Multi-Use Path (bike path)

[scooterbug44]

I think we need to pick our battles and be sparing w/ the signs. We are dealing w/ a population that is befuddled by basic signage and the beach flag system. Realistically, anyone who doesn't have the basic common sense to moderate their speed and can't follow basic signs & road rules is not at all likely to have the means to measure or pay attention to their speed.

My short list for local bike education is getting through to them that they need lights & reflectors after dark and need to obey stop signs.

On a happier note, the recent cutting back of the pathside foliage from the edges of the path was a good move - really helps w/ the visibility.

 

[LivinEasy]

No more signs please

This thread calls the path a multi-use path, but I keep hearing it referred to as a bike path.

A lot of the signs were designed to be seen by people riding a bike at 20 mph (Stop Ahead, then a Stop). Do any of you think it's safe to go that fast on the multi-use path?

Someone threw out the idea of a speed limit at the last sign meeting. Does that seem like a good idea?

I was kayaking around western Lake yesterday, trying to take some pictures, and all I could think of was that damn Tesla song, "Signs......Sings, signs, eveywhere signs. Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind." Sorry I had to qoute that song, but it is hard to take a picture of the beautiful scenery here in walton county without having to photoshop signs out of your pictures. "there were stay off the dunes every 10 feet. No boat launching every 20'. No littering. the signs are just as bad as the litter. (not really, but you understand what i am trying to say). Next time your are one the bike path, just start counting the signs. you will be amazed. What the county needs is to come up with a signage plan to start combining and cleaning up the signage that is already out there. Please, lets not add to it.

 

[Mermaid]

We have a wonderful multi-use path, the Monon Path, in Indianapolis. I'll take my bike and camera out on the path today to take pics of the signage we have. Meanwhile, here are our path rules. I got them from the parks website and to tell you the truth, I don't remember is they're posted on a sign anywhere. I haven't been on the path yet this spring.

GREENWAY/TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Indianapolis has one of the best Greenway systems in the country! These multi-use trails are for the recreation and enjoyment of all residents. Indy Parks strongly encourages all trail users to abide by the following safety guidelines:

1. Trail hours: Dawn to dusk

2. Keep to the right; communicate before passing. Let other trail users know when you are approaching from behind. Signal by saying "passing on your left" and give others time to respond accordingly.

3. Maintain control and safe speed. Adjust your speed to accommodate for other users, traffic and trail conditions.

4. Pedestrians have the right-of-way on the Greenways. Bicycle riders and in-line skaters must yield to all other trail users. Parents: please keep children from wandering into oncoming trail lane to avoid accidents.

5. Share the trail and be courteous. Indy Parks Greenways are multi-use recreational trails appropriate for walkers, joggers, in-line skaters and bicycle riders. Please Respect others, regardless of their mode of travel.

6. Do not trespass or cut through adjacent properties or yards to access a Greenway.

7. Stop for cross traffic and obey all signage.

8. Respect the trail environment. Do not disturb the wildlife or the many native plants and wildflowers that grow along the Greenway.

9. Pick up litter and place in trash bins. Please remove all pet waste.

10. Keep pets on short leashes (4-6 feet max.) If using a retractable leash, please keep pets near you.


*******
There's no mention of bike speed limits but I believe it's either 12 or 15 miles an hour. 20mph is rather fast for casual cyclists.

 

[scooterbug44]

I really think so much of it is people w/ no clue, not a lack of signage or rules.

I grew up on a 20 km bike path around a lake - the majority of the path was on residential city streets and a dedicated multi-use path w/ a center stripe (near the university and downtown area). The path is used by locals, visitors, and college students, bikers (casual and serious), walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, etc. with minimal problems.

There are maybe 10 signs along the length of that entire route that are not directional signs (required because the route gets funky due to dead end streets & bridges in some of the neighborhoods.)

IMO there should be:

1) A well maintained path system (w/ a center stripe) separate from the roadway and of a consistent material.

