BELLINGHAM, Wash. — One North Sound city is adding some tough-to-miss markings to its streets that not everyone is happy about.
They're called "bike boxes”—similar to ones on some downtown Seattle streets.
Bellingham plans to add a lot more over the next few years, but the first green boxes have been painted on the pavement at the intersection of Cornwall and Ohio.
Niki Shannon has been parking her food truck on that corner for years, and she says she witnesses countless close calls.
"When we're here there's at least two almost accidents every day,” she explained, and she's not sure adding the boxes will reduce that.
The boxes are designed to allow cyclists to turn left without crossing traffic, but they put the bikes in the same lane—and right in front of—the cars.
"With us, if we hit somebody, they're done,” Niki said of the large truck that tows her food trailer.
Eric Johnston with the city says across the nation this design is proving effective.
Some cities, like Seattle, even combine the bike boxes with bike lights.
Right now there are no designated lights specifically for cyclists in Bellingham, but cyclists can trigger the regular traffic lights just by putting their bike over a bike symbol on the pavement.
"What we are trying to target is that 30 to 50 or 60-percent of the community who would not ride a bike if they didn't feel comfortable on the city streets so we're trying to go to that next level,” Eric said.
Bellingham already has a large biking population who are excited about the changes.
"I think they're a good idea. I think it's really safe,” said Maia Early as she walked her bike across Ohio.
The city has another box in the works on Cornwall and countless others scheduled for construction down the road.
Niki just hopes the boxes don't replace vigilance.
"I think it's on both parties being more aware of the other one and understanding if you're on a bicycle and you're next to a car, even if it's my fault an accident is bad for you,” Niki concluded.
The city is paying for the improvements with a voter-approved sales tax.
It plans to double the city's 60 miles of bike lanes over the next 20 years.