Letters to the editor — Thursday, July 16

Signs, courtesy needed on Rail Trail

Those of us fortunate enough to live in the area benefit greatly from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Over the past thirty years, it has become a wonderful community asset.

While the trail is widely enjoyed by cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, and pedestrians, the mixture of users can occasionally create safety concerns. Specifically, there is an ongoing issue with cyclists traveling at high speeds who disregard others.

Common courtesy dictates that riders approaching from behind should slow down and announce themselves, but unfortunately, many do not. This is a frequent complaint among trail users and can have serious consequences; last year, a trail user startled by passing cyclists, fell, and fractured her neck. Recently, I was closely passed by an individual on an e-bike traveling at an estimated 20 MPH. While e-bikes themselves are not the issue, reckless riding poses a significant danger to everyone on the trail.

While it isn’t possible to monitor the entire trail, posting a set of rules at major entrances that reinforce acceptable trail use could help. Smaller signs posted along the trail requesting riders slow down while passing could also serve as a helpful reminder.

I can only hope this letter reaches the right people. Preventing just one unnecessary accident would be well worth the minimal cost for signage.

John Walters

Millerton