The Burke-Gilman: Walk at Your Own Risk

Two UW marching band saxophonists know their bulky instrument cases can get in the way as they walk to school down the Burke-Gilman Trail. They don't want to be obstacles to the notoriously chippy bicyclists. So one, "Geekybandbabe", asks Seattle's Live Journal community for advice:

Is there a certain undesignated place where we should be walking on the trail so as to ensure that we, and all other trail patrons emerge unscathed?

Let it go on the record that we're both walking as far on the right side of the trail as possible, and move over when a biker yells 'on the left!' at us. If the trail is particularly crowded, we walk single-file. But, because it's faster to walk on the trail to the stadium than it is to go through campus, we are very much disinclined to find an alternate route.

So now, Seattle, we turn to you. Where, oh where, should two musicians and their saxes walk on the trail? Stay on the right and pray not to be wiped out? The middle, even? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Our preference would be that they play "When the Saints Go Marching In" Dixieland-style as they walk to class, but we suppose this is impractical.

It may at first seem like a ridiculous request, but just as asshole car drivers behave like jerks when they encounter bicyclists on city arterials, asshole bicyclists behave like jerks to pedestrians on the city's bike arterial, the Burke-Gilman Trail.

We know a girl who walks from her apartment to campus, and endures daily abuse from bicyclists who feel she's not walking far enough to the side. One guy, she told me, even spit on her. She's taken to walking on the ditch alongside the trail instead of the trail itself.

Can anything save the saxophonists from becoming human spit valves?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Seth in Miscellaneous on September 25, 2007 12:24 PM

Comments [rss]

fairisfair

TroyJMorris you are exactly the reason I carry bear spray and an ASP baton. Every cyclist owes other BG trail users the courtesy of safety and due consideration. Unfortunately clowns like TroyJMorris occasionally attempt to cause cyclists physical harm. This happened to me once, fortunately for me I can very effectively f*ck people up so the loser who thought he could take me is now confined to a wheel chair...BUT I did, being almost 40, screw up my back, and break my hand...hence the bear spray and baton...and cell phone! In addition to making this loser an invalid, I had him arrested for assault, which stuck! Caution to you Troy!

Troy Morris

Don't worry, farisfair. I was being overly dramatic without sincerity. I wouldn't actually kick over a bike and then the operator.

As a bicyclist myself, I have found my two wheels on the sidewalk for my own safety. However, bicyclist that call out for the right of way on a sidewalk (and I know this article is about the trail which is different) are asses. When you're on the sidewalk as a bicyclist, you have to own the weight of slowly weaving safely around pedestrians.

My comment, if memory serves, was a joke and I believe I had recently been knocked over by a bicyclist on the sidewalk. A fixie, to boot. If it wasn't right before this, it was sometime after-- perhaps it was intentional...

guest

It's a tired argument.. and newsflash, assholes come on bikes, in cars, on foot, in boats, in trains and on planes!

guest

I would like to know this answer. I have been involved in the MS Walk for 6 years and we walk along the trail every year. There are signs posted throught the trail so bicylists know that there will be thousands of people walking on the trail on what day and time, yet I still encounter them riding on the trail during the walk, cursing because they can't get anywhere. And there are tons of kids and people in wheelchairs during this walk, yet they still have to ride the trail. Sorry we use your precious space for a great cause!

seandr

Christ, no matter which of Seattle's blogs or newspapers I read, this same stupid "cars against bikes against pedestrians" argument comes up. It's impossible to get away from it.

Are the Bostonist, Chicagoist, and the other "ists" similarly full of bickering, whining, and threats of violence aimed at bicycles? Or is this just a Seattle thing?

guest

Although bicyclists on sidewalks also pisses me off, it is legal, as long as they're going slow and being respectful of pedestrians. The real problem lies in the traffic that forces bikes onto the sidewalk.

Troy Morris

Nice play on words.

And I swear, the next bicyclist I see riding on the side walk is getting kicked over and then kicked repeatedly.

MvB

@3: that's an unfortunate irony, isn't it? We're more likely to unconsciously copy behaviors than to learn from them.

guest

Funny, this is the same thing bicyclists put up with from motorists. You'd think they'd be more willing to share the trail with pedestrians, since they're fully aware of what it's like to be the slowpoke on the road.

As for the saxophonists, my best advice is to just stay to the side. If you're a little in their way (even if the trail is crowded), it's not a big deal. Cars often have to go around them, they should have to go around you!

guest

Where will the power hugry bicyclists stop?? Stop the insanity!!

MvB

Hey, they're assholes to slower bicyclists, let alone pedestrians. It's a drag, but rather than fight over the one trail, I think it just indicates that we're a few more B-G trails short.