Fear and loathing on the ART
Learning to roll with the chaos that is the daily commute

by Jennaye Derge
After spending the majority of my rental house days living on the northwest side of Durango, I recently moved a few blocks to the east. I usually commute around town via the west streets and avenues, whether it be by bike or walking my dog along sidewalks. However, my new rental home is situated directly on the Animas River Trail, so unless I want to cross Camino del Rio every day, multiple times a day, my path of least resistance is along the ART.
“How lucky!” you might be thinking. To be directly on the river trail seems fortuitous for someone like me who rarely drives a car and gets around predominantly by bicycle. But truth be told, I have avoided commuting on the ART like the plague, because much like the plague, the River Trail can be dangerous and chaotic – an almost certain death waiting to happen.
I stopped riding my bike along the River Trail about eight years ago after I had a run-in with a loose dog who played chicken with me near the Rotary Park bridge. When I slowed down, the dog slowed down; when I went forward, it went forward. The dog got away, but I crashed in front of a family who was still yelling at Sparky to “come here, now!”
I wanted to let them know that there is a simple solution for getting your dog to come to you quickly in a public space, but seeing the leash dangling freely from their hands let me know that they were already aware of the solution. They just chose not to use it.
After that incident, I spent years happily riding my bike safely on the streets of west Durango. Rarely was there a dog that jumped in front of me, groups of folks sauntering five abreast across the entire road or skateboards shooting sideways from underfoot. I could commute the way a proper commuter could: freely forward, and it was nice. Until now.
The first day I reintroduced myself to the Animas River Trail, I was on foot walking my dog. I was excited that I no longer had to watch for cars while crossing streets, but just as I started to relax, none other than a cyclist came whirring up behind me and caused a “my ’lanta!” to escape my startled lips. Then, a gas-powered motorized scooter buzzed by. Soon, a skateboarder surfed toward my dog, nearly scratching him on his ears before turning back down the path.
I wanted to lift my walking cane and yell damnations to those whippersnappers through my toothless pie hole, but then I remembered that I am a spry 30-something, and I am just hoping for a little decency.
Next, I tried riding my bike downtown via the River Trail, and it was exactly how I remembered, but worse. Groups of all sorts were going different speeds, zigzagging in directions other than forward, and I was gripping my handlebars waiting for what would jump out of the bushes. It just solidified what I already knew. The Animas River Trail is terrifying. It is each man for himself. It is total and complete anarchy. I would choose to ride a vehicle-trodden street any day before putting my life in the hands of the ART. Give me a 25mph trafficked avenue, or give me death.
But, I live on the northeast side now, where I am funneled onto the trail, so – while I love anarchist tendencies – I do feel like it is time to brush up on a little trail-sharing etiquette and get this madhouse in order. First of all, motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Animas River Trail. Yes, I’m talking to you bearded guy who buzzes that exhaust pipe across the high school bridge every day.
Second, for my fellow cyclists whom I will always give special treatment to because supporting you is my life’s calling: slow down when you are passing pedestrians. Stop pedaling, ring your bell, say “on your left!” give a little wave, say thank you, and then go on your merry way. Furthermore, if you are coming up behind a group of pedestrians (or anyone going slower than you), please yield to other oncoming cyclists or pedestrians.
This means, you may have to slow down and wait for oncoming traffic to pass before you can go around. Don’t all try to squeeze through at the same time. Bottlenecking is for chumps.
Secondly, if you don’t want to yield or bottleneck, if you want to cruise smoothly, if you don’t want to stop, if you are late and need to throw it into high gear and go super fast, try riding on the streets with traffic. Go fast, just look for cars. Trust me, streets are great for that.
Third: If you are a pedestrian, please try to stay on the right side of the path. I know there usually isn’t a painted delineator indicating lanes on the ART, but from about the age of 15½ we were all taught that slow traffic stays on the right so that we may all pass on the left. Let’s keep doing that.
Also, please be aware that someone saying “on your left” means they are passing on your left. It, however, does not mean you should jump to your left, then your right, then stop and scream. It might feel like it, but no one is trying to run you over and kill you.
Fourth: please leash and clean up after your pets. The Animas River Trail is a great resource to be used, and we are lucky to have it. It connects almost the entirety of town (yes, we are still waiting for the SMART 160. Don’t worry, it’s coming) by a continuous off-road path, and it allows all nonmotorized uses – for now. Please don’t be that person to ruin it for the rest of us. Just watch where you go, watch where other people are, wave, smile, say thank you – and please, for the love of all things holy, put a leash on your dog. ?
Jennaye Derge is the executive director of Bike Durango, a local organization dedicated to bicycle advocacy, education and outreach, www.bikedurango.org.
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