Traffic posts address safety for bike lanes at South End Rail Trail intersection

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — More safety enhancements were made to a busy part of South End. Now, posts mark where the car lane ends, and bike lane begins.

On any given day, especially a nice one like Thursday, you’ll see a fairly consistent flow of walkers, runners and cyclists on the Charlotte Rail Trail.

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“You definitely have to be aware. I don’t look at my phone when I’m crossing these,” said walker Caitlyn Cerino.

The Rail Trail’s crosswalk at Remount Road has seen its fair share of incidents. In the Fall of 2022, a driver hit a woman walking in this area.

Thursday, Queen City News witnessed two people almost get hit.

“I don’t know if they saw me or was hoping I wasn’t going to keep going,” Cerino said, “but I was going to get hit, probably.”

Crosswalk signs have been installed, and now, new traffic delineator posts aim to protect cyclists in the bike lanes.

“I think it’s half and half, honestly,” said cyclist Jason Harris. “I think there’s a lot of drivers, like myself, that ride a bike, so they’re very respectful. Others are distracted from just what they got going on in their lives or they’re looking down at their phones.”

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Harris says he has more issues with untrained dogs on the trail that jump in front of him. 
In a car-versus-pedestrian scenario, the car will always win, but some believe the added safety measures couldn’t hurt.

“I always stop. I never assume that someone sees me,” Harris said.

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