Progress was made Friday on the widening of the Wiese Park walking trail, with Landals Concrete of Perry pouring a large concrete apron on 16th Street and extending the trail toward the McCreary Community Building.
Landals is replacing a portion of the six-foot-wide asphalt trail with a 10-foot-wide concrete trail better suited to the heavy bicycle traffic expected with the completion of the Let’s Connect connector trail to Woodward.
The first leg of the $5 million Let’s Connect trail is now open between 18th Street and 130th Street east of Perry. The Dallas County Conservation Board oversaw the $570,000 project to build the first 1.56 miles of the connector trail.
Since Wiese Park will become part of the bike trail, with numerous people riding through our public park, where can I now walk my small dog without her getting hit by people on bicycles? The park adjoins my backyard. There will also be elderly people on walkers, electric carts, etc., on these sidewalks.
Your dog is at no more risk than those people who walk on the bike trail north to Dawson and south to Minburn. To my knowledge, no dog has been hit in the last few years when the trail has been in use. Truth be told, those who regularly ride are particularly safe and courteous. Once these people realize they are on a shared trail, they slow down and put out their radar. The same rule applies here as on the highway. Slower traffic must keep to the right. Those coming up from behind will announce “on your left” so you know to keep right. Truth be told, your worries here are pretty much unfounded. Relax. Share the road.
My dog and I have almost been hit several times in Weise Park already by speeding bicycles and skateboards. I have a hearing disability and cannot hear remarks made behind me or hear someone approaching me from behind. Hearing aids are microphones and need to face toward comments that are being made to the face of a person for the person to hear the comments. Some years ago, one of our elderly neighbors was knocked down by a person on a bicycle. Don’t tell me these things don’t happen. People who want to walk by themselves or with pets should have a safe walking area also. The bicycle trail took that away from us, especially elderly people.
Those are not trail bikers but locals. You have been and will always be at risk from our locals. Those who abuse the system and the sidewalks are not your trail bikers at all. I have been at Weise Park, and I have seen them, too. They’re local, reckless kids. No one can protect you from such stupid and reckless ones. Those who invest big money in bikes and use the trails are different animals. They are no risk to you. With disabled hearing, I suggest you invest in one of those little rear view mirrors we put on bike helmets. No one should be denied use of a public amenity because of your disability.