It is with great concern that I have been reading about Easthampton’s decision to allow bicycles to occupy space in the middle of the road and to increase their presence on the rail trail. (Please note my use of “rail trail” and not “bike path.”) My concern is not only with the interface of bicycles with cars but with another group — walkers both in the road and on the trail.
I am a frequent traveler on the rail trail on the section between Easthampton and Southampton. It is visited regularly by walkers, joggers, scooters and cyclists on bicycles of all shapes and sizes. (Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail, yet some sneak on in different places — presumably to use it as a shortcut. That issue is for another letter.) I am pleased to say that 95 percent of these people are friendly and considerate … well, 90 percent anyway.
Recently, one of my friends (a senior citizen) was run over by a young boy on his bicycle. His parent was walking well behind the child — much too far away to be able to be in control. My friend went down and broke her arm in two places. She is OK now but endured a long and uncomfortable recovery period. I reminded her that we are in America and she could become a millionaire, but she elected not to pursue that route.
There are other issues on the rail trail that should be addressed in my opinion. I don’t believe it is the right place for cyclists, all kitted out in their cleats, Lycra shorts, striped shirts, and cute beanies (shouldn’t they be wearing helmets?) to be speeding along at 35 mph while riding three abreast. It seems like they may have been separated from the Peloton. Maybe the walkers should be wearing helmets.
Now it’s true that, on occasion, walkers spread out and hog the lane. It might be understandable in those cases to have a few choice words cast in their direction. But let’s face it, bikes generally run into people more often than people run into bikes.
I am also confused about another issue. On the street, cyclists are expected to follow the same set of rules as automobile drivers. (Yeah, sure.) Pedestrians are supposed to walk on the side of the road counter to the flow of traffic. Wouldn’t it be more consistent and safer for walkers on the trail to do the same? I’m quite sure that my friend’s accident would have been avoided if that were the case. Why are pedestrians instructed to walk in the same direction as bicycle traffic on the trail?
Of course, the final point is that everyone should be more considerate of each other on the trail. It is such a great asset to our community. I, for one, promise to refrain from making snide remarks on the trail to those I feel are not playing by the rules. That alone should raise the politeness meter to 90.1 percent!
Jonathan Kahane
Westhampton