Safety Valve: Letters from readers
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
First responsibilities
A special thanks to all of the citizens who cast their vote for me as well as my committee workers who put in countless number of hours on the campaign.
As stated in all interviews, newspaper and radio, campaign brochures and speeches, I will be accountable to you. Serving the best interest of the East Wenatchee Water District, ratepayers will come first in my responsibilities as elected commissioner.
My Web site will be kept active to enable you to reach me for questions and comments (www.gbrianegan.com). I will also post items that I would like your feedback on.
Thank you again for electing me EWWD water commissioner, Position 2.
G. Brian Egan
East Wenatchee
Dangerous speedsters
Our lives came close to tragedy on the Loop Trail on Saturday, Nov.7. I was nearly hit from behind by a speeding bicyclist who never announced he was there. He missed me on the left side by mere inches! This biker was traveling at a tremendously fast pace and so were the other two who were following him.
I was very shaken by this incident as I had almost stepped to the left to look at something in the river. If I had, I might not be here today. These bikers had on the professional biker attire — tight skinny pants, thin tops and were biking as if’ they were in the Tour de France.
The trail has always been a good source of exercise and enjoyment for my husband and myself and many other people but now I think the bikers are taking over. These so called “pros” are not considering that a child might dart in front of them or that a person might be hard of hearing and step in front of them or that a dog might dart in their path. Let’s remember the man who died after a biking collision in East Wenatchee recently. If these cyclists want to go that fast then they need to be riding on the highway. If anyone else was nearly hit by these guys, I implore you to write to this newspaper and the Wenatchee Police Department.
Cyclists sometimes don’t understand why some of us have little regard for them but this is a good example. Let’s do what we can to slow these speeders down and share the WALKING path in a safe manner.
Yvonne H. Mares
Wenatchee
Send letters to The Safety Valve, Box 1511, Wenatchee, WA 98807.
Fax letters to 665-1183, e-mail to Newsroom@wenworld.com.
Comments
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Don (Don Lester) says...
I am a local cyclist. The apparent bane of your existence. I am on the trail at least two times a day, going to and from work. There are regular pedestrians I see every morning. I have never really talked to any of them, but we frequently exchange a pleasantry of some sort as I pass by. Maybe a simple nod, sometimes a 'good morning'.
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What I also see, quite regularly, are pedestrians who have no idea what the difference is between right and left, or half vs whole, on the trail. These people, whether you announce or not, are typically quite indignant that they must be inconvenienced to share something with anyone else.
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Unlike most cyclists, and all pedestrians, I actually have a speedometer and know how fast I am going. I am buzzing around 15mph on the trail, and it is insanely rare for me to get passed by anyone. That doesn't stop people from posting here about all the masses of warp speed racers on the trail, wreaking havoc and creating chaos. As often as I am there, if this was some chronic issue, I should be getting passed by packs of rabid cyclists every day.
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But, I can hear readers screaming, "The posted speed limit is 10mph!" Everyone screaming that is completely correct, and that speed is utterly ridiculous, and that is why it is routinely ignored. Small children ride faster than 10mph with ease. It is an idiotic speed limit, which probably has a lot to do with why you see it enforced as frequently as the leash law.
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Could cyclists be more courteous? Absolutely! However, it would be naive and horribly insincere to try and paint them as the only villains. Cyclists would not be 'evil' if other users of the trail were being responsible users by keeping to the right, all the time, keeping their dogs on leashes, and on the right side of the trail, watching their kids and teaching them to stay on the right (I started this on the very first trip to the park with my kid, it isn't rocket science).
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Public areas work best when everyone takes responsibility for their own actions. If you got buzzed, I am betting you were left of center. Just a hunch.
November 18, 2009 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Norm (Norm Messer) says...
I was in Amsterdam this summer, where the bicycle is king, and the city is so much nicer without all the noise of so many infernal combustion engines. Every bike there has a bell, and local pedestrians - and slower bicycles - know to move to the right when they hear a bell. Tourist pedestrians get indignant when bicycles expect them to make room, but will do so graciously for cars.
November 18, 2009 at 10:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nicole (Nicole Morrison) says...
I'm not a "pro" cyclist but I agree with Don that the 10mph speed limit is ridiculous. In years past I was a very frequent cyclist on the loop trail and it is very easy to exceed that speed while coasting along. Maybe a center line could be painted on the trail to help establish better pedestrian/cyclist safety and etiquette. I know it would cost a little money to maintain but it could help significantly.
November 18, 2009 at 10:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
red2 (lola horse) says...
Note to slow riders and walkers: Enjoy but don't take your half out of the middle.
Note to group riders that like to draft and go fast: Enjoy but don't ride on the loop trail.
November 19, 2009 at 12:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )