Trail Crossings Cause Confusion For Bicyclists

There is no legal definition for a trail crossing in Minnesota, and that's causing some confusion, as more bike riders must navigate busy automobile intersections.

Boe Carlson is the Associate Superintendent of the Three Rivers Park District, he says the intersections are a safety issue, "It's very confusing. It's confusing. In each of the different municipals they might enforce it differently. It's confusing for the trail agencies that provide the trail crossings."

Kari Hansen lives in Saint Louis Park and rides a 12-mile loop along the Cedar Lake Trail. She intersections are an issue, "I know that I’m supposed to stop and I know they're not supposed to stop. Sometimes out of courtesy they do stop, which is great but it's confusing."

Carlson from Three Rivers says the agency would like to see a state-wide solution to the issue. According to MN-Dot, the agency is conducting a research project to define a trail crossing and look for ways of implementing a state wide definition and guidelines to help cut down on any confusion.