Note to cyclists on the River Path

[daddys little squirt]

I know there are some serious, responsible bikers on this forum. Please remind your fellow cyclers that the path along Riverside has a "speed limit" and rules requiring deference to pedestrians.

Signs posted along the path ask bikers to use a reasonable speed not to exceed 10mph and to yield to pedestrians. Lately it seems many bikers are using the path as a speed course with pedestrians having to move off the asphalt to accomodate them. One woman last week near 14th & the path was moving at least 20mph heading north and came upon myself running South and two elderly women approaching me heading North. We all arrived at the same time. I couldn't believe it when rather than slow down and pass on the grass, this woman "shot the gap" between us without so much as a 'scuse me. She should take note; it was not appreciated and an elbow could come her way next time.

Until the path is widened, could you folks slow down and use some consideration?

[sauerkraut]

I'm a runner myself and I have found the worst offenders on the jogging trail are dog owners. I was running north just south of the I-44 overpass and a couple had their dog on a leash streaching across the whole path. They were standing on one side of the path talking and the dog was on the other side the leash was cutting across the path, I ran right into it, Dogs should be banned. [!]

[TurismoDreamin]

My boss walks Riverside and he was talking to one of those bikers decked out in aerodynamic spandex suits. Anyways, this guy said that he can do start from the trail near the Southwest Boulevard bridge, bike all the way to Memorial near the Turnpike...and back in about an hour.

Maybe they're all training for some kinda big event??

But I have to agree with the dog thing. I run 4 miles near the 21st street bridge area and there are so many people who exercise ignorance more than their bodies and allow their dogs to walk all over their own path.

[Ed W]

If I recall right, the River Park Authority had a meeting about 2 or 3 years ago regarding conflicts between the various user groups.  At that time they didn't have money for another, parallel trail.  The solution was increased signage in the most congested part of the trail - near the cafe.  I think they put down some paint stripes too.

One problem with the existing trail results from the turns and elevation changes.  It's difficult to determine which side of the trail a runner is on at times, and as you've noted, a fit cyclist can easily cruise at 20mph or better when the wind is right.  

But there are responsible and irresponsible people out there, some of them cyclists, some dog walkers, some runners and pedestrians.  Unfortunately, the truly irresponsible cyclists won't get the message, and even if they do, they won't change their behavior.  I don't think this is limited to cyclists.  It's more a universal human trait.  

Once the dual trail system is constructed, I expect the conflicts will continue as clueless cyclists ride the pedestrian way, and clueless peds meander along the cycling route.

[cannon_fodder]

I am at the River Parks at least once a week.  Most of the bikers I have encountered at the River Parks are courteous and check their speed in the 'populated' areas.  That said, it will be nice when the new Kaiser funded widening takes place to ease some of the congestion.

[Conan71]

I want one of the dogs to chime in.  Perhaps they don't like the pedestrians or the cyclists.

[TurismoDreamin]

I know i'm starting to veer off topic here but does anyone know what's going on with the pedestrian bridge. I was running there Sunday and it was fenced over and closed.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

I know i'm starting to veer off topic here but does anyone know what's going on with the pedestrian bridge. I was running there Sunday and it was fenced over and closed.

They are re-decking the portion over Riverside Drive.

[Wilbur]

I both run and bike.  Today I biked along Riverside and had four near mis-haps.  Three with dogs and one with another bike.

1.  A kid on a BMX type bike thought he would come down a grassy hill around a blind spot and get on the trail just as I was passing under the 71st Street bridge.  We made contact, but barely.

2.  A couple were running along the trail with their two small dogs who were not on leashes.  I announced "on your left" to which everyone moved to the right.  Once I got next to the 'group' the two dogs decide to make a left turn in front of me.  Slammed on the brakes and barely missed the dogs.

3.  A Doberman Pincher was running alone along the trail and came out from the grass in front of me.  Hit the brakes and missed.  No owner around.

4.  Came up behind a guy walking his dog on a leash, with the human walking on the right edge of the trail and the dog along the left edge, completely cutting off the trail with the leash.  I announced "on your left", to which the guy did nothing.  Still blocked the trail.  "Thanks Dude."

To the other bikers out there, when I am running, I expect to hear "on your left" as you approach behind me blind.  It's just a nice thing to do.

[cannon_fodder]

Great point Wilbur!

I am often out there with my wife, son, and large(r) dogs and I am rarely paying close enough attention to the bike path.  It is a park after all, a place to go for distraction.  Whenever I see a biker I make an effort to get out of the way and get my dogs out of the way (I do not think they would jump into the path, but for the sake of the poor SOB coming the prospect of 150lbs of dog jumping in front of him would be bad).

