DENVER — The City of Denver has made adjustments to the intersection of 7th Avenue Parkway and Williams Street, which was reworked significantly as part of the city’s Neighborhood Bikeways program.
Earlier this month, neighbors and cyclists told Denver7 that the intersection was confusing and made them feel less safe.
Denver
Neighbors and cyclists call new 7th Avenue intersection in Denver less safe
7:30 PM, Aug 09, 2023
Advertisement
“[Department of Transportation and Infrastructure] staff appreciate all of the feedback we’ve gotten on this intersection in particular that can help us ensure it is safe and comfortable,” Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) said in a memo released this month. “We’ll continue to monitor this location as drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians adapt to these modifications.”
The memo lists several changes made to the intersection following a community meeting held by the city. They include:
An added stop sign and stop bar to slow car traffic in benefit of bikes crossing
Moved signs for better visibility
Added yield markings within the bike lane
An update to Google Maps to reflect the new “Do Not Enter” signs for westbound traffic
Removal of flexposts from the bike lane to help cyclists better maneuver the turn now required to continue east along 7th
The flexpost removal is a welcomed update for Jan Douglas, who spoke to Denver7 earlier this month about the intersection. Douglas was biking through the intersection with her husband when she crashed at the sharp turn. She said it created a blind spot behind her, and she didn’t see another cyclist riding toward her.
The crash sent Douglas to the emergency room with a large bruise on her abdomen and took two weeks to heal, she said.
The removal of the flexposts at the turn allows for a softer turn and better visibility, which Douglas said is an important change for the better.
“I’ve been watching bikes do it even just now,” Douglas said. “It’s a more feasible turn. They can actually look to their left to see if anyone’s coming fast the other direction, which is what I couldn’t do.”
Advertisement
Even with the changes, Douglas, her husband, and several others told Denver7 they still feel the reworked intersection is unsafe and unusable for bikes, cars and walkers.
Mark Turnage, a resident near 7th Avenue who bikes the area “all the time,” said the city should change the intersection back to its prior form.
While Turnage praised many of the other bike lanes installed by the city — and some of the changes instituted further west on 7th Avenue — he called the reworked intersection at Williams a “disaster.”
“This particular bikeway, and how they’ve navigated it and how they’ve put it in — without consultation with the neighborhood — has been a disaster,” Turnage said.
Another common complaint neighbors raised was drivers disobeying the new “Do Not Enter” sign, meant to stop westbound traffic from continuing along 7th Avenue past Williams Street. DOTI said in its August memo it is aware of the issue, and “will work with our enforcement teams to ticket drivers if this continues.”
Advertisement
Denver’s Neighborhood Bikeways programs is part of its Vision Zero mission to eliminate traffic deaths. It is based on a similar program from Sweden, launched in the 1990s to great success. Sweden has been able to reduce its traffic deaths by half.
Rob Toftness, the co-founder of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, said the city deserves credit for its investment into new bikeways, as well as the speed at which it is implementing them. He stressed that tweaks to bikeway installations should not distract from the important mission they serve. His daily bike commutes downtown have felt much safer now that he can take bikeway routes.
“There are connections being made now, and that’s really cool,” Toftness said. “I can get to the grocery store completely protected. I can get to work protected.”
There are a lot of questions about the Denver Broncos this season.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
At least for the last almost nine seasons.
To add another to the mix, who will be the Broncos MVP this season?
Advertisement
NFL.com thinks it’ll be cornerback Pat Surtain II. That’s the most likely scenario, given how good Surtain is and how many questions there are for this roster. Surtain isn’t just the best defender in Denver; he’s one of the best cornerbacks in football.
After Surtain, the race is wide open.
Much of this will depend on how good the Broncos offense is and what it looks like. One guy who should be on the list is guard Quinn Meinerz. “The Belly” has become one of the guards in the NFL. If the offense is able to run the ball and protect whoever starts, likely Bo Nix, Meinerz will play a big role in that success.
Courtland Sutton will get thrown out. But if he’s healthy, Tim Patrick is more valuable to Denver’s offense. Patrick is also the more complete receiver. Since Patrick is returning from two brutal injuries, that’s the biggest question with Patrick. Hopefully he’s able to stay on the field.
On defense, newly acquired John Franklin-Myers is a guy to watch on the defensive line. Franklin-Myers will be a key contributor to the defensive front and help lead it to any success. For his career, Franklin-Myers has 135 tackles, 61 quarterback hits and 19.5 sacks. A disruptive force from the defensive line is what this defense needs.
Advertisement
The other player on defense for Denver is Baron Browning … if he can stay healthy. Consistent pressure off the edge is crucial for the Broncos defense, and Browning has the potential to be a great pass rusher. If he’s consistent, he could put himself in the Broncos MVP discussion.
Those are a few guys I think could compete with Surtain for Denver’s MVP this season. Who else could become a possibility?
Broncos news
Broncos training camp preview: What about the quarterbacks? | 9news.com Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson: Here are Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton’s options on how to split up quarterback reps at training camp.
