Great Article on Multi-Use Paths

This article appeared in yesterday's Sacramento Bee. Although it is about our local American River Parkway Trail, I think it contains a lot of good advice for anyone who uses multi-use paths. Unfortunately, the online version doesn't have the great photo with explanations of which people are using the path correctly and which are not (and why their usage is correct or not).

http://www.sacbee.com/107/story/1085198.html

The Good Life: Got to love the American River Parkway -- but be careful out there, will you?
By Rick Kushman - rkushman@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I heard their voices before I heard their smooth bikes, just two women talking on a ride.

"Him?" one of the voices said. "I used to date him. He's an idiot."

Then they were past me and up the bike trail, more details about "him," and why he's an idiot, gone swiftly around a turn.

This is another reason why the bike trail is such a treasure. Out on a run or a ride, you catch these snippets of talk, blips of people's lives, that are equal parts fuel for delicious voyeurism and comedy routine.

That, of course, is the smallest charm of the jewel of a trail that runs through the American River Parkway. (Small charm for most people. On a long run, I sometimes rank the chat. I don't claim to be normal.)

The bike trail – officially the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail – is 32-plus miles of nature, animals and American River access, and it's a paradise of a workout zone for everyone from casual walkers to national-class runners and pro cyclists. In recent weeks, it has been home to hundreds of people training for Eppie's Great Race on July 19.

Our paved trail is the longest and – I'm saying – best city bike and running trail in the country. In 2006, it was named best road biking trail in America by Trails.com, and who would argue?

This is not news to the people who use it – and studies say the trail gets 4 million to 5 million visits a year. There is a bit less consensus about how all those people should deal with each other.

Well, I'm here to help. It's my way. Besides, I want my bike trail happy, so let's start with the basics.

Runners and walkers: Use the left dirt shoulder so you're facing bike traffic.

This way, runners and cyclists can see each other coming. Bikes move too fast and too quietly to come from behind safely.

Most people on the trail know this. But enough don't, maybe because it seems, I dunno, British. Some runners can't figure it out, even when they see tons of people running on the opposite side from them, or when they jog past those directions painted on the ground.

So for the hard of reading, here you go: USE THE LEFT DIRT SHOULDER.

Cyclists: Stay in your lane. I know, duh. But two weeks ago, I saw a young woman, riding by herself, casually cross the line on a turn near the Guy West Bridge. A guy riding the other way had nowhere to go and crashed hard in the dirt. He was, as you might guess, ticked.

Dog owners: Use a leash, and not the extendo version. I say this as a dog guy. Don't get your dog hit by a bike.

The thing is, the bike trail seems so bucolic and peaceful, it's easy to forget there's loads of traffic. But I've been counting on my recent weekend runs. (I do that sort of thing, too. Like I said, not normal.) In the stretch from the 8-mile to the 14-mile mark – California State University, Sacramento, to Riverbend (a.k.a. Goethe) Park – I encountered someone pretty much every 20 to 30 seconds. On a bike, that would've been every 10 to 15 seconds.


A ranger's view

That's why the road rules matter. I know this seems simple, but Steve Flannery, Sacramento County's chief ranger, is the guy in charge of keeping the peace and civility on the trail, and he hears the complaints.

"I get a lot of calls," he says as nicely as possible. "People tend to work things out down there, but it would help if everyone knew the rules."

The county considered posting rules and safety suggestions on signs but decided it wouldn't help much.

"We would've had a sign that took 10 minutes to read," Flannery said. "Someone riding by would go, 'What was that?' "

So here's some of what Flannery's sign would say:

• Ride safely. You won't get a ticket for cycling faster than the 15-mph limit that's posted. But you can get a $10 ticket for being out of control. Crossing the center line – except when you're passing – is the definition of out of control.

Careful about riding side by side and stay off that center line. See: $10 ticket.

• Communicate. Cyclists, call out when you're passing someone. Runners in a group, call out to each other when a bike is coming. Dogs, bark loudly when you see bad behavior.

• Dogs on a 6-foot leash. "If it's a busy day and you have your dog off leash, that's almost a done deal for a ticket," Flannery said. Those cost $65, and where is your dog going to get that kind of money?

• No extendo leashes. Here's a question: How dangerous do you think a thin, nearly invisible line stretched across the bike trail might be to someone riding 20 mph?

• Baby joggers and strollers, stay on the left dirt trail, just like runners and walkers. Be very careful going side by side, which is not recommended. If you do, always move over when bikes are coming.

• Don't take kids cycling on the trail until they're ready for the traffic. "The bike trail probably isn't the best place to teach your child to ride," Flannery says diplomatically.

I'll say it more starkly. Yes, it's a public right of way. But so is Fair Oaks Boulevard. Just remember: Bikes are moving fast, and they're made of metal. Protect your children.

• No skateboards. It's the rules.

• Skate skinny. In-line and other skates are allowed, but skaters need to stay single file.


Good Life's guidelines

And then there are guidelines that aren't exactly county requirements. These would be on my sign. Let's call them Rick's rules of the trail.

• Wave to people. Seriously. A wave, a nod, a "How you doing?" establishes a bond with other runners, walkers and riders. You end up watching out for each other. Besides, it's just nice.

• Wave to people (Part II): When you jog or ride past someone fixing a flat, say, "You OK?" or even, "Bummer. Sorry, dude." They won't need your help, but it'll show you care.

• Let it go. When someone is running too far out in the lane or riding too close to the dirt, and won't move over, don't get riled. They're just selfish, bitter people, and there's nothing we can do for them.

• Let it go (Part II): You're riding along and someone riding faster flies by. Don't chase them. I know you want to. I want to. We'll just be drafting someone fitter and with better bike skills, and we'll end up riding out of control. But if you stay casual, you're saying, "I could catch you, but I don't need to."

• No cell phones. If you have to take a call, pull over. If you're just riding along chatting, the rest of us will make fun of you.

• Don't ride in clumps. Pace lines are legal – though keep in mind the $10 out-of-control ticket – but large gaggles of riders endanger everyone, including the gagglers. Ride in a line, even if you're slow.

• Don't run or walk in clumps. Same point about getting in a line, particularly when bikes are coming. If you're not walking or running on the dirt – and you should be – be able to get there in a step.

• Control your iPods. Flannery strongly recommends you don't ride or run with one, so you can hear traffic coming. If you need to use one, keep the volume low.


Tales from the trail

Two stories: A couple of years ago, a female friend was running on the trail and heard someone running up from behind. She also heard keys or change jingling – not normal runner sounds – and took her pepper spray from a pocket in her shorts, just in case.

The guy started to grab her and she sprayed him, then sprinted off while he was dazed.

Second story. Last month, I ran up from behind and startled a couple, both with iPods so loud I could hear their music. Coming back, a cyclist called to me, "Watch out. Snake on the trail."

Then I saw the couple, still on the way out. "Watch out. There's a snake around here," I yelled. They didn't hear me, or anything. A few steps later, I heard a squeal. The woman had stepped on a snake.

• Stay hydrated. This has nothing to do with courtesy, but it is summer. I'm just saying.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sounds like a "polite" rewrite of the Minuteman Bike Path rant that is part of Best of Craig's List.

That poor snake! :eek:

That's all wonderfully practical advice. MUT's don't need to be dangerous if everyone using them would just think about everyone else who's also using them. Pay attention, communicate and give each other as much space as possible so that everyone can enjoy, simple as that.