Anyway, I greatly appreciate it when seasoned cyclists announce themselves.

[tulsacyclist]

I dont ride out there much but when I do I always give an "on your left" as I'm passing anyone. So much that I've almost said it while in the grocery store later in the day after riding. It's just the thing to do. There are so many people out there you are always going to have some idiots and/or noobs who have no idea about proper trail etiquette. Maybe random signs along the trail with friendly reminders of some of these things would go a long ways. I know I've been ran off the trail plenty by other cyclists and peds. One time there was two cyclists on their WalMart MTBs coming at my on the trail, they held their position and did not budge a bit as we were approaching each other. It was almost like a game of chicken. I went ahead and veered off the trail into the grass risking a flat tire as they 'owned' the trail.

[Breadburner]

I bike there quite a bit....I have had two incidents one was a guy with a dog not on a leash walking on the trail...The dog was about 10 ft. in front of the owner....We were both traveling the same direction needless to say when I passed the dog it scared him and he jumped to the side....The owner screamed at do you know what on your left means....Well this got me pretty red in the face I asked him if his dog spoke english and if he knew about the leash law.....That was the end of that conversation......My next incident was with some kids....The had been fishing and were walking the same direction I was going....Anyway they looked back and saw me then looked at each other and held their rods out perpendicular to block the trail anyway I ran right through the rod block and man were they shocked.....heh....

But I do try and be as courteous as possible......Another pet peeve...Is runners stretching and warmong up on the trail instead of off to the side on the grass...Happens alot on the north end......On your left or right works sometimes but some people dont know their left from their right and I have had a few move into my path......

[sauerkraut]

When I'm in Tulsa I run the RiverSide Trail alot. I have found the trail to be narrow and in need of a re-surfacing. I also wish the trail would be more straight and not full of curves. In my home town of Columbus, Ohio I run on the Heritage jog/bike trail and the Olentangy River Bikeway trail. Those trails are much wider than Tulsa's RiverSide trail and more straight, curves are only where really needed. The city of Omaha has a outstanding trail system with no street crossings it's like an interstate highway for joggers and cycles. The trails follow the rivers around town. Omaha's trails have mileage markers every 10th of a mile with the trails name on it, very neato. (The mile markers are enbeded in the pavement). Tulsa's RiverSide jogging Trail can use alot of upgrades and improvements as I see it, but it is a great place to run none the less.[]

[sauerkraut]

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

I bike there quite a bit....I have had two incidents one was a guy with a dog not on a leash walking on the trail...The dog was about 10 ft. in front of the owner....We were both traveling the same direction needless to say when I passed the dog it scared him and he jumped to the side....The owner screamed at do you know what on your left means....Well this got me pretty red in the face I asked him if his dog spoke english and if he knew about the leash law.....That was the end of that conversation......My next incident was with some kids....The had been fishing and were walking the same direction I was going....Anyway they looked back and saw me then looked at each other and held their rods out perpendicular to block the trail anyway I ran right through the rod block and man were they shocked.....heh....

But I do try and be as courteous as possible......Another pet peeve...Is runners stretching and warmong up on the trail instead of off to the side on the grass...Happens alot on the north end......On your left or right works sometimes but some people dont know their left from their right and I have had a few move into my path......

I have to agree on what you did I would of done the same. The dog thing really ticks me off. many dog owners are careless  and sometimes plum rude. I keep to the right side of the trail when I run -like driving a car-, and pass others on my left. I never had any trouble with bikes or rollerbladers on the RiverSide Trail, but, walkers can sometimes cause trouble if they are not paying attention to the other trail users around them..

[sauerkraut]

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

My boss walks Riverside and he was talking to one of those bikers decked out in aerodynamic spandex suits. Anyways, this guy said that he can do start from the trail near the Southwest Boulevard bridge, bike all the way to Memorial near the Turnpike...and back in about an hour.

Maybe they're all training for some kinda big event??

But I have to agree with the dog thing. I run 4 miles near the 21st street bridge area and there are so many people who exercise ignorance more than their bodies and allow their dogs to walk all over their own path.

It does sound like the bikes are planning a big event. I don't know if that bike-rider's distance and time is good or not since I'm not into cycling, but it sounds fast. I do know I'm trying to run 4 miles in 30 minutes and I'm doing alot of speed work.  I wish I could run as far as those cyclists did in a single hour, I'd be the fastest runner around. Currently I'm lucky if I can do 4 miles in 35 minutes I'm getting old.[]