[NMCycling] North Diversion Trail Underpass Dangers

Thu Sep 22 10:06:56 MDT 2016

10 adults under the Diversion Channel/Montgomery bridge this morning at 8:25am.  A little nerve wracking.

From: Patricio Lujan [mailto:patlujan at aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 6:55 AM
To: powergwa at aol.com; Craig M. Doolittle
Cc: bike-racers at swcp.com
Subject: Re: [NMCycling] North Diversion Trail Underpass Dangers

Same problems here in Denver but on a much larger scale; some of the Strava segment names in Denver  describe the problems areas that exist on the Platte River and Cherry Creek paths.  On a positive Albuquerque does not appear to have this...yet:

http://www.denverpost.com/2015/10/12/needle-disposal-kiosk-installed-along-cherry-creek-trail-in-denver/

Pat

-----Original Message-----
From: powergwa via Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>>
To: Craig M. Doolittle <cdoolittle at ara.com<mailto:cdoolittle at ara.com>>
Cc: Bike-Racers <bike-racers at swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at swcp.com>>
Sent: Mon, Sep 19, 2016 3:51 pm
Subject: Re: [NMCycling] North Diversion Trail Underpass Dangers
I was  through there this weekend and there were ~8 adults present and at least a few were v. blasted. I believe at least some are helpless and need relocation to a safer spot both for them and riders. In time someone will be hurt at that location.

Several weeks ago a well-known local amateur golfer who recreationally rides a bike some was riding through the Eubank underpass tunnel on the E-W bike trail and hit a recently homeless placed mattress; concussion ( w helmet), face lacerations, broken collarbone and ribs. Again he didn't properly account for the lighting change and poor vision as he entered the tunnel.

Yes, more expert riders pick up on these kind of things but on the general public bike trail I think it's behooves all of us to try to keep them as safe as possible. I made a mental note Saturday to call 311 ASAP on this matter .....but then you climb, you're at Tramway rtc. and that 311 action slips away. 🚴🏾💤

I'm going to make a note of contacting 311 whenever I see that problem there or @ other underpass locations.
Jack Groves

Energy Southwest Inc

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 19, 2016, at 2:58 PM, Craig M. Doolittle via Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>> wrote:
Wow!  I called about glass, rocks, pizza box, etc. on the Paseo bridge over the RG, and was told they would notify the department in charge, the department in charge would go look at it, then they had 30 days to act on it.  That was ~2 weeks ago.  Glass, rocks, pizza box, etc. all still on the bridge!

You must have some pull!

My wife used to ride to work with me, and then ride back home alone.  She has quite doing that as she has gotten some "dirty looks" from the people under the bridge, and is now afraid (although some of them seem very friendly, always saying hello).  I on the other hand am more worried about them stepping back and me hitting them.  However, I do get pretty nervous if there are 3, 4 or more of them in a group.

From: Bike-racers [mailto:bike-racers-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Blayne Greiner via Bike-racers
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 2:50 PM
To: Jimmy Griego
Cc: Bike-Racers
Subject: Re: [NMCycling] North Diversion Trail Underpass Dangers

As a side note, Remember to call 311 and report these kinds of things (especially trash) . The City is fairly responsive to citizen complaints and anything that gets a 311 call is usually moved to the top of the to-do list. I called 311 about glass that was on the bike lane on the lead and coal bridges downtown and they had a street sweeper hit it the same day.

On Sep 19, 2016, at 2:11 PM, Jimmy Griego via Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>> wrote:

 TOTALLY AGREE I COMMUTE AND RIDE THE BIKE TRAIL JUST SOUTH OF I40 AND THERE ARE SO MANY TENTS AND SHOPPING CARTS , NOT TO MENTION TRASH THAT ITS SCAREY. IM SURE THESE POOR SOULS NEED A PLACE TO STAY. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY FOR THEM AND THE PEOPLE USING THE PATHS, I WOUNDER IF WE ALL GOT TO GETHER TO VOLUNTEER TO PICK UP THE TRASH.

On Monday, September 19, 2016 12:42 PM, RDCipoletti--- via Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>> wrote:

That situation has existed to one degree or another (seemingly, depending upon the season) for several years. Realistically, there really isn't much that could be done to control their behavior, since their only apparent crime is substance abuse. Although disconcerting, they, as far as I know, have never represented a threat to cyclists or runners, which is more than can be said for most humanoid hazards. Their presence certainly warrants slowing down and anticipating the unexpected - just as one would when approaching inattentive cyclists with headphones. On the other hand, I have seen the conscious ones readily move to the side, and even say hello on occasion. I've always suspected that the signs that advise you that you're riding there at your own risk might, in some part, be a reference to that particular hazard. I also think it's perfectly natural to be intimidated by their presence, and find that injecting a little sympathy into the equation helps to calm the nerves. Besides, it's nowhere near as scary as approaching the blind underpass at Montano on the Bosque trail, where two descending cyclists in the same lane could spell the end of your life as you know it.
Once I saw two people sitting on the ground with their legs fully extended in the middle of the tunnel adjacent to Paseo just N of Rio Grande. They were absolutely invisible in the dark of the tunnel, and thankfully I was in the opposite lane. I recommend entering that tunnel at a very conservative speed.

bob

________________________________
From: "iHuman via Bike-racers" <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>>
To: "NM Cycling" <bike-racers at swcp.com<mailto:bike-racers at swcp.com>>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 11:31:52 AM
Subject: [NMCycling] North Diversion Trail Underpass Dangers

Does anyone know if anything can be done about people sleeping and/or partying on the bike path underpasses?

Recently, when I ride the north diversion channel there are groups of people at the bottom of the underpass near Montgomery and the as well as the underpass just north of that. I was riding on Saturday and there were two people sleeping in the middle of the bike path on the southbound lane, a group of 3 standing in the northbound lane visiting with one another, and a group of about 10 about 20 feet away in the southbound lane sitting on the bike path - seemingly oblivious to bikes.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. Both for cyclists - and those sitting/sleeping on the path. (I do mean ON the path, and not off to the side).

thanks for your assistance!
elaine

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