Bellevue Gets First Bicycle Traffic Signal

BELLEVUE, WA — Cars have them, pedestrians have them — and now bicyclists have them.

The city of Bellevue recently installed a bicycle traffic signal at the intersection of Southeast Newport Way and Factoria Boulevard Southeast. The signal will allow bicyclists to make left turns onto Factoria Boulevard from Newport Way, and will keep cars from making right turns into westbound bike traffic, city officials say.

"A loop buried in the pavement and marked with a small, white bicycle symbol indicates where bicyclists should stop. A sign next to the bike lane will illuminate to confirm the bike signal has detected their presence. The bike signal across the street — to the right of the vehicle signals — will then show a green light only when all vehicle signals display red, allowing people bicycling to safely enter the intersection," the city described.

Bike signals are in use in citites across the state, most prominently along Seattle's 2nd Avenue bike corridor.

The entire bike signal system at Newport Way cost about $50,000 and was paid for with funds from the Bellevue Neighborhood Safety, Connectivity, and Congestion Levy.