Q: If you've ever had occasion to make a loop around Green Lake, you may know that West Green Lake Way North wraps around the southwest end of the expansive urban lake before it merges onto Aurora Avenue North, which is part of Highway 99.

Gordon Kaplan of Seattle points out what he calls two oddities, and both, he says, are major safety issues.

"The first, and most important," he says, "is that there is no yield sign for those merging into Highway 99." The speed limit on the access road is lower than the speed for Aurora, and "this makes for an on-ramp condition without any regulation."

The second issue, he says, is that the access carries two-way traffic, and northbound drivers who are picking up speed to make the merge can encounter oncoming traffic from cars parked along the shoulder making a U-turn to head south back toward the lake.

In Kaplan's opinion, there should be at the very least a yield sign for the ramp to Highway 99, and perhaps even a line of yellow paint on the road to indicate that it is a two-way street. A "two-way traffic ahead" sign wouldn't be a bad idea either, he says.

A: The city says those are good points, and Wayne Wentz, the city transportation department's traffic management director, says a yield sign where West Green Lake Way North intersects with Aurora Avenue North will be installed within the next two weeks.

In addition, he said, a center line will be placed along part of that access, and the striping should extend from the eastbound stop sign just down from the signal off the northbound Aurora ramp.

While Kaplan and others may see that area as a problem waiting to happen, transportation department spokesman Gregg Hirakawa says there have been no reported collisions on that stretch of roadway.

Green Lake is one of the city's most popular parks, attracting thousands of people daily. One of its most popular features is the 2.8-mile path around the lake, a draw for runners, bikers, skaters and walkers. The park is also popular for its athletic fields and boating, picnics and swimming.