don't realize.
christeen 10/17/2008 3:15:00 AM
Thanks for this article. I am proud to say I've experienced each of these intersections on my bike. A friend of mine actually called me about this article because I'm always bitching about the 26th/LRT intersection. Just the other day I was blocked by a school bus! Just hanging out in the crosswalk...Incidentally I have never had an issue with Lyndale. If I'm going from Bob's on 27th to Morts on Franklin, I'm not going to bike two blocks out of my way and then contend with stop signs and speed bumps on top of it. I agree it's not very safe; I've just had good luck. I think it's extremely important to BE A VEHICLE! As a cyclist, you have to listen and watch and be ready to react quickly. I think worse than the 15th St area (where most people just go through Loring Park) I really hate the area right where the 94 turnoff is. It's unlit at night and very difficult for cars to see cyclists. I'm a militant bike rights advocate, and I have almost hit cyclists here, even as I am specifically looking for them!!!
I don't mean to nitpick; just adding my observations. Thanks for highlighting these areas and the fact that we face a lot of dangers that I think drivers don't realize.
Marie 10/16/2008 10:28:00 PM
Minnehaha Roundabout: The roundabout traffic travels about 15 mph, easy to do on a bike. But cyclists need to match the speed and take the lane. If you use the bike lanes, as one poster recommended, you screw up the roundabout traffic by stopping traffic THREE times to cross the roundabout - if you can't bike faster than 12 mph, then I guess you will need to do that. My advice, crank up your speed, take the lane, look everywhere, and do not stop abruptly. I've never had a problem with this intersection, and the other traffic continues a steady flow. Roundabouts are actually great for bikes (at least in daytime) b/c they do force all traffic down to 15 mph. I wish we had more of them. I consider them bike friendly. I do recommend to all my hipster, City Pages-reading fellow cyclists to buy a geeky yellow jacket and put some lights on your bike. You will have fewer incidents. I'd rather be seen in a goofy bright outfit than not seen and run over.
Matthew 10/16/2008 8:39:00 PM
I really appreciate the article and the attention towards bikers. It should not be such a dangerous activity, and cars need to be more aware of bicycles. I would like point out that this quote from the article:
"Yet despite these high-profile incidents, it is actually safer to ride on the street than at any other time in recent memory, according to city statistics."
is dead wrong. Bike fatalities are up significantly from last year. Even the Star Tribune wrote about this:
http://www.citypages.com/2008-10-15/news/the-top-10-most-dangerous-bike-intersections-in-minneapolis
So, in summary, great article, but do your homework next time.
Karla Suckling 10/16/2008 8:28:00 PM
RE: Uncle Sid's posted comment
You are correct, cyclists should not be riding in areas where cycling is not permitted. It is against the law and these cyclists should be held accountable. But please note, this is a job for law enforcement, not the cycling community as you stated: "The cycling community refuses to take responsibility for this behavior." I can no more control the behavior of another cyclist than you can control the actions of another driver or of a fellow pedestrian. Many cyclists ride unsafely by running stop signs and red lights, as do many drivers drive unsafely and many pedestrians j-walk. I am not one of them. I obey traffic laws out of respect for the law and because I value my own safety. Yet I have to hear everyday about how rude/annoying/in-the-way I am because I choose to ride my bike instead of driving a car. I have been spit on, I have been yelled at, I have had items thrown at me and I have been hit twice by moving vehicles. One went through a stop sign. And now I am responsible for the actions of other cyclists too? Can you imagine if you were held accountable for the actions of a reckless driver who you had no control over? Please do not judge the rest of us by the actions of a few. And please consider calling the city of Mpls 311 line (612-673-3000) to report the actions of these rogue cyclists, so that police can take care of the issue. And treat the rest of us law abiding cyclists with the respect that we deserve. Do not judge us by the actions of others. And do not give me the burden of assuming responsibility for the actions of complete strangers. I'm too busy trying not to get run down by belligerent drivers who feel I don't have the right to be on the road.
