The following letter has been sent to the Mill Valley City Council and City Manager.
I know that many others have raised this issue before, but it bears repeating over and over. The weekend warrior bicyclists on the path along the dog park and the marsh are out of control. I'm all for being "bike friendly" but when are we going to have a serious public campaign about biker civility?
I walk the "bike" path almost every day. And it's rare that there isn't a memorable incident, involving bikers menacing pedestrians.
Today, Sunday, at about 10 am, there was a young couple with an infant in a baby carriage slowly walking on the path, with their other child, a pre-schooler, and their little dog on a leash, in tow. And, of course, kids slow you down and pre-schoolers and puppies tend wander.
A "wolf pack" of spandexed bikers came flying down the path and they all started screaming at the family, "Get over!" Get the f#*k out of the way" and began menacing them by speeding right up to them and jamming on their brakes, as if to try to physically run them off the path.
Then as they all seem to do, they road off still yelling and giving everyone the finger.
Why is this behavior being tolerated? The speed limit signs are laughed at and totally ignored. If you put police there, they just stand out the middle of the road, in plain sight, to "catch" speeders while bikers react by riding for as much as a mile ahead warning on-coming bikers that the cop is there.
Why can't we have speed bumps like we have for cars? Or make the financial penalties really hurt?
When will the city get serious about this and stop coddling adult bikers? (note that commuting student bikers never act like this)
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is paid a fortune every year by TAM to promote biking. Why isn't MCBC being required to promote bike safety and courtesy?
It's our taxpayer money they're being paid and we need our city to speak up for us.