The City of Bloomington has made more than 75 downtown intersections “no turn on red.” City vendors have been installing and resizing signs at some of those intersections this week.
City Communications Director Andrew Krebbs says protecting “the most vulnerable” travelers has been part of the city’s comprehensive plan since 2018.
“Ultimately, the purpose of the ‘No Turn On Red’ signs is protecting cyclists and pedestrians in the downtown area where there's high volumes of traffic,” he said.
Indiana law allows for turning right at a red traffic signal if there is no sign prohibiting it. The law also allows turning left on red from a one-way street onto a one-way street.
Krebbs said the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission and its Traffic Commission reviewed and approved the intersections now restricted. He said the decisions were based on crash data.
In February 2020, Indiana University Maurer School of Law student Purva Sethi was struck and killed by an SUV as she crossed Third Street to go south on Washington Street.
Third and Washington Streets is on the city’s list of amended intersections.
