produced by Gary Ledebur, Netherfield Studios, Philadelphia
contains adult content
reproduced from March 15, 2010
ADDENDUM AUGUST 21, 2024:Although this video is fourteen years old, I remain an opponent of bikes in the parks. While a bike whizzing by you is scary on Trexler Park's wide path, it is downright dangerous in Cedar Park. Pawlowski purchased two large brownfields, Basin Street and the former fertilizer plant. Those distressed parcels could be made into cycling parks for the spandex inclined, leaving the rest of us park goers much safer.
Increased risk is an artifact of increased use. More people using bikes is an indicator of positive habits that should be encouraged and fostered. Exclusion isn't the answer, but education is needed. More signage.
ReplyDeleteIf signage worked the streets wouldn't be full of litter and people would stop at stop signs, and wouldn't speed. Protect the elderly, children and pets with designated cycling parks, such as suggested in the post's addendum.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I start with this post?
ReplyDeleteLooking back 14 years to the original post, I can’t help but think how much worse this problem has gotten. Not only have the number of regular bicycles speeding through our parks increased, but pedestrians also have to contend with unlicensed motorized e-bikes and scooters. In addition, City Hall is REMOVING needed traffic lanes to downtown to add bike lanes that will see little use other than the three weeks of the year where the weather isn’t too hot or too cold.
This fool-hardy move will choke off access to downtown businesses and result in more people avoiding traveling to downtown.
In addition, I fail to see the wisdom of encouraging bikes into areas with high levels of vehicle traffic. As mentioned, bikes and e-bikes are unlicensed and have no common standards as far as lights or clothing (for riders) to make the bikes more visible to vehicle drivers. In addition, the lack of any age limits raises the possibility of dedicated bike lanes encouraging young and inexperienced bikers into high-traffic areas.
Will the Mayor and City Council admit their culpability when we have MORE bike/vehicle collisions? Will they apologize to downtown business owners who see their net incomes shrink as downtown traffic counts decrease?
Of course not! The only thing in shorter supply at City Hall than common sense is any self-awareness or accountability from those who occupy it.
Growing up in Allentown during the 1960s, I would have enjoyed the bike paths you mentioned. I rode my bike basically all over town and understood to ride on less busy streets with it.
ReplyDeleteToday the inhabitants of Allentown seem just not to care about themselves or others. Or the city in general.
I didn't like that song in 1982, however "its getting very hard to stay........"
Anon 7:30 - So we need more education and signage to tell bikers that they shouldn’t speed on walkways they share with pedestrians? More education and signage to warn cyclists that the elderly might not hear a bike approaching from behind and could be slower to react? More education and signage to let cyclists know that pets and children often walk erratically on trails and paths?
ReplyDeleteWhat’s needed is more common sense and common courtesy, which judging by your comment is in short supply among those supporting the status quo with this dangerous mix.
Cyclists just had traffic laws changed in this state to give them more safety when sharing the road. That’s where they should mostly ride. If cyclists are on any trail with a pedestrian they shouldn’t be going any faster than coasting. If you want to ride like you’re at the velodrome, get off the trails!
As a courteous and considerate bicyclist, I've gone through the park a few times to get to Wegmans, and I too have some concerns about bicycling in Trexler Park. Bicyclists who ignore the park bicycling rules and speed limits do create some dangerous conditions as do the clueless walkers who walk in the designated bike lane. I'm not sure what the best solution should be, as the park does offer bicyclists a safe and convenient passage from the West End to Wegmans and other destinations in the Cetronia area. I do not support use of Trexler Park for riding laps around, especially exceeding the posted speed limit.
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