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Last August 2018, ODOT was resurfacing Central Avenue from King Road to US 23. During the milling process, a portion of Sequoia Road was included in the process, the "loop wire" that is used to detect vehicles was pulled from the roadway [click for photo]. The loop wire was replaced below the new pavement surface, so you could not see where the wire was located in the road to properly place your bike for detection. We reported this issue to ODOT and originally requested placement a "Bicycle Detector Pavement Marking" and signage.

In conversations with Dylan Foukes at ODOT, he mentioned that there was a project to improve several intersections along Central Avenue and while Sequoia Road was not originally part of the project, Dylan believed that the new technology being deployed would provide a better solution for cyclists and Sequoia was included. This intersection is particularly important to cyclists as it provides a pathway to the University Parks Trailhead.

The new sensors were installed on May 9 and are now fully functional after being programmed on May 15. Now you will not need to guess where to place your bike for the signal crossing, position in the center of the lane like any other vehicle. Many thanks to Dylan Foukes and the ODOT team in thinking forward about bicycle transportation! 

Now if you're a nerd like me, watch this short video to learn how the radar works, very cool!

Get your 2019 pass today, they're free and allow 24/7 access to the trail for commuting!

Regional trails are used for commuting as well as recreation, fitness and enjoying nature. Because trail hours are the same as the Metroparks - 7 a.m. until dark every day of the year - it limits some commuters' options. For example, someone bicycling to work, school or church during open hours would be unable to return on the same trail after dark.  

For this reason, Metroparks Toledo issues special permits for after hours commuting on the University Parks Trail, Wabash Cannonball Trail and Chessie Cirlcle Trail.

Download an Application Form

Commuter permits can be attached to a bicycle to show that the commuter has received permission to use a trail for transportation during hours when the trail is closed.  The Blade published a story here.
 

Cyclists now have a new section of bike lanes on Bancroft Road near UT, between Secor and Parkside Blvd <Map>. Many thanks to the City of Toledo for including this section of Bancroft on the Toledo Bike Plan, and for including recommendation on the buffer design from We Are Traffic. We contacted the City of Toledo engineering department back in August of 2016 after a project review with the TMACOG Pedestiran & Bikeways Committee. The original design, a "Door Zone Bike Lane" or DZBL, would have placed cyclists in the path of opening car doors with the high potential of injury or death. We Are Traffic shared best practices used by other municipalities, including one that places a buffer between the bike lane and on-street parking. City engineers David Dysard and Gary Stookey were both receptive to incorporate the buffer between the on-street parking and bike lane.

Thank you City of Toledo!  Now let's complete the open segments on Bancroft to complete the corridor to Downtown Toledo!