Why more efficiency in Broncos’ run game will be key in 2024 – ESPN Denver coach Sean Payton says run-game production is a great ‘friend’ to a QB. But can the Broncos find more consistency on the ground this season?
NFL news
Best and worst NFL diets: Rams, Bengals, Dolphins dish it all – ESPN ESPN spoke with several teams about the best — and worst — NFL food programs based on the NFLPA report cards released in February.
Advertisement
NFL DC crowns Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as biggest challenge – Pride Of Detroit The praise for Lions OC Ben Johnson keeps coming in. The latest is directly from an NFL defensive coordinator.
The four most underrated NFL QBs going into 2024 – NBC Sports Denny Carter details exactly why Geno Smith, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, and Jacoby Brissett are underrated headed into the 2024 NFL season.
Vikings rookie CB Khyree Jackson among 3 killed in crash – ESPN Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson and two former college football players — Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr. — were killed in a car crash overnight, according to police.
Five NFL teams that could be more explosive in 2024 All NFL teams dream of being more explosive on offense in the coming year, but these five teams might already seeing a spark.
The Croatian forward found his new NBA contract while competing with his national team
Advertisement
By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Croatian forward Dario Saric has agreed on a two-year, $10.6 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Advertisement
Deal includes player option on second-year.
Saric is currently in Greece for one of the four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and the news came just a couple of hours after he helped his national team beat the Dominican Republic and making it to the final against the hosts.
Saric averaged 8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors last season.
He was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He joined the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 playing two seasons for the team before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After a season with the team he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the 2019 offseason and played four seasons for them before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2023 trade deadline.
Advertisement
The following offseason, he joined the Golden State Warriors.
Training camp is fast approaching, and the Denver Broncos are in need of making a few strategic moves to enhance the roster. The potential addition of free agents could strengthen weak positions or even preempt training camp battles.
What unfinished business do the Broncos have? Here are three key moves that could greatly improve the Broncos’ offense before the training camp commences on July 26.
Naming the starting quarterback before training camp would be crucial. A prolonged battle can deprive the eventual starter of valuable snaps, particularly for a rookie like Bo Nix. These snaps are essential for building chemistry with the receivers, gaining confidence, and mastering the offense — vital for a well-run offense.
Instead of keeping up the facade of a battle between Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson, the Broncos should dispense with it. And Wilson needs to catch up.
Advertisement
Through OTAs and minicamp, Stidham was the most consistent quarterback, as he should be. He would have the best understanding of the offense, having been with the team for over a year, but he has shown in his limited action that he is not a franchise quarterback. The same can be said of Wilson, despite not being in the best situation with the New York Jets, who drafted him at No. 2 overall in 2021 and didn’t give him the best support.
The Broncos drafted Nix at No. 12 overall because they believe he can be a franchise quarterback. With that belief, the Broncos must do everything they can to prepare him.
Nix is a 24-year-old rookie, so the Broncos don’t have time for him to sit. They need to get him the first-team reps during training camp and let him work to be the franchise quarterback they believe he can be.
There’ a saying that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
What happens next on the Broncos? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!
Advertisement
This might rattle some who want to turn to Alex Forsyth because of his one year with Nix at Oregon, but he still has to show he can be the starting center. The same goes for Luke Wattenberg. While the Broncos have veteran newcomer Sam Mustipher, his time as a starting center was among the worst in the NFL. Denver needs to add a good veteran with experience.
There are some veteran centers the Broncos can look at, but finding one with good experience might be challenging. There is Mason Cole, whom the Pittsburgh Steelers released, but his experience as a starter isn’t great, though it was better than Mustipher. The one who might be more interesting is Nick Gates, who has been a solid starting center throughout his career.
Another option is reuniting with Connor McGovern, who spent the first four years of his career with the Broncos. He spent the last four with the Jets, where he was a quality starter for the first three years. McGovern struggled in the 2023 season but was sidelined with an injury after seven games.
Bottom line, the Broncos need to add another center to compete, and one who brings quality experience. They don’t have a proven center, but if Forsyth or Wattenberg develop and earn the starting job, then all will be well. However, not having a quality center could ruin a season.
While the Broncos have potential in the tight end room, they don’t have any proven assets. Can Greg Dulcich stay healthy? Can Adam Trautman take a step forward? Will Lucas Krull develop?
Advertisement
It’s a room replete with questions, and the Broncos don’t have any answers. On top of that, they don’t have any insurance if Dulcich can’t stay healthy or Krull develops. And what about the blocking at the position?
Few tight end options are available when looking at free agents. Trevon Wesco is an available blocking tight end and can give the Broncos a reliable blocking option. If the Broncos want to add someone for receiving ability, then Jimmy Graham — a familiar face for Sean Payton — could be an option. Graham will be 38 years old and may not offer much as a receiver, but he would provide some insurance for Dulcich and Krull.
Blake Bell, who is 32 years old and a decent depth option, might be the best bet. Again, there isn’t a top guy available, but the Broncos need insurance for what they have, but players they can look to fall back on if other things don’t turn out as they hope.
Follow Mile High Huddle on X and Facebook and subscribe on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GQ62D5BZHZCP5DPTBOYBWBAQ6Y.jpg)
