At a committee-of-the-whole meeting on Wednesday, Bloomington’s city council reviewed a new ordinance that would add nearly 80 new spots in the downtown and campus area where making a turn at a red light would be prohibited.
Under Indiana law, vehicles are allowed to make a right turn when the traffic signal shows red, if the way is clear. Left on red is also allowed—from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
The ordinance, which is sponsored by three councilmembers, is intended to reduce crash risk for vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and bicyclists. The three sponsors are Kate Rosenbarger, Ron Smith, and Steve Volan.
The proposal comes a year after a driver headed south on Washington Street, stopped at a red light at 3rd Street, then turned right onto 3rd Street, and struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk, killing her.
Indiana University law school student Purva Sethi died from the Feb. 8, 2020 crash.
City staff members support the council-initiated new law. And based on Wednesday’s deliberations, the additional no-turn-on-red intersections will likely win approval when the ordinance is considered for a vote on April 7. Continue reading “No turn on most red lights: New law considered by Bloomington city council for downtown, campus area”