New signs asking bikers, walkers to play nice on public trail
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SEATTLE -- A new campaign targeting bicyclists and pedestrians is asking everyone to slow down and play nice on the Burke-Gilman Trail.
The new signs, which urge people to slow down, turn down their headphones and keep track of their dogs, are posted along the trail and painted on the pavement.
With lights on his helmet and bike, David Gordon is among the safest cyclists in the city. But during his daily bicycle commute to work, he's seen plenty of riders who jeopardize the safety of others.
"I usually go between 8 and 10 miles per hour," he said. "I've seen some at 25 miles per hour."
Liz Johnson said it's common to see bike riders taking corners way too fast on the Burke-Gilman Trail. That's part of the reason she's helping out with the new safety campaign.
"Even at points where there was really high traffic, people were not slowing down. I couldn't believe it," she said.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is launching a pilot program this week asking everyone who uses the trail to look out for each other. The goal is to cut down on conflicts and crashes.
The bike club is doing outreach on the trail near the University of Washington on Thursday and plans to do more throughout the summer.
The new signs, which urge people to slow down, turn down their headphones and keep track of their dogs, are posted along the trail and painted on the pavement.
With lights on his helmet and bike, David Gordon is among the safest cyclists in the city. But during his daily bicycle commute to work, he's seen plenty of riders who jeopardize the safety of others.
"I usually go between 8 and 10 miles per hour," he said. "I've seen some at 25 miles per hour."
Liz Johnson said it's common to see bike riders taking corners way too fast on the Burke-Gilman Trail. That's part of the reason she's helping out with the new safety campaign.
"Even at points where there was really high traffic, people were not slowing down. I couldn't believe it," she said.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is launching a pilot program this week asking everyone who uses the trail to look out for each other. The goal is to cut down on conflicts and crashes.
The bike club is doing outreach on the trail near the University of Washington on Thursday and plans to do more throughout the summer.
I bike casually, and while speeding is certainly an issue, I've had more issues with clueless and inconsiderate walkers than bikers. Every been near the UW campus after a Husky game? Incredibly frustrating. Large groups can cause a lot of problems when they're strolling in a horizontal row, engrossed in conversation- completely clueless. When I walk on the trail, it is with the understanding that cyclists use the trail frequently- sometimes at high speeds. I respect and make room for them. Would you rather they take to the streets? Nah. You can walk on the edge and pay attention, or you can walk elsewhere.Â
 @Colleen Elaine Brennan I've had the opposite experience. Walking is definitely more perilous. Plus, the person going 25 MPH and approaching someone that likely can't hear them has a greater responsibility to be sure to avoid a collision in that encounter, don't you think?
This won't really get solved until fed up pedestrians start grabbing problem cyclists and throwing them to the ground. Sorry if they are going 25 mph when that happens. :)Â
i get tired of people that won't move out of the way, and intentionally step in front of my path, when i'm on my bike.
 @rocky Hmm...Why are you passing them so close that a person could step that quickly into your path? I doubt they are lunging sideways several feet. As the person passing and the only one aware that a pass is about to take place, it's your job to either pass with enough room to avoid such a collision or slow down so that a safe pass can be executed. Too many times cyclists will buzz by people on bike or on foot within mere inches of the person when several feet of path are available on the left.
I just did the STP for the 2nd time and I am still amazed at how many ego-bikers rode in the middle of the right lane as if they owned the road. Even when the cyclists behind would yell out car meaning a car is coming get in single file to the right they didn't budge. This causes traffic backs up, drivers get impatient, saw a few narrow misses with oncoming vehicles when cars tried to get around bikers after running out of patience... No wonder cars want to run us off the road!
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FYI - and the STP rules clearly say to stay to the right in single file as much as possible and pay attention!!!
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Oregon will give tickets to cyclists who run red lights, now there is a thought!!
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As a cyclist I really don't see anything wrong with paying tabs to ride my bike and help provide for clearly marked bike lanes and paths!  We now pay to go to our parks - so if you use the resource then paying to use it seems fair...and we can provide vouchers for those the cannot afford it.
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Let's all share the road peacefully and INTELLIGENTLY!!
 @Truth Percolates I did the STP for the first time this year and observed the same thing and reacted the same way. Unfortunately, nobody else riding around me was doing anything about it. If more people exerted some peer pressure and shamed the rogue cyclists the problem could be minimized but most don't want to say anything or get involved. Kudos to you for speaking up.
@Truth Percolates inthink they should make walkers buy licence plates and tabbs, they also should take a class on safe walking!
 @rocky  @Truth A walker going 3 MPH has to be less cautious than someone blowing by at 20+ MPH. The onus is on the person passing to make a safe pass.
 @Truth Percolates Well said.Â
 @LockesChild It's common sense like that that will get him kicked out of the Bicycle Union.
There are many people out there that are self centered a$$es and could care less about anyone else never give up some of their few precious seconds. Have you driven on the roads lately?. Same a$$es, same problem.
More regulations... Till we become the fascist state we have fought so hard to overcome...Â
 @Shadow Doubt It's not regulations. It's common sense advice. The government is not involved.
