I get around on my e-bike. Generally, I love it except when I think too hard about how long it takes me to get places. I can’t drive anymore, which really bums me out, thanks to degenerative retina disease that struck me young in mind and body.
I am thankful I live in this community because I can get to a lot of places I need or want to go on my e-bike. Hills don’t stop or slow me down, which is good because I don’t have all day to get where I’m going. In the past few years, I’ve travelled locally about 1,500 miles. Right now, let me give a shoutout to my e-bike!
I cycle safely. I’m used to going through life looking around “really hard.” So when I see that yellow solid line or dashes running down the center of a paved trail, I relax. They are a really helpful guide for me. They keep me cycling the straight and narrow. Overall, they help keep some law and order on the trails — people are very unlikely to walk or ride “on the wrong side of the road.” We don’t even think about it. So passing can be done safely — it’s up to each of us.
I also love the gates that are at street crossings, if they are painted with highly-visible safety stripes. There are others that aren’t. They’re camouflaged brown or a dull cream color. A few I notice as I almost hit them.
I request that all trail barriers — single center posts or gates — be painted with high-visibility striping. I was in Dillon, Colorado, last summer, and there right in front of me were bright yellow stripes on the pavement, marking a paved trail immediately ahead. Even better.
I know there are ADA regulations that pertain to the creation of safe trails. Thank you to Basin Rec, Mountain Trails, PC Municipal and Summit County for all the things they do to make our trails safe. And thank you to every cyclist who rides safely — like their bones, lives maybe, depend on it. As do the bones and lives of those cycling in their shared space.
Bev Harrison
Snyderville Basin