Indy’s Monon Trail is one of the city’s standout features, offering miles of scenic trail for walkers, runners, bicyclists, and rollerbladers alike, but a few commonsense safety tips can go a long way toward making sure your time on the trail is as enjoyable as possible. Following are ten safety tips for Monon Trail users.
- Maybe, like me, you grew up in the good ol' days before helmets were considered standard equipment for amateur sports enthusiasts, or maybe you always hated wearing that bike helmet Mom insisted on when you were a kid. Either way, it’s important to play it safe. Helmets for biking, skating, and the like aren’t just a fashion statement, and Mom was right. If you’re engaging in any sport where the potential exists to fall (no matter how skilled you may be), head protection is essential. The Monon trail can get crowded, and you never know what other obstacles may appear in your path - one biker reportedly collided with a deer on the trail that seemed to come out of nowhere. Other protective gear, like knee and elbow pads, is a plus, too.
- Don’t walk the trail alone, especially after dark. While the Monon Trail seems relatively safe, it does run through the heart of a major city. Be smart, and don’t make yourself an easy target for would-be assailants.
- Always carry water with you. Water is available at the 65th and 96th street trailheads, and there are some restaurants along the way, but the distance between them can seem mighty long when you’re dying for a drink. Dehydration is no fun.
- Okay, so this one may seem obvious, but it’s worth saying again: Always look both ways before you cross a street. Pedestrians (and bikers, skaters, etc.) may have the right-of-way, but you can’t always count on drivers to stop at the crossings. Look before you leap (or cross, as the case may be).
- Dress for the weather. Remember, Indiana weather can change in a heartbeat. Even though the National Weather Service forecast said there was a 90% chance of rain and thunderstorms today, for example, I thought otherwise when I awoke this morning and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Yet those clouds did indeed roll in, in a matter of minutes. And that’s not taking into account all the times the weather forecasts are wrong! Your adventure on the trail is less likely to be spoiled by Mother Nature when you’re prepared for the worst.
- Traffic on the Monon Trail naturally picks up as the weather gets warmer, and in the dog days of summer, it can be mighty warm indeed. You may not be bothered by the heat, particularly if you’re in good physical shape, but keep in mind that if you take your dog with you on the trail, he or she may not fare quite as well. Don’t overexert your pets, and remember that rule #3 above applies to them, too. Take extra water for Fido.
- Carry some pocket change with you. Then you won’t have to be envious of those who stop to indulge in a big gulp of lemonade or a double-scoop ice cream cone along the way. Instead, you can join them.
- Check the Web site to make sure the trail is open before you depart.
- If you’re biking, follow basic bicycling rules of the road.
- Be courteous. The Monon Trail is no place for road rage. Be patient with those who may be taking the trail at a more leisurely pace than you’d prefer or may be handicapped by children in tow or a disability. Remember, you’re supposed to be having fun!