Bollard needed?

[creadinger]

Over the past 6 months I have personally witnessed 3 cars driving on the 4-mile run trail between the north end of Commonwealth Ave and Route 1.

Drivers are obviously confusing the trail for some super-secret road that only they know about. I know that bollards have been proven to be bad for cyclists in some instances because they're an obstacle that can cause crashes, but I feel that in this case, a bollard may make the most sense because the trail is obviously attracting a lot of drivers.

Anyone else witness any drivers on the trail? Any other ideas?

[kwarkentien]

Wow! That's the first I've heard of this being a problem.

[AlexandriaBiker]

I ride through this area 2-3 times a week and will watch for evidence of this happening. There must be tire tracks or some evidence of ruts in the grass.

[bobco85]

Thank you for bringing this up, as I completely forgot about it!

I've encountered a driver on that connector before (he was almost at Route 1 and looked very confused), and I have seen police cars and maintenance vehicles using it as a shortcut a couple of times. I have only witnessed people going from Commonwealth towards Route 1 and never the opposite way.

The issue is at the end of Commonwealth Ave where there is circle with 2 paths coming off of it. The first path is fine because it is sidewalk-width and has a curb cut and ramp. However, the second path is wider and continuous with the road (i.e., no curbs/ramps/etc. separating the asphalt between it and the circle). There is a sign reading "No Motorized Vehicles" but it is not on the circle; instead, it is on the left side of the T intersection with the path running alongside Four Mile Run. A driver would have already driven off the circle before seeing it.

My recommendation: the sign warning "No Motorized Vehicles" needs to be moved closer to the circle and some white paint should be put on the outer edge of the circle to communicate to drivers that it is closed off. If that doesn't work, then I'd go for a flexpost.

[Steve O]

Over the past 6 months I have personally witnessed 3 cars driving on the 4-mile run trail between the north end of Commonwealth Ave and Route 1.

Drivers are obviously confusing the trail for some super-secret road that only they know about. I know that bollards have been proven to be bad for cyclists in some instances because they're an obstacle that can cause crashes, but I feel that in this case, a bollard may make the most sense because the trail is obviously attracting a lot of drivers.

Anyone else witness any drivers on the trail? Any other ideas?

Bollards should only be used as a last resort, after other solutions have been tried. For instance, are there clear and easily seen signs that indicate cars are not allowed? Is the trail painted in a way to indicate that it's not a road, etc? Only after other non-dangerous solutions have tried and failed should a bollard be installed.
I just looked at street view, and there are no signs whatsoever. Bollards would not deter a determined driver from driving there, because she could just drive around them. So the problem we are trying to solve is confused drivers. Signs are the first and better solution for that problem.

[dcv]

Bollards should only be used as a last resort, after other solutions have been tried. For instance, are there clear and easily seen signs that indicate cars are not allowed? Is the trail painted in a way to indicate that it's not a road, etc? Only after other non-dangerous solutions have tried and failed should a bollard be installed.
I just looked at street view, and there are no signs whatsoever. Bollards would not deter a determined driver from driving there, because she could just drive around them. So the problem we are trying to solve is confused drivers. Signs are the first and better solution for that problem.

bollard hater

[mstone]

Why bollards? Why not a wall? How 'bout a moat? With guard sharks, or at least ill-tempered sea bass.

Or paint.

[Fairlington124]

First post here (woo!). I use that stretch quite a bit. Never seen motorized vehicles but I could believe that some use it.

Why not some graphic commands, like this "pedestrian and bike" sign I would see a ton of in Germany? http://image.shutterstock.com/displa...-114334543.jpg

Are there any such signs in the US lexicon of road and path signage?

[KLizotte]

I've seen a car driving from Commonwealth to Rte 1. The driver didn't look confused at all and simply went full speed ahead and bounced off the curbing on to the driveway to the car dealership. Sigh.

[chris_s]

I've seen 2 cars on that stretch of trail myself. I agree that it needs better signage and that we should definitely try that before putting a hard metal hazard in the middle of the trail.