posted October 16, 2007
I love how the Chattanoogan let Patricia ramble on about how her walk was disturbed by the rude bikers whizzing by. The Riverwalk has provided bikers, walkers, skaters and runners with the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without the fear of being run over by cell phone crazy drivers.
I have ridden the Riverwalk many times and, yes, bikers do travel faster than walkers, but walkers also have to be aware of their surroundings. The walkers have taken up the whole Riverwalk carrying on a conversation without any regard for others. Even as a runner I have had to say on your left to break into the deep conversation that is solving all the world's problems.
The Riverwalk is for ALL to enjoy so please let's be courteous to one another. I just am sad to see that Patricia gets almost a whole article as well as her picture to get her point across that cyclists should be banned from the Riverwalk. The cyclist did the right thing by saying on your left, so, Patricia, imagine how tired the cyclist gets having to repeat "on your left" to walkers who take up the Riverwalk and think they own it.
The Riverwalk is a feature that we are lucky to have in Chattanooga that enables people to exercise many different ways and enjoy our beautiful city. It just irritates me that people like Patricia cannot get along with others without attacking them.
Robby Bowers
Ooltewah
rbowers127187@comcast.net
* * *
I agree with everything that Robby said and would like to add more…With the growing problem today of childhood obesity, how can we continue to take opportunities like biking at the Riverwalk away from children’s lifestyles?
Society has implored problems into this world that detract children from being able to safely play outside. As a mother of “3” who came from a very active home, I don’t find it as easy to trust my children outside as my parents could when I was growing up. So if I can load up the bikes and have a safe family outing at the Riverwalk with my family, won’t that keep my children and I off of the couch and outside enjoying this beautiful city that we live in? As long as the bicyclist’ use manners, I don’t see why there is a problem.
Bonnie Gray
Ringgold
* * *
I would like to wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Bowers. My husband and I have enjoyed the Riverwalk on numerous occasions, and always on our bikes. We are courteous and never try to "mow people down." And we do announce ourselves as we approach those on foot.
As Mr. Bowers stated, we all should be courteous to one another, and we also must take responsibility for paying attention to our surroundings. There really is enough room for everyone.
This is a city for people who love the outdoors, and that includes biking and roller blading, not just walking.
April Gordon
Soddy-Daisy
* * *
Robby, Thanks for your article on biking on the Riverwalk. I have not written anything in the Chattanooga on the topic, but I commute a 24-mile round trip to work every day traveling the whole length of the Riverwalk.
As of now, I have been flipped off, harassed, cussed at (many times), and nearly hit by a lady who carries a golf club, twice. As far as the walkers go, I agree that they are, for the most part, unaware of their surroundings.
I live in downtown and work at the end of Amnicola and 153. I commute rain or shine, hot or cold. I work hard to support our community's beautiful walk and do my part to reduce fossil fuel consumption, which affects everyone.
Riding the Riverwalk daily has made a positive impact in my life...and my fun. I am a little concerned that walkers think it is OK to cuss at a stranger in what they think is defense of their pathway "rights". I am in total agreement with Robby in that it is a shared experience. Whether a cyclist, or a runner, we will always seem faster that those walking at a standard pace.
Through my own experiences on the Riverwalk, I can say that cyclist and runners are far more conscious of their surroundings and I think I speak for all of us by saying that all we ask is for walkers to show the same courtesy.
Beau Jennings
beaujennings@rockcreek.com
* * *
I sure wish all those biker dudes and dudettes would make up their minds.
First we have complaints that they can't drive 25 MPH on the streets with cars that are going 45 MPH without getting blown away by gusts of wind, horns being honked at them, or drivers who get a little too close while going up and down the W Road. There used to be laws concerning obstruction of traffic, but apparently these don't apply to bicycles any more...and we're not allowed to blow the horn when they get in the way either. What else is the horn for? And we're required to have one on the car...
