BOCA RATON October 2025 – At the intersection of NE Mizner Blvd and NE 2nd St in downtown Boca, The Boca Raton Traffic and Engineering Department is showcasing the principles of “Protected Intersections” in a demonstration project using quick build materials. As a community pedestrian/bike advocate, I was invited to try it out and provide feedback. If you’re unfamiliar with Protected Intersections, you are not alone. I made a short clip from a Cheddar News video that explains it here.
The demonstration project, uses temporary materials such as paint and “street furniture” to implement changes to the normal vehicle, mobility and pedestrian routes through the intersection. The idea is that after the evaluation period, it can all be removed and used on other demonstration projects. After the evaluation period, it is then made permanent incorporating revealed during the evaluation. At the end of this article, I provide videos of a cyclists using the intersection and some feedback to inform the final implementation. Skip to videos.
Motorists, pedestrians and cycling users are invited to provide feedback. To facilitate this, we’ve created a survey you can take after you experience the demonstration project for yourself. If you are on our Better Bike Friendly Bike Advocates subscriber list, you have already received a survey. If you are not a Better Bike Friendly BocaFirst Bike Advocate, you can request a survey here:
We’ll provide the survey results to the City at the November Citizens Pedestrian and Bike Advisory Board meeting and publish them here on Bocafirst.org.
About the Protected Intersection Demonstration Project
The demonstration project is located at the intersection of NE Mizner Blvd and NE 2nd St, just down the block from Mizner Park. It’s an interesting place to try the Protected Intersection principles as it has a four lane road WITHOUT bike lanes (they don’t meet the state minimum of 4′) and a two lane road WITH bike lanes. It is one of many Boca Raton Urban–Residential transition points and, as such, sees a variety of types of users. One of the key things that makes protected intersections work, is how it separates the various users at potential conflict points. That is, everyone is protected just by following the clearly marked routes.
You can help
Try it out as a motorist, pedestrian or whatever mobility device you use. If go to the City Mobility symposium, you can provide feedback face to face, email the traffic department, or request our survey here and we’ll pass along your input to the city.
How to ride each direction
Eastbound
FEEDBACK: The turn on the SE corner is sharp and narrow. More space for turning is needed when permanently implemented. A slight redesign of the sidewalk ramp that recedes the curbs back (east and south) will allow cyclists to use the ramp to make the turn easier. e-bikes with their greater speed, weight and momentum may rather just go around the street furniture which defeats the purpose.
Westbound
FEEDBACK: Easy to use. Nice curves. Street furniture is effective in guiding cyclists, pedestrians and motorists to avoid conflicts. In particular the NW corner has sufficient space for a cyclist turning from West to South to wait for light and not block westbound thru cyclists.
Southbound
FEEDBACK: At the SW corner, the turn is too sharp and there is insufficient space between the street furniture and the curb (shown here). Unlike the other corners, the SW corner’s sidewalk lacks a ramp facing diagonally. This prevents sharing space between cyclist and pedestrian. This is easily remedied by redesigning the curb as there is plenty of space without impacting vehicle travel lanes. Also, the SW corner lacks space for thru southbound traffic when an eastbound cyclist is waiting for the light.
Northbound
FEEDBACK: Westbound vehicles on NE 2nd St are frequently stopped on the crosswalk instead of the stop line. There may be a visibility problem at the stop line. Especially for right turn on red traffic.
Southbound to Eastbound
FEEDBACK: This route illustrates the lack of space for the cycle path on the SW corner. A single cyclist waiting to cross Mizner Blvd blocks southbound thru traffic and the curb design does not allow going around the waiting cyclist without leaving the cycle path.
RELATED INFORMATION:
ARTICLE: Real Protected Intersection vs Demon
