There are many ideas floating around about how to improve the safety of joggers and bikers in Dallas and Fort Worth. New signs and warning lights already signal the increasing dialogue about safety on the Katy Trail in the aftermath of Lauren Huddleston's death in a jogger-bicycle accident. Dallas is in the preliminary stages of creating a publicity campaign under the guidance of city staff and trail advocates. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman already has appeared at a public event on the Katy Trail to remind those on the mixed-use trail to be mindful of others. Leaders of Friends of the Katy Trail and Dallas officials pledged this month to draft a workable safety plan no later than Thanksgiving.
Others note that there are simply too many people wanting to use the 3.5-mile-long linear trail in a densely populated area. The Katy Trail squeeze is symbolic of the growing number of people who want to walk, cycle or run, but are often fighting for these tiny scraps that have been carved out of the auto-dominated. Some cities have high-use trails that are 20 feet wide, with 6-foot-wide segments for two-way foot traffic and a 14-foot-wide portion for everything from bicycles to wheelchairs. The Katy Trail is no more than 15 feet wide in spots. Education is really important. You have to couple any kind of trail instillation with etiquette and education just like we do with driver's ed. Whatever suggestions are drafted, they must include more than advising all users to be nice on the trail. Bicycle advocates have been urging motorists to share the road for years.
In 2008, Texas alone had 438 fatalities to pedestrians hit by an object outside of the pedestrian’s control. I think that by raising awareness of bikers/joggers safety and having etiquette will decrease the number of injuries. Additionally, not having music loudly in your ear phones will help you be aware of the external factors. It is a privilege to have nice parks in Dallas and Fort Worth so I believe that everyone should share and be considerate to others in the park.
