Cycle Traps:
East Branch Road (SR)
State College Borough


East Branch Road between Lemont and S. Atherton Street has two bridges as it
passes through Centre Hills Country Club. Several years ago, the road was widened
and the curves straightened out to accommodate higher speed travel. As you can
see above, the shoulders are wide enough for safe cycling as the eastern
bridge is approached.


Unfortunately, the curve straightening was done across the bridges by using the
shoulder space, creating traps for cyclists. These traps can't be seen until you
are almost on the bridge. The shoulder suddenly disappears, leaving you the choice
of suddenly entering the travel lane or hitting the guard rail.


This is the approach to the west bridge. Again, note the wide shoulders.


The shoulders disappear on this bridge leaving no room for cars and a bike.
The problem isn't a bridge that is too narrow; it's bad road design that curves
the road across the bridges to increase travel speeds in disregard of the
fact that bicyclists use this road regularly.


Here's Elmwood Street crossing Spring Creek. Note how the road goes straight
across the bridge leaving plenty of room for cylists. Click here to see the hazards
on Elmwood, just out of view to the right of this photo..