JustACoolCat 10/16/2008 8:18:00 PM
Aside from the drivers that are intentionally aggressive towards bikes, I agree that the streets are safer than ever for bikers.
Still, the best practice as a biker is to be alert and defensive. In the long run that's what will keep a biker safe.
One issue I don't was covered here, but I had a lot of problems with when I lived in Uptown was cars that pulled out of alleys,crossed the sidewalk quickly without looking, and went a few feet past the curb into the street before checking for traffic.
I had my bike tire clipped several times this way and once had a pretty bad crash.
That and drivers that turn on red lights and only look in the direction of oncoming traffic.
I've since learned much more about biking defensively.
Uncle Sid 10/16/2008 6:58:00 AM
The unfortunate deaths of cyclists and the dangerous intersections you have documented should make cyclists and drivers think. Yet you all have missed the dangers cyclists create for PEDESTRIANS in downtown Minneapolis. It is very difficult to walk close enough to a building that a cyclist doesn't want to interpose himself/herself between you and the building...and this is on the sidewalk. The Nicollet Mall is supposed to be off-limits to cyclists between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays, but they endanger pedestrians without regard for that posted ordinance. The problem is worse in the winter darkness, when pedestrians are threatened by cyclists without lights or reflectors and wearing dark clothing. The cycling community refuses to take responsibility for this behavior.
Karla Suckling 10/16/2008 3:22:00 AM
Thank you for writing this article! I commute to downtown by bike 14 miles round trip each work day. I ride through the Light Rail Trail 26th street intersection twice everyday and it is very dangerous. I just wanted to add that since construction has begun on Lyndale Ave. that Bryant Ave. (which is a designated bike route) has become very dangerous to ride on. The normal traffic from Lyndale has been transfered to Bryant and many motorists are not aware that it is a designated bike route and that they need to be aware of cyclists on the road. I was hit by a truck last Friday less than 200 feet from my home at the intersection of 46th St. and Bryant Ave. because the vehicle suddenly decided to make a right turn and didn't check the bike lane before veering out around straight going traffic. I feel that the city should put up signs on the route and make sure that motorists know that cyclists not only have the right to be on the road, but that it is a designated bike route and if they are not willing to take extra care driving it, then they should choose alternate routes until the construction on Lyndale is completed.
Mike Jones 10/16/2008 1:51:00 AM
The Minnehaha Round-About would be greatly helped if drivers would use THE CAR PATH (Hiawatha) which is clearly marked throughout Minneapolis.
That road is fine for a cyclist, and then you add a car? Totally unsafe!
Plus, you can barely go the posted 25 mph speed limit when you've got a driver pretending that he can go over the speed limit because he's got a seat belt on. It's ridiculous.
seanfahey 10/15/2008 11:56:00 PM
Here's a great resource for bikers to share info about Twin Cities bike routes: http://cyclopath.org/wiki/Main_Page
pwenzel 10/15/2008 10:17:00 PM
Totally agreed on the Lyndale and 26th dangers. The whole stretch from Franklin and Lyndale (The Wedge) to 24th and Lyndale (Leaning Tower) are also tumultuous. Lyndale is difficult to cross in many places, so you find lots of people biking on the sidewalk, cutting in front of traffic, and pedestrian collisions.
I don't know what else can be done to solve the problem, short of riding on side streets (which are also tight in Whittier). Don't forget to add bus traffic to the whole mix!
bobbi 10/15/2008 7:52:00 PM
The Minnehaha Round-About would be greatly helped if cycyclists would use THE BIKE PATH which is clearly marked throughout the park.
That road is too narrow for two lane vehicle traffic and then you add a cyclist? Totally unsafe!
Plus, you can barely go the posted 25 mph speed limit when you've got a cyclist pretending that he can go as fast as a car because he's got a racing helmet on. It's ridiculous.
