IMPD beefing up patrols near 86th Street and Monon Trail

INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD is beefing up patrols at 86th Street and the Monon Trail.

The intersection has been getting a lot of attention recently, as the city is considering installing a pedestrian bridge at the intersection.

IMPD officers will be out in the coming weeks, enforcing “no turn on red” at 86th Street where the Monon Trail crosses.

Officers said the beefed up presence is in response to concerns from the community.

“We’re not out here to write tickets,” said IMPD North District Officer Joseph Hockstra. “We are out here for bicyclists and pedestrian safety. The ‘no turn on red’ sign is here to protect those who have the right of way crossing 86th Street and cars are disregarding that sign.”

During a visit to the area, FOX59 and CBS4 crews captured a driver blowing through the “no right on red” right in front of police.

Signs are clearly posted at the intersection, and IMPD caught six drivers who were not following the law in an hour Friday evening.

“We’ve issued warnings, we’ve issued tickets,” said Hockstra. “We do enforcement as we can, basically we try to give equal consideration to all parts of the city, all parts of the district with traffic enforcement, but right here has obviously been a big concern lately.

FOX59/CBS4 crews also saw another driver blow the red light and nearly hit a bicyclist trying to go across the street.

Drivers we spoke to say they were happy to see IMPD in the area.

“As I was getting ready to turn left, there was a cop that came out because somebody ran a red light, and I was just like, ‘Clearly that guy can’t read,’ and (IMPD) went after him, and I so appreciate that,” said Indy resident Michelle Krall. “As a cyclist myself, I’ve been almost hit three or four times there.”

Not only are drivers disobeying the “no turn on red,” but police say even some pedestrians are disregarding the walk signals too.

Many people FOX59/CBS4 spoke to described trying to get from one side of the Monon to the other as chaotic and terrifying to navigate.

“It can be pretty scary,” said Molly Durava, who was walking on the Monon Friday evening. “You have the stoplight. It looks like people are going pretty fast, and they are turning on the side. There’s not a whole lot of sidewalk space so that kind of also makes it scary.”

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works has even set up temporary bollards in the area.

The city is in talks to install a pedestrian bridge in the area to give bicyclists and pedestrians a safer way to cross the street.

“I think that bridge would be the best place for it, right there,” said Krall.

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