Can we get some of those signes in the Sammamish River trail in Redmond please....I'm so tired of almost clipped by those who feel entitled to the entire path.
Start requiring license plates and charging annual licensing fees on all bikes. Hey they demand we share the road so they should share the cost. Then they can pay for their own bike lanes and ride as fast as they want. Until that happens they can just stay out of my way.
 @ErichBritton Um...cyclists pay taxes to build and maintain the same roads. We also drive cars on those roads. Your tab money doesn't go to build roads anyway. Add to the fact that these signs are posted on a multi-use path where cars aren't even allowed and your comment really doesn't make any sense. It has nothing to do with automobile-bicycle interactions and has everything to do with pedestrian-bicycle encounters.
you realize this is not a city street or "bike lane" being discussed here, yes?
The problem isn't with just bikers and joggers. The problem is that nowadays no one gives a crap about anyone but themselves.
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Whatever happened to treating others the way you want to be treated? Respect the fact that others use the same trails as you!
I stopped using the trail long ago. Isn't wasnt the walkers or joggers for the most part. It was the cyclist riding 2 wide chit chatting and not getting out of the way for anyone. I would rather ride on the street.
i think a better notice would be :
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  stay to the right. always. unless passing.
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  keep the stupid extendable dog leash NOT extended
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  even as a small group, you do not need to take up the entire trail. also, even as a healthy awesome mommy, you don't need to take up the entire trail, ie, the strooler joggers.
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  if a bicyclist says "on your left" that means they indend to go by on the left - it doesn't mean, stop, lurch around in multiple directions with no indication of where you intend to go.
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 if the area is clogged with people, get off the trail and ride on the street.
 @SwampThing Best advice ever:  "keep the stupid extendable dog leash NOT extended"
I enjoy bike riding and walking. When I am on my bike I try to be courteous to the walkers and go slow enough around them so that they don't have to dodge out of the way or even let them know I am on their right or left by hollering it out as I get close.. Now if the bikers were weaving in and out a nice walking cane or stick or cane stuck in their spokes should slow the nitwits down a bit..Â
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ridiculous
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the fact they have to go to this extreme because people are unable to play nice in the sandbox
 @sunnysandiego Posting signs reminding people to be courteous is "extreme"?
If the idea of possibly crashing into others while flying down the trails isn't enough to convince some bicyclists to ride responsibly, then what good would these signs do?
If the posted speed limit on the trail is 10MPH, enforce it with speeding tickets. Â The Cedar River Trail in Renton has the same problems with the Lance Armstrong-wannabes blazing down the trail at 25+ and in groups of 8-10, refusing to yield the trail.
 @wsmith_84 I've almost been mowed down a few times by the Lance Armstrong-wannabes. There's no reason to ride that fast on the trail. If you can ride at those kind of speeds you should be on the street. There are also some walkers who need to be educated on how things work though. Walking 4 wide with a baby stroller down the middle of the trail doesn't help anyone.Â
 @wsmith_84 On the Sammamish river trail the posted speed is 14 MPH. My wife was knocked over by one of those Armstrong wannabes and broke her collar bone. The turkey never even stopped. That was one time I wished that we had a bicycle licensing law. His plate number would have helped me track him down.
@Glassman @wsmith_84 I'm so sorry to hear that.that would be very frustrating
 @wsmith_84 AND they ignore the stop signs at main road crossing and just blow through. I've seen it many times and had to absolutely lock it up thought for sure I was going to kill this one dude when the just blasted across four lanes of traffic. Had I not been in the "toy" with the upgraded brakes, he would have been a twisted hood ornament.
 @Howard Beale Mixed feelings on that. I would mourn for your hood ornament.
In the Navy we used to say "There's always 10% who don't get the word." When it comes to the lycra bikers, I'm betting it is more like 50%.
Well, if ya can't blame motorists, who do ya blame?
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Someone please pass the popcorn.
 @bobalouie This article has nothing to do with motorists whatsoever.
...The Cascade Bicycle Club is launching a pilot program this week asking everyone who uses the trail to look out for each other...
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Of course they are. Because the Cascade Bike Club has nothing to do with accountability when it comes to the actions of cyclists. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! It's all the evil cars fault! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! If those pesky people walking on a shared trail would just turn off their iPods we wouldn't run into them while riding dangerously at 25 MPH on something not much wider than a nice sidewalk with pedestrians and blind corners.
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Here is an idea - establish a 10 MPH or 15 MPH speed limit on the trail to improve overall safety. Oh I'm sure the Cascade Bike Club and their members would be against that bold idea.
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I don't hate bicycles - I just hate cyclists.
 @Howard Beale This is talking about multi-use paths such as the Burke-Gilman trail, not motorists.
Maybe the obvious problem is bikers and hikers should not occupy the same trails.
 @missyk To clarify, bikers and walkers/joggers use the trail. Hikers use the mountains... ;)
@fyrefawx @missyk In the mountains, some trails allow bikers too but they are not usually flying down the hill and they are more courteous.I hope the signs help but I doubt it very much.