An elderly woman has died after she was struck this past weekend by a passing bicyclist on the Cedar River Trail in Renton.
News sources report that the 83-year-old woman was walking on the path about 4:45 p.m. Sunday about a 1/4-mile from the Interstate 405 overpass when she stepped out in front of the bicyclist, 57, who was passing her on the left.
Both were knocked to the ground and lost consciousness. The cyclist came to and was treated for minor injuries by EMTs; the woman was rushed to the hospital where she died Monday morning.
[The Seattle Times reports that authorities released her name Wednesday afternoon. She was identified as Velda K. Mapelli. No charges are pending in the collision. An excellent article by Nicole Brodeur tells about her accomplishments.]
No charges
Renton police are investigating, and so far no charges have been filed. Signs along the trail limit bicycling speeds to 15 mph, and trail etiquette signs warn bicyclists to yield to pedestrians. But pedestrians aren't supposed to cross the path in front of traffic, either. Details at Renton Reporter.
The Cedar River Trail is one of my favorite bicycling haunts, and it pains me to learn that anyone has been injured or killed there.
Most of my trips along the Cedar River Trail are during midweek, when there are few other bicyclists or pedestrians. But when I was returning from a big loop ride a couple of weekends ago, I was shocked at the number of people using the trail. (The image above shows a typical scene near where the crash occurred.)
Lots of weekend traffic
A few miles from downtown I came across several families out for a ride with children aimlessly weaving back and forth, sometimes warned by their parents and sometimes not. As I neared the end of the trail, I came across several groups of people walking their leashed dogs to a dog-run park that has opened in that vicinity in the past year.
All I could do as I approached was to slow way down, stay far to the left and call out, hoping that my warnings weren't drowned out by their earphones. I've learned that kids on bikes and dog owners are among the most unpredictable trail companions.
I'm always worried about calling out, however. Sometimes people will take a step to the left to turn around and see who's shouting at them, if they even hear me. Other times I've shouted out and actually startled pedestrians.
Bells
A riding friend of mine uses a bell, and that seems more effective than shouting. I've mounted one on one bike and plan to do so to the other. The high-pitched ring carries a good distance and most people know a bicyclist is coming if they hear a bell.
But I never know what's in someone's head when I approach from behind. Unless it's obvious they're aware of me, I always give them a wide berth.
Update: The Cascade Bicycle Club offered these tips about sharing a trail with pedestrians:
1) Slow when others are present — you can’t know how other trail users will react when you’re overtaking. Going slower gives you more time to react AND will minimize the severity of a collision should one occur. No one’s heart-rate or wattage is worth endangering others. If you “need to go full-out”, do it on the road, on rollers, or on your trainer — not on a trail.
2) Use bell or voice when passing — just like the ubiquitous signs say. If you’re concerned that there’s confusion among pedestrians as to what “on your left” means, try something else like “passing.”
3) Pass safely. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I see bicyclists passing into oncoming traffic, passing two-abreast, and passing too closely daily. Pass single file. Wait for oncoming traffic to pass before pulling around slower trail users. Works best when combined with 1 & 2.
4) Ride single file when others are present and stay as far to the right as is safe to facilitate overtaking. If you travel at a speed below the posted limit on our regional trails, make it safer and easier for faster riders to pass.
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