Red light may force bicyclists to walk

You want to do what’s right, but just how long should you wait at a red light before giving up and running it?

That’s the question Rosemarie Schmidt had for “Getting There” this week. Schmidt runs into the problem regularly at the intersection of Market Street and Parksmith Drive. Schmidt rides a bicycle, and bicycles aren’t big enough to trigger the light to change.

“I waited 10 minutes the other day to cross Market,” she said.

The problem isn’t one of weight – it’s one of metal, said Spokane County traffic engineer Barry Greene.

The induction loop underneath the pavement measures the change in the magnetic field caused by a large amount of metal on the 6-foot-by-6-foot square behind the stop line.

“We can usually tune them to pick up motorcycles, but a bicycle is virtually impossible,” Greene said.

That leaves bicyclists only a couple of legal ways to get across the street if there’s no car around to trigger the light. They can turn right and then turn around down the road. Or they can get off their bicycle and walk it across as a pedestrian.

In Idaho, it’s a little easier.

Coeur d’Alene City Attorney Mike Gridley did a little checking of Idaho statutes and found that bicyclists can proceed through a solid red light after stopping and making sure the road they are crossing is clear of traffic.

Think dialing and driving is bad?

Try pulling up beside a teenage driver who’s text-messaging a buddy.

According to a Washington Traffic Safety Commission survey of Spokane County teens, 25 percent said they drive and text at the same time.

Sixty-three percent said they talk on their cell phones while driving, which wouldn’t be quite so bad if 68 percent of those surveyed hadn’t admitted to speeding on a regular basis.

There were two bright notes in the survey, however.

Almost all of the kids surveyed – 99 percent – said they buckle up, with 77 percent saying they do so “religiously.”

And 80 percent said their friends would describe them as a safe and cautious driver.

Just put the phone down, OK?

Better lock up

Thieves like some cars more than others. And the Highway Loss Data Institute (part of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) makes it its business to know which ones have the highest insurance claim rate.

While there may not be many people in this area driving the most frequently stolen Cadillac Escalade, two other vehicles on the top-five list are more common here – the Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab and the 2005 Ford F-250/350 SuperCrew truck.

The remaining cars on the list are the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the 2004-2005 Chrysler Sebring. The list doesn’t measure numbers stolen but the numbers of claims per 1,000 insured vehicles.

Those with the lowest theft rates are the Ford Taurus, Pontiac Vibe, Buick LeSabre, Buick Park Avenue and the Toyota Sienna.

Bike maps

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council recently released a new area bicycle map.

The map details commuter and recreation bike routes, showing designated bike lanes and recommended routes.

It also offers riding tips, resources and contacts for cyclists.

The maps are available at local bike shops.

Transportation planning

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council is hosting a workshop Wednesday on coordinated transportation planning between different cities and Spokane County.

The workshop, from 1-4:30 p.m. is at the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, 801 W. Riverside Ave.

Slow going

Large numbers of projects make it unwieldy to list more than the largest construction projects and new projects in the paper. Ongoing project information is available at www.spokesmanreview.com /blogs/gettingthere.

I-90

I-90 is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Division and Maple. Most nights it will be further reduced to one lane in each direction. The Monroe/Lincoln ramps are closed, as are the westbound Browne Street on-ramp and the eastbound Maple on-ramp and eastbound Division exit. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph. No changing lanes.

North Spokane

Rutter Parkway is closed from Highway 291 to Hope Lane. The closure will last until late June. Flaggers will also be directing single-lane traffic most days on Highway 291 near Rutter Parkway and Charles Road. And the highway may be closed for up to 20 minutes at a time for blasting near Rutter Parkway. The highway is now gravel for about three-quarters of a mile in this area.

Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place.

Haven Street is closed in Hillyard.

South Spokane

The right southbound lane of Highway 195 is closed every day from 5 a.m.-3 p.m. near Meadow Lane Road so crews can install a water main.

Freya Street reconstruction will close traffic to all but local access from Hartson and 11th Avenue and from 18th and 37th avenues. Detours are in place.

Work to rehabilitate 29th Avenue between Southeast Boulevard and Grand Boulevard has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction, and drivers are unable to enter or exit Perry at 29th. Detours are in place.

Spokane sweeping

Crews will sweep in northwest Spokane from Ash Street to “A” Street in the area bounded by Wellesley and Francis. In northeast Spokane, sweeping this week is in the area bounded by Division, Nevada, Francis and Wellesley. And on the south side, sweeping is in the area bounded by Fifth, 18th, Crestline and Southeast Boulevard.

Please move cars off the streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

Spokane Valley

Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.

Idaho

Prairie Avenue remains under construction between Ramsey and Huetter.

Construction on Lancaster Road between Government Way and Strahorn may cause delays.