2) Brush/landscaping w/in a certain number of feet of the path should be kept trimmed back and low for better visibility.

3) Businesses/homes w/ gravel or sand drives should be required to keep the path in front of that area clean and anyone whose sprinkler is hitting the path should be fined.

4) Minimal signage

 

[Mermaid]

1) A well maintained path system (w/ a center stripe) separate from the roadway and of a consistent material.

The path is not wide enough for the center stripe, but there ought to be well-painted zebra stripes across 30-A where there are crossings. Some are so faded as not to be noticeable to motorists.

 

[scooterbug44]

Most of the current asphalt path is wider than the striped path I was referencing.

Typically wherever this path changes materials or is next to the road it gets too narrow for a stripe, which is why a consistent path was part of my wish list. IMO the typical path user on a bike should not be right next to the traffic ;-).

 

[Will B]

I was kayaking around western Lake yesterday, trying to take some pictures, and all I could think of was that damn Tesla song, "Signs......Sings, signs, eveywhere signs. Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind." Sorry I had to qoute that song...

HA HA HA!!! Sorry, but I have to do this. Nothing like dating yourself in a thread. I bet 2/3 of the people on the board remember "Signs" being done by 5 Man Electrical Band, myself included. OK...now I've dated myself, too.

Gotta admit... the Tesla cover is good, but there's nothing like the original!

 

[organicmama]

The path is not wide enough for the center stripe, but there ought to be well-painted zebra stripes across 30-A where there are crossings. Some are so faded as not to be noticeable to motorists.

ITA with so much of what Scooterbug said, but Mermaid's right on the width issue. It's not wide enough to have a stripe, although it is a nice idea. Okay, so if it was all uniform in width, that would make a difference and it would be a great help.

Common sense is key. Education of the public regarding safety issues and ENFORCING the code that NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES are allowed on the path would help a great deal. The golf-carts drive me nuts.

Making it clear that stop signs for the streets are BEFORE the path, instead of on the path would help.

We were out with a stroller, 2 pedestrians & a bike with training wheels this morning on the west end of the path. I just made sure to keep The Wedge on the right side of the path, especially when others were approaching. I told her to think of it as mommy driving, to stay on the right side at all times.

The idea of signs along the trail would just add to the confusion. There are too many signs already for the actual road, other streets and the for sale signs. It would all just blend in to chaos even more.

I am in the process of switching our family to a more car-free way of living and so the safety issues regarding the multi-use path are very much on my mind at the moment. With 3 kids & 2 adults, I'd like to see improvements made but signage is not a part of that.

The idea of the wide zig-zag lines where the path crosses roads is a good idea. Not that motorists would like this one, but also in very high traffic areas, a raised path crossing should be considered as a possibility, as in Seagrove, although that one needs to be re-lined so it stands out more.

 

[Smiling JOe]

This thread calls the path a multi-use path, but I keep hearing it referred to as a bike path.

A lot of the signs were designed to be seen by people riding a bike at 20 mph (Stop Ahead, then a Stop). Do any of you think it's safe to go that fast on the multi-use path?

Someone threw out the idea of a speed limit at the last sign meeting. Does that seem like a good idea?

The path is a multi-use path by name and use. I actually see more walkers than riders on the path.

IMO, speedlimits for the path would be unenforeable as users need no license to be on the path, bicycles rarely have speedometers, and police officers and Code Enforcement cannot even keep down the speeds on the highway.

Is riding on the path at 20 mph asking for trouble? Absolutely.

 

[scooterbug44]

Watching the daily confusion at the Seagrove crossing/WheelHouse is part of what makes me convinced that additional signage is not the solution - consistency, a clear path, and upkeep are. Of the many signs along the path, I would classify few as helpful or truly necessary.

I will go out on a rather sturdy limb and say that the majority of our visitors do not ride a bicycle anywhere besides Sowal and so are unfamiliar with the BASIC rules of the road.

(Another theory is that they ride bikes just like they drive, but I am trying to be constructive.)