Now they have the roads, they want the sidewalks too? But then, some of us grew up being told that a car has the right of way on the street and that we should not be riding on the sidewalk in the first place. Which is it going to be? Do they want to obstruct traffic on the road or interrupt other tax paying, property owning, and voting citizens' conversations when they're out on a Sunday afternoon walk? My, my...how the times have changed. Cars, BubbaMobiles, YuppieMobiles and motorcycles aren't allowed on the sidewalk or a walking trail. Why should bicycles be allowed on a walking trail?
I'd be satisfied if Michelangelo, wearing his skinny nuthins while he rides up and down the W Road, would wave with his whole hand as the rest of us drive by.
Royce E. Burrage, Jr.
Royce@OfficiallyChapped.org
* * *
I’m getting visions of the little dog in the rear window with his head bobbing up and down, up and down. Just FYI, Patricia Paris is a columnist whose articles appear in several newspapers throughout the country. Maybe that explains the Chattanoogan letting her ramble and with a picture even - this article included. She speaks to the common folks, in common language, about things that almost anyone can relate to in some way.
Her writings are mostly from her daily experiences, which bring back memories of living in a more simple time. A time when people got along and showed a little respect for the other person - even if you didn’t agree with him.
How many times does a fellow have to be hit in the head with a golf club before he gets the message that he’s getting on someone’s nerves?
Any time you complain about a problem, it is meaningless unless you can suggest a solution for it. Yours appears to be, “Get out of my way, I'm coming through”.
Patricia did have the decency to suggest that a bike path alongside of the walkway should have been designed in the original plans. Oh, did I say walkway? Yep, that is what it’s called.
If you don't see where there’s a problem, chances are, you're part of it. Nowhere in her article did I read that bicycles should be banned from the Riverwalk. One exception was the one pulling the popup camper behind him.
Let me say that I do agree with you on one thing. The streets and roads in and around Chattanooga are not the place to ride a bike. I know that you have the right to do so, but chances are great that one day you will be dead right. If Chattanooga wants to be bike friendly, as it claims to be, it needs to provide the proper bike paths for you to ride.
Fred Roper
Chattanooga
* * *
While my car has been in the shop I have started taking the Riverwalk to work. Not by foot, but by bicycle, and for the most part it has been a terrific experience. I love cruising along the path in the early morning hours and feeling energized when I arrive at work. I also feel ashamed at myself for not utilizing this great treasure that has been sitting there all this time.
The one draw-back and potentially harmful occurrence is the lack of respect given to those who choose a bicycle as their mode of conveyance. Just because there are a few metal placards regarding pedestrians right-of-way posted along the path does not mean that you are to move along without total awareness.
Now, many of you reading who have gotten to this point might like to interject the other side of the coin and throw it back in the face of the cyclists, to which I reply, you are absolutely correct. My opinion on the matter is that of a universal responsibility towards safety and general common sense. Anytime we start in motion and continue our mobilization we usually do so on the right side of a given street or walkway, not down the middle or left-hand side. When you are walking around the mall the majority can usually be seen doing so on the right-hand side of the mall pathway. Is it so hard to use standard “traffic protocol” as we start off down the Riverwalk?
Also, if a cyclist gives “proper” notification that they are coming up on the pedestrian's left, shouldn’t you allow that cyclist to continue on the left to pass? My point here is that a cyclist obeying the rules and speed limits should be given as much right-of-way as any pedestrian on the walk.
If you have been strolling along the Riverwalk and have run into a bad experience with a cyclist, then I apologize for everyone aboard a two-wheeled craft, but please bring your head down out of the clouds and pay attention to those who may be moving a little faster than you. My thought is that nine times out of 10 a pedestrian will likely be given the benefit of the doubt if any accident ever occurred just because a few signs have been posted, and that’s not right. Those signs do not mean for you to go off willy-nilly on your relaxing stroll and think that you can take up the whole walkway.
It’s an issue that has gained momentum and the city has a long way to go before cyclists are given a safe place to pedal, and for now the Riverwalk serves that purpose. It is for everyone, whether you like it or not, and I look forward to sharing it with everyone in front of and behind me.
