Cyclists should yield to walkers on Cedar River Trail

Regarding the speed limit in Renton for the Cedar River Trail.

My point of view expressed below has developed after 25K miles in 10 years riding in 10 states and British Columbia.

I don’t support putting a speed limit on the trails, certainly not a 10 mph one; the exception might be in very congested areas but certainly not everywhere. There are times when trail use is low and a faster speed should be allowed and there are times when trail use is high and a slower cycling speed is needed. I’ve ridden in the winter and see very few riders who don’t need a speed limit to slow their commutes. Riding under a 10 mph speed limit you will average 8.5-9 mph and if you could ride 16-19 mph with an average of say 17-18mph the time for your commute is cut in half. A 10 mph speed limit will not encourage commuting by bicycle.

I would support a “cyclists yield to pedestrians” rule (law). Put signs up with the message “cyclists yield to pedestrians”. If you hit a pedestrian – you get a ticket for failure to yield the right of way – period – you hit them, you’re guilty; the accident doesn’t even have to witnessed by the police. This is like the vehicle rule – when you hit a car from behind you get a ticket for following too close – period. Guilty because you couldn’t stop. You drive through a Yield the Right of Way – and someone hits you – its your fault – period (been there, have ticket to show for it). I don’t support illegal or reckless riding.

Paint – yes, paint a no passing yellow stripe in the contested areas and on the curved areas – but not everywhere.

You can put a keep right except to pass sign up – but it doesn’t have a whole lot of teeth as far as trail safety goes and its not easy to enforce.

My choice is to ride so that the pedestrians don’t have to move out the path they are traveling. I don’t surprise them. I slow for families, kids, dogs, etc so that I don’t risk hitting them. Just being polite.

BG trail has a section where it recommends something to the effect – “fast riders and/or pace lines use the (named) street”.

If “fast riders use the street” were a law, would you require the highway builders to put a very wide ride-able shoulder on Maple valley highway for use by the fast riders (I would)? Orting has a speed limt of 15 mph on the foothills trail north of orting – I know a cyclist who has been stopped twice by the Orting Police and asked why he wasn’t off the road and over on the trail – His reply – I’m allowed by law to use the street and I want to ride twenty miles per hour and not get a speeding ticket (on the trail).

Mel Roberts

Kent Bicycle Advisory Board

Cascade Bicycle Club member