Unlock Request - Van Aken Rd, Shaker Heights, OH

Map Editors Community Update/Unlock Request
1

Please unlock the selected segment to allow U-Turns. https://www.waze.com/editor/?lon=-81.54693&lat=41.46652&zoom=8&layers=BFTFTTTFTTFTTTTTTTTTFT&segments=66968103,38066112

Thanks

2

Are you sure a U-turn would be permitted there? Do the sight-lines conform to Ohio law? And the local municipality’s law?

That particular intersection is heinous (as are several others along that stretch) – the 6+ spokes (and various pavement markings) make discerning what is permissible/prohibited difficult (for instance, is it permitted to make a U-turn from south-bound Parkland to north-bound Parkland? The arrows on the pavement would suggest that it’s only permissible to turn onto Van Aken or south-bound Norwood and not to make a U-turn, but there appear to be no signs confirming that restriction).

I tend to err on the side of configuring intersections to prohibit U-turns because most Ohio drivers (and many police officers) assume they’re illegal throughout the state-- I get lots of URs squawking about “bad routing” when waze tells people to make U-turns.

However, if you’re sure the U-turn is allowed, I’ll unlock it.

Jeff

3

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for responding. I have driven thru’ that stretch and I have not seen any prohibited U-turn on Van Aken. The 6+ spoke looks really horrible in the map but it is actually a smooth U at the real intersection due to the train line in between. I reviewed the street-view in Google to verify that there is not prohibited U-turn.

Thanks,
rajapkumar

4

Take a look at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.37

I’m not a lawyer and this doesn’t constitute legal advice but my takeaway is that Ohio law doesn’t require a sign to be placed where a U-turn would be illegal. It’s all about sight lines (e.g., being able to see 500’ in the direction of all potentially conflicting traffic). There are a lot of trees and bushes in that median which make it not obvious as to how far you can actually see.

Similarly, for some Ohio municipalities (Columbus being the prime example), U-turns are illegal city-wide unless explicitly permitted (using the green-circle-around-a-U sign).

I’ve unlocked the roads in question, but please make sure that making a U-turn there would conform to ORC 4511.37 and any other applicable laws (e.g., those of Shaker Heights).