Ryan Coulter
Jefferson Heights
chattaboogieboy@yahoo.com
* * *
Looks like Patricia Paris touched a nerve. Rightly so. If there weren't an element of truth to her satiric article no one would be upset. (I'm still reeling on the floor from laughter.)
I've been cycling for years, but there are some venues that simply aren't appropriate for riding. The Riverwalk is one of them. For reasons of practicality and safety, there isn't enough space for both walkers and riders on the same narrow strip of concrete. Period.
Additionally, there are seniors, toddlers, and perhaps the hearing-challenged who cannot quickly respond to "Coming up on your left!"
To allow both walkers and cyclists on the Riverwalk was an insane blunder perpetrated by city leaders who often can't see further than their nose. And they weren't looking past the bridge of their nose on this one.
I totally support equal provisions being made for bikers via construction of a separate bike route along the river.
First it was the dog owners who couldn't understand that Chattanooga Market may not be a proper place for pooping pets. Then we had the smokers who insisted on their right to pollute the lungs of non-smokers anytime and anywhere. I figure it's only a matter of time before my fellow riding enthusiasts wear out their welcome, too.
R.J. Johnson
* * *
My wife and I are avid (not rabid) bikers of the Riverwalk. I simply cannot recall the numerous times we have felt so fortunate to bike the Riverwalk with friends and family.
We cherish the Riverwalk as a blessing to our city. We have family and friends that travel as far as Birmingham to bike and enjoy the Riverwalk, Ross’s Landing, the Walnut Street Bridge, Coolidge Park, etc. with us. Simply because there is just no other trail like it, with its natural and manmade beauty, and generally immaculate maintenance (the recent additions of the silhouette road sign advertisements for the Heart Institute are the subject for another article). If there is such a trail nearby we certainly would like to know about it.
It has been our casual observation, that it is in fact easy to sneak-upon, and be sneaked-upon, while enjoying the Riverwalk in any mode of use. So, my wife and I try to ping or ring our bells far in advance of our fellow Riverwalkers, and appreciate when others do the same for us (not unlike bell’s worn on hiking shoes to try to keep from surprising bears, etc.).
It does take a little personal Riverwalk use "maturing" to fully accept "bells and yells" (e.g. “on-left”), as part of the fun, and the courtesy that it really is; and is predominately not intended as insults or "get-out-of my-way" warnings to anyone.
Now, that said, we have noted there are inevitably a very few who try to use (abuse) the Riverwalk as a bicycle race course. And surprisingly it seems the majority of speed-hog abusers are generally middle aged men (i.e. not kids) that should certainly know better. I would suggest that when we observe such selfish use, that instead of yelling “on-left” that we yell “too-fast” (or “warning-please” when sneaked-upon) and hope that those few will grow-up before they hurt someone else, or do physical damage to our beloved Riverwalk facility.
If folks want to maintain faster peddle rates, it is so very simple to "gear-down" and proceed slower, with respect for others in mind. I would really hate to see it become necessary for policemen (with radar guns) having to monitor the Riverwalk, and enforce a speed limit. But, as with anything public, it seems there will always be a few that just cannot control themselves.
As I understand, the Riverwalk is a "gift" from Chattanooga (from many Chattanoogans), to ALL of us, so please use, and help protect it, for ALL of us.
Dallas and Sheila Cross
East Ridge
* * *
Yes, I agree that pedestrians should always be aware of their surroundings. Lack of awareness will get you smacked by a car if walking on a road and smacked by a bike while walking on the Riverwalk.
Having said that, let’s be realistic. It’s the Riverwalk. It’s not a training ground for the Tour De France. If you want to take a leisurely ride through the park on your bike, that's fine. If you want to suit up in your spandex outfit, and try to become the next Lance Armstrong, get real.
Pedestrians aren't going to leave Riverpark or the Riverwalk (unless we have a couple of good gang fights) and you will have to just deal with it or practice for the next Olympic games at home on your stationary bike.
Mike Lyons
beevco@juno.com
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |