It is disturbing to see that the speed limits on the Cedar River Trail are now going to be 10 mph for cyclists. As communities concerned about our environment and reducing oil usage move toward mobilizing via public transit and via more pedestrian means, this decision is quite a step backward.

As a cyclist, I am constantly in fear of riding on the streets because drivers do not notice, respect or share with bikers. All too often in the news there is another bike accident or biker fatality. What doesn’t happen is anything to make conditions safer and the driver more aware. Yet, when an elderly woman tragically met her death on the trail due to a biking accident, bikers are now penalized.

While I don’t ride the trail very often (perhaps only twice in the last three years) I do ride the trail around Lake Washington. On any given day, I encounter pedestrians who walk three-abreast on the trail, roller-bladers that are so tuned into their music and ear buds they don’t see anything around them, families with dogs and children who wander all over the width of the trail without ever considering traffic, etc. This indicates that pedestrians are no better than drivers when it comes to awareness of cyclists.

I am hoping that this message will find its way to concerned individuals and enlighten them that speed limits and other “penalties” on cyclists are not the answer to safety. Yes there are bunches of aggressive and clueless bikers too – we are all human. I am encouraged to see that Seattle is finally adding a buffer zone to some bike lanes (two-foot wide, I believe). This will be interesting to observe over time to see if accidents and injuries are reduced. Perhaps this is what should happen on regional trails as well. A pedestrian/cycle buffer might prove to alleviate problems as well. Most importantly people need to be aware and sensitive to things that are happening around them – is this a call for increased signage on trails? Perhaps so. … Renton has just made a poor choice in how to handle safety concerns on the Cedar River Trail.

John Vellek

Redmond