Editor,
The Georgian Trail is a real asset to our town.
It allows easy access to our town centre, extending as far as Collingwood and promotes year round fitness and tourism.
Pedestrians, dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and e-bikes all use it during spring, summer and fall. People even use it in the winter for cross country skiing.
I’ve lived in Meaford for 13 years and seen a significant increase in speed and carelessness from cyclists and e-bikes.
Many cyclists don’t warn pedestrians of their approach, with few bells, lights or warning calls ever used.
E-bikes can be a greater risk since they are often handled by new riders unaware of increased risk to themselves and others due to their faster speed and extra weight.
Signage cautioning riders is infrequent and sometimes poorly placed (ie. low on a bridge railing) so they aren’t always an effective deterrent.
I recently met two summer enforcement officers on bicycles and really hope they can promote safer summer use of the Georgian Trail.
Hopefully this letter will encourage faster users to share the trail responsibly with slower moving pedestrians and dog walkers.
To those who already do, thank you!
Brian Wood, Meaford
