Letter: It’s a trail, not a time trial
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is one of our community’s greatest assets, but it is becoming increasingly unenjoyable and unsafe due to the reckless behavior of speeding cyclists who ignore basic trail etiquette.
Too many riders treat this shared-use path like a racetrack, as if the time trials of the Tour de France are on the line, flying past pedestrians without any warning. No bell, no “on your left,” nothing. And, contrary to their belief, coasting and letting your gears click is not a substitute for a verbal warning or bell. People get startled and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt, either walker or rider.
This is not an anticyclist letter. But if you’re moving fast and weaving through families, children, dogs and older adults without loudly announcing your presence or slowing down, you are creating a hazard and being a hazard.
When on the trail, cyclists need to slow down in crowded areas, signal their approach clearly and loudly by saying “on the left” or ringing a bell multiple times. The Swamp Rabbit Trail belongs to everyone and it should be safe for everyone as well.
Robyn Andrews
Travelers Rest
Related: Swamp Rabbit Trail news
