Let’s get smart about sharing the sidewalk space

Did you know that bikers are only supposed to go (at maximum) twice the speed of people walking on campus? I didn’t either, until today. And I’ve biked to class regularly since I came to the University of Montana in 2005.
The issue of bikes on campus resurfaces every fall when students come back to school and everyone wants to ride their bikes. It’s a small percentage of cyclists who make life miserable for everyone else, but when those few go too fast in pathways shared with pedestrians, crashes ensue, and tempers flare.
But bicyclist self-restraint alone isn’t the solution.

Did you know that bikers are only supposed to go (at maximum) twice the speed of people walking on campus? I didn’t either, until today. And I’ve biked to class regularly since I came to the University of Montana in 2005.
The issue of bikes on campus resurfaces every fall when students come back to school and everyone wants to ride their bikes. It’s a small percentage of cyclists who make life miserable for everyone else, but when those few go too fast in pathways shared with pedestrians, crashes ensue, and tempers flare.
But bicyclist self-restraint alone isn’t the solution.
It’s time UM considered some serious renovations to deal with bicyclist-pedestrian safety issues on campus.
We need a designated bike path on campus that offers bikers an alternative route to get across campus and avoid pedestrians. As soon as bikers hit campus, there needs to be a bike-only path that runs south from Broadway Street to Beckwith Avenue and intersects with a path stretching from Arthur Street to Campus Drive.
Heavily trafficked sidewalks need to be wider. The 15-foot wide sidewalk planned in front of McGill Hall is a good first step, but we need more.
In lieu of constructing a designated bike path across campus, bike lanes on Campus Drive are also a viable way to keep bicyclists off sidewalks. 
UM has considered some of these options, said Nancy Wilson, the director of the ASUM Office of Transportation. But if you really want to get the wheel spinning on the bicycle-pedestrian issue, send your feedback to http://www.umt.edu/ASUM/ot/.
However, it’s not the administration alone that is going to fix the problem.
To bikers and pedestrians both — don’t be idiots. I say this with love because I am equally frustrated when I am in each of your shoes, but, please, just use some common sense.
Bikers — use your voice. Don’t sneak up on people and expect your squeaky bike to signify your presence. Say “on your left,” “behind you,” or simply “excuse me” to the pedestrians you are trying to pass. The sooner people get used to hearing it, the sooner those interchanges will go smoothly.
Second, get off your bike and walk when the sidewalks are crowded, especially when classes are changing and people are everywhere.
Third, slow down, especially near blind corners. I’ve been on my bike and collided with another biker at a blind corner.  Had we both been going slower the accident could have been avoided.
That being said, pedestrians must learn to assert their rights. If a biker is speeding, tell him or her to slow down. If a biker sneaks up behind you and passes you, tell him or her to give you a warning next time. Communication and respect between bikers and pedestrians will help alleviate the problem.
Pedestrians, you need to also realize there are probably bikers behind you on the sidewalks. When you’re about to swerve all over the place while you try to walk and text on your cell phone at the same time, glance over your shoulder, and see who’s behind you. The same goes for when you’re cutting across the sidewalk. Bikers can’t predict when you’re going to make a sudden left turn into a building.
It’s up to both bikers and pedestrians to know the rules and obey them, to make life a little easier for all of us.
Virginia J. Cleaveland, news editor
virginia.cleaveland@umontana.edu