Besides closing park bike paths at dark for the safety of cyclists, the Montgomery County Park Police have taken another interesting approach to promoting cyclist and pedestrian safety.

This mobile variable message display board has been placed directly on the Sligo Creek Trail near Silver Spring. It’s message: “Drive Safely / Crosswalk Ahead / Share the Road.” Well, we wouldn’t have to share the road if Park Police didn’t block the trail with a sign, now would we?

Of course, as a cyclist, I appreciate that the Park Police are encouraging drivers to be on their best behavior. Their hearts are in the right place, but their effort is a bit … misplaced.

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Tagged: bicycling, bike trails, maryland, montgomery, montgomery county, parks, police, public safety, public spaces

Matt Johnson has lived in the Washington area since 2007. He has a Master’s in Planning from the University of Maryland and a BS in Public Policy from Georgia Tech. He lives in Dupont Circle. He’s a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and is an employee of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. His views are his own and do not represent those of his employer.