Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

The concept of “complete streets” that has drawn considerable support in Lawrence calls for streets that are designed to promote safety for all users: motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Bicycle lanes have been a big focus, as have “shared use” paths. Sometimes the paths are used in conjunction with bicycle lanes and sometimes, as is proposed for the East Ninth Project, they are intended to replace bicycle lanes and be the primary route for bicycles, people on other conveyances, like skateboards or roller skates — and pedestrians.

The shared use paths certainly provide a safer area for most of those users — but not so much for pedestrians who have to compete with a variety of wheeled vehicles on the path.

An 8-foot wide path is envisioned for the East Ninth Project. That’s probably wide enough to accommodate multiple uses if both foot and wheeled traffic is light, but planners hope this will be a heavily traveled route. It’s easy to imagine conflicts between pedestrians who are strolling, or perhaps pushing baby strollers, and bicyclists rolling along toward their destinations.

The East Ninth Project certainly isn’t the only place where this could be — or already is — an issue. When walkers are handling a dog, talking to a companion or using earbuds to listen to music, they may be unaware that a bicycle is approaching them from behind. Some bicyclists ring a bell or shout something like “on your left” as they approach, but their warning often comes so late that it startles pedestrians but gives them little time to react.

Again, on paths with relatively low traffic, problems may be minimal but, if the idea is to encourage walking and cycling in the city, problems are likely to increase.

Walking is great exercise and often the exercise of choice for the retirees that Lawrence is trying to attract. It’s great to promote safe cycling, but don’t forget the pedestrians.