Bicyclists Afraid of Losing Part of TN Riverpark

Recent afternoon storms may be keeping bikers from enjoying the Tennessee Riverpark but some are afraid something more permanent could be threatening their favorite past-time.  Park rangers are conducting a survey, asking if bicyclists would be willing to give up part of the park over safety concerns.

It's hard to find bigger biking enthusiasts than Ben and Jayne Cagle.  "We try to get out here about three times a week and we'll put in here at the dam and we'll go all the way downtown."  But now they're worried that trip could be cut short after they were stopped by park rangers last week wanting to know one thing.  "They wanted to know what our thought was to giving up part of this section here to walkers," says Ben.

The section he's referring to is the last mile, from the maintenance building near Olan Mills to the dam.  "It's just to gather information," says Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Director Ron Priddy.  "There's been no decision made."  Priddy says park rangers are trying to get a feel for where all park users stand.  Especially when it comes to safety on the sidewalks behind Olan Mills and Chattanooga State, where blind curves block the view.  "That section of the walk is only 8 feet wide and it's sort of narrow," says Priddy.  "And there's some walls and rails."

The Cagles admit there are some bikers that go too fast for the area but don't want all of them banned for a few bad apples.  "98 percent of all the bikers that I've seen out here, they're courteous," Ben says, "most of them have bells on their bikes."  Jayne would rather see the current rules enforced.  "If (the problem) is speed then we just need to do some education."

With roughly one million visitors a year to the Riverpark, Priddy is certain they'll find a solution to satisfy everyone.  "We want bikers and walkers to participate in the park," he says, "it's for them and we want as many of them to come as possible."

In the meantime, park rangers encourage cyclists to go no faster than five miles and hour and announce when they are passing from behind.  And they want walkers to be aware of their surroundings and not walk more than two-people wide.