Problems on path are due to walkers

I have been a user of the Lake Arlington “bike path” in the past. I have stopped using it because the people walking on the path are completely inconsiderate of any other users. They spread out three, four, or more abreast and pay no attention to anyone trying to pass whether the passers are using sounding devices or verbal alerts.

The people with children let them wander all over the path, making it dangerous for bikers in both directions. I won’t even comment about pets because they shouldn’t be allowed at all. In my opinion the way to solve the problem is to make a walking lane and riding lane on the present path. Use the outside lane for bikes traveling in a counterclockwise direction and the inside lane for walkers traveling in a clockwise direction, or vice versa.

This way all users will be able to see what or who is coming toward them and be able to react if necessary and people with earbuds would not be such a problem.

In one article in the paper someone suggested that another path be built which would be costly and did not get approved in a referendum in the last election. The other option was to ban bikes from the “bike trail”. This would be like banning cars from the streets because one hit a jaywalker.

Now that the path is being used for multiple purposes, rules have to made and adhered to. Having the police patrolling for speeders would be a tremendous waste of their time when more important duties would have to be neglected. The park district or whatever agency is in charge needs to come up with a sensible solution and find a way to implement and enforce new rules.

Bill Graves

Arlington Heights