Start with a SPEED LIMIT AND ENFORCING IT! The tickets given out will probably create the money for enforcing laws an education fund for cyclists AND the money to improve the trail! 10~15mph would be best with cyclists to ring the bell and announcing their intentions ( passing on the right or left ) 25 mph would be the safe maximum for a shared usage trail

This is a proper set of guideline that works in many other " bicycle approved areas and cities that share with other users of the trail(s).

Catch an aggressive cyclist without a helmet, get a double fine and a traffic school date! The irony: Cyclists now are becoming just as bad the " cagers " when SHARING the trail!

Here's a link to the full-size graphic of the trail map

Web Link

Helmet laws only apply to those who are under 18.

Do cyclists really go faster than 25 mph on the Steven's Creek Trail? It's not easy to get going 25 mph on a bike unless you're on a nice straight road IMHO.

The Stevens Creek Trail is a fantastic route for bicycle commuters. Drivers keep complaining about car traffic trying to cross over Hwy 101. If commuters start bicycling on this trail instead, they won't have to worry about car traffic and car drivers will see less congestion at the same time. Extending the trail into Sunnyvale and Cupertino makes fantastic sense since many people live in those cities and work in Mountain View, or vice versa. Let's get this done as soon as possible. Bike paths are tremendously cheaper than new highways.

I walk this trail everyday. And yes I see cyclist riding 30 plus miles per hour. When I rode bikes some year ago down HWY 1, I had a speedometer mounted on it. There I could see my fastest speed was about 30 miles per hour sustained. Now they probably have some even riding faster. They spin their tires with their brakes at high speed going around corners. I am always mindful of them. Some come by and ring their bells which is nice and appropriate. I also agree on a 15 MPH speed limit and yes enforce it with speed traps. It is out of hand with Google and NASA employees who think that speed is their right. There is one or two how have xenon bulbs in their headlights that will blind you. They think its funny, I do not. If I go blind as a public official, I will sue them for more than than their bikes.

Yes police the trails and if it brings in money yes use it for the trails.

I prefer bicycling on roads to most bicycle/pedestrian trails because of the hazard of mixing fast-moving bicycles with recreational ambling. But it wouldn't be that hard to make trails friendlier to both efficient (fast) commuter cycling and recreational pedestrian use.

Typical bicycle commuting is done solo, not in groups. So on each side of the main trail should be a shoulder with a painted stripe in which the cyclist can go. It would have to be only about a foot wide since the cyclist is solo (or at least single file). Pedestrians (and kids on skateboards, bicycles, etc) would stay more toward the broader middle, which they tend to do anyway because of uneven footing on the side and a tendency to clump in groups. A small bicycle symbol could be painted in the shoulder lanes every 50 yards or so to remind pedestrians.

The one big problem with this idea is that leaves and other debris tend to clump on the sides of trails that are somewhat sunk relative to the surrounding ground, gradually narrowing the trail. Perhaps that would compromise this idea.

Maybe you could go 30mph down those big hills on highway one, but 30mph on SCT is ridiculously fast. I have to question your eye for bike speeds, Chris Parkinson.

That being said, bikers do go faster than I think is safe on that trail. I bike it too, and they scare me. I'm still more afraid of cars, though. I don't think fast bike riders are nearly as dangerous.

Bikes do pose a risk to walkers, joggers. I remember several years ago a woman was killed by a bike racer in downtown MV. I hope it doesn't happen on the trail before something can be done. The bikers think they own the trail, when adrenaline pours on, they think their superman, walkers BEWARE!!!

On a Multi-Use trail, every poses a risk to everyone else if they do not act safely. Riders going too fast, walker making a quick left turn without looking and while wearing ear buds...its multi-use but it seems everyone only wants "their group" to freely use it. Funny.

I like riding it in the early morning when the zombies are not staggering about on the trail. After about 9am I'd rather ride elsewhere, but the trail still acts as a great roll home after a hard workout, with lots of folks to smile with and chat up if one is so inclined. Love the SC Trail!

Oh, and whoever thinks 25 MPH is a good max for shared use trail is clueless. Way too fast.

I use the Stevens Creek Trail regularly. I have never ever seen a bicyclist going 30mph or even 25mph on this trail. Once in a while, I see someone going 20mph, but only way out on the eastern end of the trail near the bay. Once you get to the middle part of the trail, west of Hwy 101, bicyclists are rarely going faster than 15mph.

If everyone uses common sense trail rules, there is plenty of space for everyone to be safe. Stay to the right except when passing and single file. Keep pets on a short leash and to your right or directly in front of you. Bicyclists should ring a bell or call out before passing. No one should use headphones, especially west of Hwy 101 where there is poorer visibility.

25mph is pretty easy to hit and way too fast for a speed limit.

15mph should be the limit. But that is pretty much impossible to enforce. I doubt the "revenue" from tickets would cover the cost of having a police officer sit there to write those tickets.

If people are allowed to walk on these trails then bikes have to deal with that. Slow down or ride someplace else.

Its a two way street Otto. One could easily retort:
"If people are allowed to ride on these trails then pedestrians have to deal with that. Keep right or walk someplace else."

