Hey, Monon cyclists: Slow down in Carmel (seriously): $50 fine awaits those police see riding too fast, endangering others on fitness trail.

IndyStar
May. 21, 2006

Bicyclists will have to gear down on the Monon Trail in Carmel next week, thanks to new speed limits.

The Carmel City Council passed the limits three months ago, but the enforcement had to wait until the limits were posted. Some of the signs already are in place, and once all are planted along the trail early next week, police will begin to hold people accountable.

The fine for scofflaws: $50.

The ordinance says no one can go more than 15 or 20 mph on the paved trail, depending on location. It's 15 mph from 111th Street to 136th Street, and 20 mph everywhere else in Hamilton County.

"Because of the heavy usage of the trail, there's a lot of kids and other people out there," said Tim Green, assistant Carmel police chief. "When the people on the bikes move along at a quick pace, it creates a hazard."

The trail, built on an abandoned railroad right of way, is paved but is 10-12 feet across, no wider than a single lane of a street or highway. Walkers and joggers share the trail, and complaints about speeding bicyclists led to the ordinance.

"Last year, there were two people who got knocked over by bicycles and ended up with at least one broken bone," said Mark Westermeier, head of the Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Department.

The parks department had a 20-mph rule on the trail, but that couldn't be enforced by police, and so the ordinance was passed, Westermeier said.

Police regularly patrol the trail and will look for speeders, Green said. Officers have the option of using the same sort of hand-held radar they mount on motorcycles for traffic control.

The speed limit applies only to the Hamilton County portion of the trail, which also extends south into Marion County.