Multiple use recreational and biking trails

I don't ride on bicycle-walking trails very much as I am a city bicyclist and I ride on the roads. But there is discussion in other places, including the always excellent Washcycle blog, about bicyclist-pedestrian issues on these trails, including the Capital Crescent Trail, which is imposing speed limits.

I think the issue is really weekend use, with weekend bicyclists and weekend walkers, vs. use during the week. But daily bicycle commuters get tagged by the proposed solution to deal with weekend problems.

I did watch bicycle-pedestrian conflicts on the trail in Battery Park in NYC. There the problem is the size of the trail-walkway and the number of users. The issue isn't much different in the DC region. The problem is that bicyclists and walkers are on the same trail when they should be separated during peak use periods... probably.

Cyclists ride along the bicycle path in Bogota June 23, 2008. The 270 km (168 miles) bicycle path by the sides of the main roads of the Colombian capital have turned cycling into a transportation alternative in Bogota. Advocates say the safety and convenience of the bicycle paths are encouraging the environmentally clean form of transportation. Photos by REUTERS/John Vizcaino (COLOMBIA)

Note that the trail here has a section for bicyclists and a section for walkers. Also note the bicycle taxis.

In this photo you can see passengers in the bike taxi.