Comments on: Garden City, State Force Bikers To Court

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:57:18 +0000

If some bikers are inconsiderate, ban ’em all.
If some drivers are inconsiderate, ban ’em all.
Oh, yeah, that solves the problem — no bikes, no cars.

Somehow, I don’t think anybody would go for that.

Of course everybody, including The Boise Guardian, seems to have forgotten that in the original plans for the Greenbelt, it was to be open to all non-motorized modes of travel, including bicyclists, tricyclists, pedestrians and EQUESTRIANS! And it was going to be unpaved, so the equestrians — yep, those folks who ride horses, donkeys and mules (and even zebras, if they can ever break one) could have equal rights, too. So where’s all the outcry for them, huh, equal-righters?

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:21:44 +0000

When the initial protests took place, it was obvious that some of the homeowners had “landscaped” to the waters edge on property they clearly do not control. It would be poetic justice for the “open the greenbelt” side to have some “picnics” in those areas to see how the homeowners like that use! When the question was raised to the HOA, it was clear that Evans had misled some and was using his office as mayor to “cover his rear”.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:44:39 +0000

Once again, a story about bicycles draws large numbers of comments. Seems like the only stories that draw more comments are the ones about BPD brutality.

By: XPRMNTL

XPRMNTL — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:23:59 +0000

If more people knew the real story as to how Riverside Village (RV) Greenbelt became off limits to bicycles, I think they might take a different view of the “Nature Trail” there. The RV developer, now the Garden City Mayor and RV resident, reneged on a promise to (contract with) the State to provide bicycle access on this section of the Greenbelt (as well as putting up signs making it look like a crime to traverse the Greenbelt at night).

See http://www.idahocog.org for more details.

Three cheers to Gary Segers and COG for defending State-granted privileges in the face of greedy NIMBY-ites.

By: Chris Mitchell

Chris Mitchell — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:38:31 +0000

Oh why can’t we all just get along?

I feel like a parent needs to step in and say, “if you can’t stop fighting then I’m going to take the greenbelt away and nobody can play with it.”

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:01:22 +0000

Amazed. As a cyclist who rides their bike to work everyday, I have never been so insulted. Clearly, you dont ride bikes, or probably even walk for that matter. Every day i fear for my life because some artard driving never pays attention. Its illegal yes illegal for cyclist to ride on sidewalks. And considering the complete lack of bicycle lanes downtown, cars should share the road. Some of us dont have the money to drive a beamer to work. I guarantee you have never biked to your job once for that matter or you would know how cars are constantly trying to “race” cyclist in order to make it to work on time, because they left the house late.
I’m deeply sorry that cyclist have caused you to be 30 seconds late to wherever you were going. Get off your phone and pay attention.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:50:59 +0000

I’m with bikeboy. And it’s not like the Riverside Village section has a lot of bicycle traffic.

The same selfish arguments have been made since the greenbelt was begun. The Goodman Oil property comes to mind. Old man Goodman refused to give an easement, the paving contractor paved his section anyway and then said–“oops,” ah, the good old days. Where is he now? The greenbelt is still there and loved by nearly everyone.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:43:44 +0000

We are straying way off-topic here. But “Amazed” obviously sees the situation from behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

You will not get an argument from me that there are plenty of “bad” cyclists (either uneducated or unwilling to follow the rules for whatever reason). I’m TOTALLY resentful of them!

However – I can’t say whether there are more bad cyclists or motorists, as a percentage of the whole. Do you s’pose “Amazed” sees the red-light-runners, speeders, impaired drivers, drivers who are barely capable to begin with, distracting themselves with handheld electronics? And those motorists are putting other citizens in danger with their careless actions. At least the bad cyclists rarely kill somebody else; bad motorists kill innocents regularly. It’s “collateral damage” that society is apparently willing to accept.

Boise’s “primary problem” is NOT disrespect shown by bicyclists. I can say that honestly. (Although I agree it’s a problem. I’d LOVE to see enhanced enforcement, and I tell the authorities that every chance I get.)

Regarding the SE Boise “nature trail” – the dynamics are different. That has ALWAYS been private property. Property owners can grant an easement for the greenbelt, and many have. But it’s their choice. By contrast, the Riverside Village path is PUBLIC property – it was deeded from the State to Garden City, contingent upon their maintaining it as a public “bike path.” It does NOT belong to Riverside Village.

By: JJ

JJ — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:29:19 +0000

First Garden City, then move the lawsuit to Boise for SE Boise. The nature area was good enough for a 6-lane road bridge to cut through it, but not good enough for bike paths.

The greenbelt is an important amenity for the city and an important transit corridor for bike/ped commuting.

I too have seen very rude bikers and very rude pedestrians who walk 4-abreast taking the whole path and then appear disgusted when you need to pass.

Greenbelt should be a bit wider and more education and enforcement of bikers, pets, and peds.

By: Amazed

Amazed — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:05:49 +0000

Bike Boy. Are you kidding me? Pedestrians who are inconsiderate and take “the entire width of the path”? Try driving in the North End when bicyclists are three- and four-abreast in (and over the line of) the bike path and then squeal cause we horrible people who drive cars have difficulty maneuvering around them. Or those who do not pay any attention to red lights or stop signs and come careening around corners so fast that a driver must slam their brakes on. I especially enjoy it when it is dark out and a bicyclist does not have reflective clothing on but darts across oncoming traffic to take a turn. I respect bicyclists’ right to bicycle. I recognize it is good for the environment and is a healthy lifestyle for the rider. But you need to be honest that the primary (albeit not exclusive) problem in this city is the disrespect shown to pedestrians and automobile drivers by many, many bicyclists on a regular basis.