by Erick Wikum

“I don’t own a helmet.”  “I can’t afford a helmet.”  “It’s too hot to wear a helmet.”  “The trail is much safer than roads.”  “I’m a good rider, roller-skater, etc.”  “I’m not going far.”  These are among the excuses I imagine I would hear were I to ask various trail users why they neglect to wear a helmet or other safety equipment.  And yet, accidents happen, and they can happen at any time to anyone.

Just this week during La Vuelta (the Tour of Spain), a leading international cycling race, overall leader (yellow jersey wearer) Primož Roglič unexpectedly contacted wheels with another rider in the closing meters of the race, crashing hard to the pavement.  Here’s a short YouTube clip that shows the crash and its aftermath.  Roglič is among the top few bike racers in the world and is an expert bike handler.  If he can crash, then so too can you.

Two weeks ago, I was roller skiing on the trail between Morrow and Stubbs Mill Road.  It was a beautiful evening and I had settled into a very comfortable, enjoyable rhythm.  Suddenly, a small pebble caused my roller ski to skid.  In what seemed like slow motion, I drifted to the right and off the trail, catching myself as I fell.  I was wearing a helmet and knee pads, but that didn’t stop me from bloodying my forearm.  I have roller-skied for many years and have not fallen previously.  If something unexpected like this fall can happen to me, it can happen to you too.

No one is immune from accidents.  Wearing a proper-fitting helmet and other safety equipment can mitigate the effects.  Don’t make excuses.  Just be prepared.

September 2022

by Erick Wikum

In The Little Mermaid, Ariel takes inventory of the items in her grotto, singing “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty” and “I’ve got whosits and whatsits galore.” One of the latest trends in gadgets to hit the trail and neighborhoods concerns battery-powered, wheeled conveyances including e-bikes of all sorts, scooters and electric skateboards.

These new gadgets, with their compact batteries and (in the case of skateboards) gyros, are technological wonders. Moreover, they are surprisingly fast. The main reason these gadgets are proliferating, though, is because they are plain fun.

And yet, there is a cause for concern when it comes to safety. Children in my neighborhood whiz around the sidewalks and streets on scooters and small e-bikes with nary a helmet in sight. High-tech or not, these gadgets are not impervious to debris, cracks or uneven pavement. Children approach road crossings at full speed, hoping that with a quick glance, they can proceed without stopping. None of these devices is equipped with crash-avoidance technology. On the trail, adults sporting shiny new e-bike toys often ride without helmets and proceed at speeds beyond their abilities (the trail speed limit is 20mph), endangering themselves and others.

What can we do to promote safety in this whole new world of gadgets and gizmos? Here are three suggestions:
1. Read my past e-bike safety article (available here), which also explains which types of e-bikes are permitted on the trail.
2. Wear a helmet when enjoying any type of battery-powered, wheeled conveyance.
3. Ensure your children and grandchildren receive proper safety training and don helmets before using their new-fangled devices.

My wife, a nurse who worked in a pediatric ICU, shared a story with me about a young boy who was struck by a vehicle while riding a bike near his home. In falling, his head hit the curb. That child died soon after the accident, but the doctors believed that a helmet would have meant the difference between life and death. An ounce of prevention can prevent a lifetime of sorrow.

Photo: Tech Radar

August 2022

ODNR has been busy last year and early this year with significant maintenance projects to improve the trail. The projects included dead tree felling, culvert clearing, and cutback of over-growth restricting clearance on the trail.

There were two efforts launched last year to “clear the canopy.” This activity cuts back overhead and trailside branches and limbs to not only ease passage for typical trail users but also to provide clearance for maintenance and emergency vehicles. These efforts were assisted and supported by several volunteers from The Friends group. ODNR also enlisted the help and support of local townships and ODOT, who brought in their large articulated-arm brush hogging equipment for additional canopy and trailside clearing.

An estimated 200+ dead trees were cut down over a period from late last year into this year. ODNR fired up their chain saws and cut the dead trees down. Volunteers assisted by trimming away branches and helping move the logs and debris off the trail and berm. ODNR also brought along a chipper to help reduce some of the branches from the felled trees and other large brush piles along the trail.

In another effort, ODNR brought in a small excavator to clear and dig out several clogged or partially clogged culverts. This is a time-consuming effort as the excavated material needs to be hauled away to a remote site. This critical task keeps the culverts from backing up and flooding the trail with mud and debris during storms.

Unfortunately, none of these efforts are one-and-done activities. Mother Nature wants our trail back, and maintaining control to help ensure a safe and enjoyable trail is an ongoing battle.

Many thanks to ODNR and their workers along with the volunteers who supported these activities.

April 2022
Tom McCray