12/02/2022
by Maureen Gaffney
I don’t love writing about bike/ped/trail safety. It feels alternately kind of “duh” and like I’m your bike/ped/trail mom. “Johnny—make sure to look both ways and buckle that darned helmet!” Ugh. I have had a career in some kind of bike/ped/trail work for about 20 years, including a short stint as acting Executive Director for this very organization. I am an experienced cyclist. I’m a roadie, a mountain biker, a commuter cyclist and most recently a begrudging gravel biker. I can largely mind my manners on a path on a bike, but when I turn into a pedestrian—particularly when in the company of other upright, bi-pedal humans, I will, almost without fail, wander like a lost calf across the middle of the trail inviting and deserving the wrath of my fellow trail user.
!!DING!! “Jeez Lady! Share The Trail!”
Having worked on multiple Share the Trail campaigns over the past two decades, this one really hurts. The point of this anecdote is that we can all use some reminders about safety while walking, riding, rolling on the Vine Trail.
When riding:
When pedestrianizing:
When dog-walking:
When anything else-ing: