The Dutch Intersection Is Coming to Save Your Life (Bloomberg City Lab)
Inspired by road safety innovations widely used in the Netherlands, several US cities are installing street crossings that can better protect pedestrians and bicyclists.
Charlotte, North Carolina, finished its first protected intersection retrofit in 2023. The junction sits in a formerly industrial area that is rapidly becoming more residential, with new apartment buildings and a recent light rail extension, and was originally sized to fit 18-wheelers. As such, there was enough space to use without removing car lanes, which is probably why the roadwork wasn’t controversial, says Eric Zaverl, urban design specialist at nonprofit Sustain Charlotte. Only early on, when markings were not yet completed, did drivers mistake the bike lanes for slip lanes.