RTC TrailBlog : police safety

New Leash Ordinance and Improved Signage Create Safer Trails in San Jose

Steve Schweigerdt (RTC) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:04:00 GMT

by Yves Zsutty, City of San Jose, Calif., Trail Manager

In San Jose, we’ve spent a lot of time over the year studying the issue of trail safety. Today’s economic struggles reaffirm the reality that we have to create safer trails through good design, amenities and operational practices instead of hoping for more police or rangers.

Community outreach helped us define the major safety concerns on our trails. Dog leashes were of concern because their long length was a known tripping hazard. The existing city of San Jose rule for 20-foot retractable leashes was consistent with other parks and open space. However, after the tragic death of a pedestrian who became entangled in a dog leash, staff looked at sidewalk laws that would better reflect the conditions on 12-foot-wide trails. The city then altered its ordinance to permit 6-foot, fixed-length leashes on trails. The rule requires that the person, dog and leash all remain to the right of center line (marked or unmarked).

New signage is also being deployed with positive messaging. Our Trail Rules sign now uses "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" icons to display key rules, and supplemental signs are being posted along the trails to remind trail users to pass to the left, slow for pedestrians and be aware of hazards or nearby destinations. The graphics-based signage aims to be more memorable than simple text. Mileage markers posted at quarter-mile increments create “addresses” known to our 911 Center so that we can obtain more rapid emergency response and record keeping.

For more information about San Jose’s efforts, visit www.sjparks.org/trails. See “Reports” for signage guidelines and the ordinance.

Image of Trail Rules sign courtesy of the city of San Jose. Click for larger version.

From the Beltway to the Bikeway: Local News Radio Rides with Trail Patrol

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:16:00 GMT

In the Washington, D.C., area, WTOP radio is known as the station with updates on Beltway traffic every 10 minutes. But reporter Kate Ryan switched her minivan for a bicycle and has been taking listeners along for the ride. From ladies nights at local bike shops to free bike clinics, Ryan has been covering the local bike scene for a mainstream audience. As part of her coverage, she's paid significant attention to trails. Recently, she took a spin with Officer Donald Brew, who patrols the Capital Crescent Trail for the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.

Brew discusses the training that a bike-mounted police officer must go through, including instruction on riding down stairs and handling a gun while on a bicycle. He also notes that proper trail etiquette is a major issue on a busy trail like the Capital Crescent. Dogs on long leashes and children wandering around the trail can create hazards for other trail users, and higher-speed trail users must give an audible warning before passing a slower trail user.

"Brew says the key to keeping the trail safe for the cyclists, the joggers and the dog walkers isn’t enforcement," Ryan writes. "It’s courtesy."

Scared Off: Crime Myth vs. Reality on Trails

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:16:00 GMT

On the urban planning news website Planetizen, Diana DeRubertis recently noted that trails in her neighborhood weren't getting enough use because they seemed isolated, and as a result, unsafe for users on the trail alone. Despite the reality that trails are no more dangerous than their surrounding areas, this misperception is a serious issue that discourages trail use. First, the hard numbers: In Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's survey of crime on rail-trails, results show that the real issue is one of perceived rather than actual danger. Of 372 trails surveyed, only three percent reported major crimes such as mugging, assault, rape and murder. Other studies of crime along trails have shown the same result: trails are simply not dangerous places. In fact, rail-trails often clean up formerly derelict areas that had hosted criminal activity, as Charles R. Tennant, former chief of police in Elizabeth Township, Pa., has discovered. "We have found that the trail brings in so many people," he said, "that it has actually led to a decrease in problems we formerly encountered such as underage drinking along the river banks."

Despite these facts, the perception of danger remains and many potential users are dissuaded from getting out on the trail. Yet with proper design and programming, trail managers can ensure their trail is a safe, appealing community resource.

Smart design is paramount to making users feel secure. In addition to lighting the path, trail managers need to work with local emergency services to create a locator system similar to those in Dallas, Texas, and San Jose, Calif., so trail users calling 911 can relay their location to the dispatcher. In addition, new construction along the trail should face the path instead of ignoring it. Turning the trail into an inviting neighborhood front porch is more effective for improving safety than treating it as a back alley.

Similarly, a trail cannot be ignored once it is built. First, you must overcome the perception that trails are unwatched areas. Part of the challenge is the location of some trails. Continuous paths suitable for trails are often found along long-ignored waterfront or rail corridors, and many trails - even in busy urban neighborhoods - are located in areas that have not traditionally hosted many people. But along seemingly hidden trails, you can turn residents into regular trail users by engaging communities along the corridor with meaningful programming.

Sometimes that includes volunteer patrols or programming with local police. But more often, programming serves to encourage area residents to use the trail. Recently, we hosted a grand-opening celebration for the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C. Nearly half of those who filled out surveys at the event hadn't used the trail before. The event introduced a new set of potential users to the trail and made them more likely to use it again. The "safety in numbers" phenomenon applies to trails, as well. With more trail users, there are more eyes on the trail and fewer opportunities for criminals to attack. With proper design and programming, trails become cherished places that attract more and more users - so many users, in fact, that overcrowding can become an issue. With bicycling and walking on the rise nationwide, increased demand for trails is something we should all be working to address.

