Note to motorists: Yield to people in crosswalks

A new sign was recently installed along New Meadow Road in Barrington at the intersection with the East Bay Bike Path in an effort to protect bicyclists, joggers and walkers.

The sign reminds motorists driving along New Meadow Road that they must yield to pedestrians who are in the crosswalk.

“This location can be very dangerous when cyclists or runners do not stop before crossing New Meadow Road,” wrote Barrington Police Chief John LaCross in a recent email.

The chief said there are stop signs installed along the bike path warning people traveling in both directions that they must stop at the intersection with New Meadow Road and at other roads. He added that many people ignore the signs.

The crosswalk reminder came partly through a request from the school department — a large number of Hampden Meadows School students ride their bicycles to class each day and many travel down New Meadow Road to the bike path on their commute.

“With the number of students riding their bikes to and from school, the sign only adds to their safety,” Chief LaCross wrote.

While checking on the intersection recently, the chief noticed a near-miss — a cyclist was traveling west along the bike path and failed to stop at New Meadow Road. At the same time a motorist was approaching the intersection; the two narrowly escaped a collision.