Every year it seems that someone is writing a letter about the proper way to act on the lakefront bike path, but there is a reason for this. This is information that bears repeating every year.
People who use the lakefront bike path need to realize that they are sharing it with hundreds if not thousands of people at the same time. It is nice to think that one is the only person on the bike path, but that isn’t so.
Why, then, do people act like they are the only people using the path?
I think some common-sense advice will help ease the potential for accidents:
– First and foremost would be to make sure that people stay far enough to the right so that they don’t force people into the oncoming lane. Unfortunately this means that on most of the lakefront, people must use the path single-file. I know that it is nice to want to be side-by-side with friends while out enjoying the weather, but most of the lakefront is not set to be used that way, so people shouldn’t do it.
– Second, people must dispense with cell phones. Using them on a congested lakefront is just as dangerous as driving with them, so why do it?
– Third, people must turn down the volume on headphones. This is a disaster waiting to happen if people can’t hear anything going on around them, especially people trying to pass them.
– Fourth, people should be aware of their surroundings. There are always faster people on the bike path and it is wise to always assume that people are about to pass. Some people, when they turn around, simply turn around without looking. I’ve seen several people cause accidents this way. If people have to stop and/or turn around, they should pull all the way over to the side, come to a complete stop, then look both ways before crossing to the other side.
– Fifth, people should keep children and pets under control. Anyone who travels the lakefront can tell you that small children often seemingly appear out of nowhere as they dash across the path. This is extremely dangerous, especially to the small children. It is also very dangerous when a dog with a nearly invisible leash is wandering back and forth across the bike path.