The thing is, as a almost daily user of the trail, it seems there's WAY more issues here on the boards than there are on the trail.
Sometimes its a pain when people don't understand why they painted that yellow line down the middle, but usually its all smiles out there, anecdotal instances removed.

Well, as a single woman in her 50's I whole heartedly encourage more of the bikers that my walking group see when we are on the trail. Those would be the handsome, fit, men we see riding by with rippling leg muscles trying to burst out of their impossibly tight riding shorts....more like that please, bonus points if they say "Hi"
;)

For the SPANDEX crowd:

YES, I have seen cyclists doing 25+ on the SCT. My suggestions on speed limits are appropriate. You people MUST SLOW DOWN to properly use the SCT.

If you want a SAFE, MULTI-USE TRAIL, heed my suggestions. I've found these solutions used at the many trails located in and around Denver.

Bike cops are around, making sure that ALL laws are followed.

Ladies, only the FIT male and females get that particular beat. Enjoy the extra " scenery "..

1st of all, this talk about bikes going 25mph is insane. I bike a lot, including commuting on the trail, and it's very hard to hit 25, unless going downhill. There are some speed bike racers, who are quite dangerous, but usually these knuckleheads are pretty aware of what's going on. Nobody biker wants to crash.

There's a lot of homeless by Evelyn area, and it's quite dark there now. I've done creek cleanups there and it's a mess down in the creek. How about some lights by the path.

The trail is narrow in some areas, especially by the 237/85 area. It's a dangerous and people need to be stay to the right. There are also some big cracks in trail.

I don't like biking the trail on weekends, unless very early or late, too many little kids learning how to bike. Bottom line, it's a community trail, learn to share, and appreciate how fortunate we are.

I always thought the SCT limit was 15 mph? 25? Nonsense, that's far too dangerous. Funny to see punnisher arguing for allowing most cyclists to go faster than most of the cyclists here deem safe. ever admit you're wrong, even if it puts you on the side of your sworn enemy :)
Since we're also expressing our wishes, I vote for my lycra clad women biking the trail!

The homeless that is.

Funny when bikers and walkers have there own road/trail, they still can't get along. When we put cars in the mix, all hell breaks loose.

Actually, when you're on the trail everyone seems to get along fine most of the time.Its only here on these boards that you see the terminal "anti" folks trying to start fights with some perceived "enemy group"
99% of the time things are great on the trail, personal irritation levels of some individuals not withstanding.

There is an emerging problem between recreational trail users who are ambling and distracted by - say- birdwatching and cyclists who are commuting or just going fast for exercise.

On a recent occasion, our group had to move from right to left to right to left so often that we ultimately had to get off the trail and conceed it solely to cyclists - for safety of all.

Maybe the trail could have a narrow path for cyclists leaving space for the rest of us who are enjoying the trail as open space and being outdoors?

by the way- I cannot imagine that any cyclists are doing 25mph - that is not possible on gravel. But we were concerned that the cyclists may not be able to swerve or stop safely on the gravel - so we got off the trail for everyones safety. Also we were concerned that we were not paying attention to cyclists because we were focused on wildlife and were wandering around on the trail.

The speed I quoted are the ones used around the Denver Metro area. 25MPH is the maximum for ANY trail, especially ones that rise at the 8-10% gradient. Any part of the SCT east of 101 could be at that speed, provided NOBODY ELSE is on that part of the trail.
Bike cops CAN ticket you if you ARE GOING TO FAST FOR CONDITIONS! If a trail is busy ( many of Colorado and Metro Denver trails are busy ) and people and equestrian's horses are startled, the ticket is issued and the cyclists have to pay for any damage done.

As I have mentioned before, several trails have ONE WAY DAYS for cyclists and NOT for hikers and horse riders; THEY DID NOT ABUSE THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE TRAILS, ONLY THE SPANDEX CROWD DID!

Share the trail, or lose the right to use it.

Punisher, are you familiar with the decades of cooperation between cyclists, equestrians and hikers in Fremont Older here?
You seem to only have experience with trails several large mountain ranges removed from Mtn. View.
That said, lets try and increase the speed limit from the current 15 mph on SCT to your proposed 25. Just for hoots.
If you were familiar with some of the local trails you would know that MANY have one ay designations for cyclists all the time. Have been that way for over 20 years around these parts.

I'm gonna go for a bike ride right now! See ya out there!!
Bikes Rule! Haters drool!

How did an article about the trail being extended southward into Sunnyvale and Cupertino turn into a bike speed discussion? Let's get back on track here, people.

I'm really excited that Sunnyvale and Cupertino are now interested in being a part of this wonderful trail which serves both recreational and transportation purposes. I know that whenever there are plans for something new, there's a fear from those nearby that it is be bad for them--more crime, more traffic, lower property values, blah, blah.

What I'd like is for people who live near the trail in Mountain View to talk about how it has affected their life: whether they use it and what effects it has had, positive or negative. That may help our neighboring city leaders learn how to mitigate any concerns and decide the best way to make such a trail a success.

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