Here in The Parklands we offer several different areas to ride bicycles, but as more and more people use our trails, we see a need to focus on bike safety. The first area that many of you have already been using is The Louisville Loop, which is the hard surface, multi-use path. We also find bikers using our park road and the trails throughout the park. These various options present our visitors alternative ways to exercise and enjoy our park- but they are all shared paths. 

There are some basic recommendations to follow to ensure that you enjoy your park experience:

1. Always wear a helmet.
2. When on the Louisville Loop, pass other uses on the left.
3. When you approach others, communicate by either a bell or verbal command such as “passing on your left”.
4. Remain in control of your bike at all times, our trails have some hills and sharp turns, so please watch your speed and stay in control.
5. Always stop and look both ways at intersections.
6. Be courteous of others on the trails- this will enhance the experience for users of all kinds. 

When you enter the park roadway on a bike you are now a vehicle and are afforded the same rights as other motorists, however with rights come responsibilities. Please follow the rules of the road and stop at Stop Signs and Red Lights. Other things to consider when bicycling on the road are:  go with the flow of traffic, yield to traffic, including pedestrian traffic at intersections and crosswalks, and be predictable. Please stay alert at all times and leave your I-pod at home.

The last safety tip I will share with you with is to “be seen”. Daylight hours are getting shorter and we are still trying to enjoy the most time outside that we can, so please remember to wear reflective clothing and include a light kit on your bike so you can be seen by others.

Thanks and “be careful out there”, Pete the Park Ranger.

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