The City of Renton has painted a dashed yellow centerline stripe on the Cedar River Trail and lowered the speed limit to help make the popular trail safer.
The measures comes following the death last spring of Renton’s Velma Mapelli, who at 83, was a regular on the trail. She was hit by a bike rider coming up behind her on the trail.
Following her death, Mayor Denis Law implemented a comprehensive trail-safety program that also includes education and outreach, new rules and additional signage.
The centerline stripe encourages users to keep to the right and extends from Sixth Avenue North to Logan Avenue North and from the entrance to the trail underneath I-405 to 149th Avenue Southeast by Ron Regis Park.
Like Mapelli, William Benton of Fairwood is 83 and a regular user of the trail. He’s there three days a week, walking 2 1/2 miles each day, after an hour-long workout at the nearby Renton Community Center.
“I try to stay in shape,” he said.
He was walking to the right on the trail. He’s always felt safe and finds the trail easy to walk on.
“I haven’t had a close encounter of any kind,” he said.
After Mapelli’s death, city officials heard numerous stories of trail pedestrians who had their own close encounters or actually collided with bike riders. Law had his own story of a brush with a bike rider, too.
As part of this campaign, the city has set up patrols by police cadets on the trails to assist with education and remind trail users to stop inappropriate behavior.
Since June, cadets have contacted more than 500 trail patrons and provided information on trail etiquette and safety. They have also noted 15 helmet violations, 31 speeding violations, 19 dismount violations.
“The new lanes are making a difference and bikes are going slower,” said Renton Police Cadet Travis Gnehm. “At least three citizens have come up to me and expressed their appreciation and have mentioned that that our police-presence on the trail was a great help.”
The city also plans to provide flyers and information on trail etiquette at kiosks and dispensers along the Cedar River Trail, post additional signage to promote trail etiquette, and work with local bicycling organizations to inform their members about the new rules and encourage trail safety.
The key messages of the city’s campaign include:
• Control speed on the trail, especially in congested areas.
• Keep to the right, except to pass.
• Be aware of people around you before entering a trail, changing directions or passing.
• Be courteous when passing by warning those being passed.
• Don’t block the path; if necessary, stop on the side of the trail.
• Keep pets on a short leash to prevent interference with other trail users, and pick-up after your pet.
• Wear reflective clothing and use lights when using the trail after dark.
The city has has revised is parks rules. All civil violations of park rules carry a fine of up to $101.
The revised rules include:
• Reduced speed limit reduced from 15 mph to 10 mph.
• Dismount zone for bicycles on the Cedar River Trail between the Renton Library and the Renton Senior Activity Center.
The new trail warnings include:
• The dashed centerline on the Cedar River Trail to denote a separation and to encourage trail users to stay to the right of the line unless passing.
• Signs at all access points stating the speed limit of 10 mph (currently no bicycles are permitted on the trail from North Sixth Street to the mouth of the river due to reduced trail width).
• Warning marks on pavement approaching bollards.
• Additional trail signage that is universally understood and consistent with other cities and King County.
The efforts to enhance trail safety also include enforcement of reckless behavior and violations that occur in various areas of the city, including Lake Washington Boulevard. Since July 1, the Renton Police Department has issued 185 tickets on Lake Washington Boulevard for vehicles and trail users.
