Bikes at Hiawatha

[Alki joy]

Today we had to deal with several junior high age bikers on the Hiawatha track, popping wheelies,etc. We pointed out the multiple no bike signs, which only encouraged more aggressive behavior. We also encountered electric scooters. Both are public safety concerns.

Any suggestions on how to make the track more safe?

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

Oh my, thats so terrible. How exactly were these kids hurting you again?
Let these kids b kids while they can. I would have gotten irritated at you as well

Share This

[CarDriver]

So cheese. Your point is that kids have NO rules they need to follow?

Share This

[samueljuby]

I know them lol

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

I never sayd that. I will say that those rules arent this persons to enforce so maybe they should mind their own buisness if these kids are minding their own and not hurting anybody. Rather them be doing kid stuff then something else that is harmfull

Share This

[Chuck Jacobs]

That’s great! Now do unleashed dogs!

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

Unleashed dogs is a tough one, but if there is a leash rule in effect, and your unleashed dog bites somebody for whatever reason, thats all on you the dog owner to face whatever consequences and should be jumping at the gun to pay any health care bills.

Share This

[newnative]

Actually, these kids are an accident waiting to happen. Some of us older adults use the track to run and walk and these kids charge us and cut us off. Not to mention, they just add to the traffic we need to navigate. I’m always surprised how many people use the track for standing still (to watch something), unfolding a chair to picnic and for riding wheeled vehicles. I have had near-misses with children and teens on bikes that just don’t watch where they are going.

Share This

[StevieMq]

So CheeseWS777 if one of these kids “while doing what kids do” gets hurt or accidentally hurts someone else “while doing what kids do” then what do you think?
This is what’s wrong in this world, a lot of people don’t think they need to follow the rules and or laws that are in place, they’re in place for a reason. There’s just so many people who just don’t know the meaning of respect

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by StevieMq.

Share This

[susieq29]

Maybe the real answer is to have actual places kids (or adults) CAN ride their bikes around here, not just streets. Can’t do it at Hiawatha and not at Schmitz Park, so where can kids go for bike rides nearby? Seattle is so house/business-centric that they don’t think about the people that live here. Same goes for dog parks. ONE in West Seattle? Really? Instead of saying “No” all the time, come up with solutions Seattle! *rant done now*

Share This

[newnative]

That’s an evasive reply, susieq29 when there are bike lanes,bike paths and other trails for riding wheeled vehicles. There are alternatives, even in the park. I should not have to dodge bike-riding teens, dog poop, dogs, toddlers not in arm’s length of their parents, or soccer moms in chairs on a running track.

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

Now i think you just sounding intollerant. Let them ride their bikes, cus if thats your biggest issue of the day, then life is good

Share This

[susieq29]

It’s not evasive newnative, it’s a solution. Your rant, while all good points as this should not be happening, is happening because there is no place for them to do this. Tell us 4 trails around the north side of west seattle (nearish to Hiawatha) that is not on streets as no one loves to bike on streets with cars whizzing by, that these kids could ride their bikes? Or maybe give me 3 places in the area that folks can bring their dogs off leash? The track is not ideal for them, I get it, but it’s the only flat/non grassy area around.

Remember when stores put up signs “no skateboarding”? This never worked. Then someone got the genius idea, “what if we give the skateboarders a place of their own to skate”. Whatya know, I rarely see skateboarders in store parking lots anymore as they’re all down at the Delridge skate park or the other one near Target. Not all but most.

While it is illegal and I hate having to deal with bikes and dogs at Hiawatha too, no one is making alternatives. Seattle has created too much density and not enough open space, so the high school shares this park with everyone in the community. It’s busy, I get it, this stuff shouldn’t happen, but the police have bigger problems to deal with so rather than slap people on the wrist, come up with a real, viable solution.

Share This

[newnative]

I already gave examples. There are trails in Hiawatha for bike riding,there are playgrounds, there are fields and there is the Alki Bike trail that surrounds us. The track is one of the very few places that a person can run and feel relatively safe from cars, bikes.

Share This

[susieq29]

Sorry, if you think those alternatives are viable and good, you’ve never been out of Seattle…

Share This

[scott]

Ironically enough the Alki bike trail is very unpleasant to use because of all the runners/pedestrians on it.

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

I really doubt this person has ever gotten ran over by these kids bikes… To me he sounds like “oh my, this horrible situation im immagining almost happens to me…. It almost hurts so bad!”

Share This

[cheeseWS777]

The park is right next to the high school. I really dont know the history/origins or which came first but it seems to me that the “playfeild” was made with these kids in mind. Sounds like they have to dodge you while you run in their playspace.
Yes i know its not theirs but its not yours either like you claimed. Its everybodys and if you cant handle them being there then idk what to tell you cus they arent trying to ruin your day like you make it out to be

Share This

[Author]

Posts