Photo: An officer patrols the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C. by M.V. Jantzen/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

San José Trail Markers Improve Safety and Emergency Response

Steve Schweigerdt (RTC) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:09:00 GMT

To attract new trail users to urban pathways and keep them coming back, trail managers are striving to increase the safety and comfort levels of those users. One thing to consider is that new users may be venturing into unfamiliar territory away from the view of street traffic. So to increase their comfort level, the city of San José, Calif., has come up with an innovative marking system that will help trail users know their location and also be able to communicate it quickly to emergency response personnel in case of an accident. Together with trail maps, signage and introductory group rides and walks, these efforts help new users gain confidence and familiarity with their trail system.

San José has more than 54 miles of trails open to the public, and an ambitious plan to reach 100 miles across 35 unique trail systems by 2022. The interconnected systems can leave people questioning their actual whereabouts. Trail markers will be located at quarter-mile increments, labeled with a unique icon and color defining the trail system. The combination of icons, colors and mileage figures makes the system more accessible to children and non-English speakers as they seek to communicate their location to 911 operators. The GPS-located markers provide emergency dispatchers with precise and important data on the paving surface, points of entry, access limitations and site photos. This information will allow 911 personnel to determine the resources that can be brought to the site and how to quickly enter and exit the site. Post-incident data tied to specific locations will help trail managers determine if a recurring issue needs to be addressed or if more patrols may be warranted.

San José's approach is unique in that it conveys location to the trail user in a simple manner, but it is supported by a high level of data to permit 911 operators to expedite deployment of resources. San José will conduct a test deployment this summer and anticipates updating the guidelines with lessons learned. The guidelines are available for public view online.

Watch: Trails Help Make Minneapolis America's Top Cycling City

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:45:00 GMT

To mark the occasion of Minneapolis joining the National Association of City Transportation Officials, Streetfilms visited the City of Lakes to document what that city is doing to make active transportation a part of everyday life. New trails and connecting infrastructure, much of it funded through the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, have been key to boosting the numbers of bicyclists and pedestrians. Also supporting the top-notch infrastructure are community-based programs and amenities for urban pathways such as safety patrols by Midtown Greenway Trail Watch volunteers and the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center, a full-service bike station directly on the trail.

The combination of new infrastructure, innovative initiatives, soaring cyclist counts and can-do spirit (even in Minnesota's brutal winter weather!) pushed Minneapolis to the top of Bicycling Magazine's 2010 ranking of America's most bike-friendly cities. This change could happen in your city, too. Encourage your local advocates and planners to plug in to RTC's Urban Pathways Initiative to connect with more than 200 other trail practitioners working to encourage trail use in cities across the nation, and ask your U.S. representative to become a co-sponsor of the Active Community Transportation Act, which would provide competitive grants to cities that want to complete their active transportation networks.

Youth Activity Leagues Connect Kids to Trails

Steve Schweigerdt (RTC) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:40:00 GMT

Activity Leagues operated by local law enforcement agencies are often a good match for trail advocates looking to encourage cycling among youth. As part of our Urban Pathways Initiative work along the Compton Creek Bike Path in southern California, RTC came across a program of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department called Bicycle Education and Registration (BEAR). This program gives local youth the opportunity to work with deputies and learn about bicycle education, safety and repair. In addition, the program recycles confiscated bicycles and offers them to local youth who successfully complete the five day course. After completion of the class, local youth gain bicycle education, a new bike, a helmet, parts, and a positive relationship with law enforcement. The program graduates about 60 new riders each year and has about 100 graduates so far. As a part of our work in Compton, we are investigating ways to improve the connections between the trail and the Youth Activity League location so that the new riders can access the trail safely.

Youth Activity Leagues or Police Activity Leagues are located across the country and can be found through the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues.

Photo from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Chain links: Happy Labor Day

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:19:00 GMT

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association held a Full Moon ride on the Capital Crescent Trail last night, followed by a barbeque at City Bikes in Chevy Chase, Md.. Click on the photo to browse more scenes from the event.
Also in the nation's capital, NPR takes a look at the D.C. Bikestation, which is almost ready to open at Union Station, the southern terminus of the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
We recently brought you the story of police enforcing stop sign laws for cyclists crossing roads on a newly-opened trail in Minnesota. Police along Maryland's Indian Head Rail Trail are taking a broader approach, by using targeted enforcement to remind both drivers and trail users of the need for safe speeds and safe crossings.
The Regional Plan Association's Alex Marshall writes in Governing Magazine that transportation policy should take into account not only the time spent traveling, but the quality of the journey - for many, a quiet ride down a rail-trail is a more pleasant experience than sitting in gridlock. Numbers are important, but not the only way to measure commute quality.
After profiling RTC and our efforts to promote active transportation, syndicated columnist Neal Peirce takes a look at RTC founder Peter Harnik and the rebirth of urban parks in America. For more on city parks, check out the City Parks Blog, a member of our Blogroll and a joint effort of the Trust for Public Land and City Parks Alliance.
The National Trust for historic preservation is offering a second round of "Helping Johnny Walk to School" sub-grants to encourage design and access for walking and bicycling to educational facilities. The application deadline is September 16.
A new study in the journal Public Health shows that urban teens who perceive their neighbrohoods to be unsafe are more likely to be overweight. Hat tip: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, via railstotrails on Twitter.

Photo: A cyclist excited for WABA's Full Moon ride along the Capital Crescent Trail. Photo by M.V. Jantzen on Flickr.