Traffic along 16 Mile Road between Northland Drive and White Creek has increased since the closing of Northland Drive for construction. And, according to Solon Township resident Kathy Crandall, so has their speed.

Post photo by J. Reed.

“Traffic is not slowing down for the bike trail,” said Crandall, referring to the White Pine Trail, which crosses 16 Mile Road.

And bicyclists don’t always come to a full stop either, though they are required to.

“Last weekend a little girl was with her family and riding ahead of her father. I heard horns honking and him screaming at her to stop,” she said.

There are yellow signs on 16 Mile alerting motorists they are approaching a bicycle crossing, but they are about 100 yards before you get there. There is nothing immediately marking the trail as you pass in a vehicle, other than white lines on the road.

Crandall asks that both motorists and cyclists pay attention to avoid any injuries. But what she’d really like is a sign at the trail. “This construction is just too much,” she said. “We need to get a caution sign up or something before someone gets killed.”

Construction is not slated to be complete on Northland until October 29.

In 2009, there were 2,027 bicycles in Michigan involved in motor vehicle crashes, with 1,648 injured, and 19 killed.