'It's sad that we need them': Newmarket paints Tom Taylor Trail to curb congestion concerns

Cyclist Rob Wallace said he welcomes the new directional lines the Town of Newmarket has painted on Tom Taylor Trail.

The municipality installed the solid yellow lines earlier this month, part of a larger effort to address concerns about crowding on the downtown trail. Pedestrians and cyclists alike have raised concerns about conflicts on the pathway as usage has increased. 

“It seems a lot of people are on the wrong side a lot of times. Sometimes people are walking side-by-each, yapping and just kind of oblivious they’re sharing the trail with bikers,” Wallace said. “People can’t walk three-abreast, three side-by-side, because it puts us on the grass a lot of times.”

Trail usage has been a source of concern for some in the community, particularly around speeding cyclists. About 52 per cent of trail users are cyclists, but some in the public have called for more bylaw enforcement, or even an outright ban on bikes on that trail.

The painted lines are part of an effort by the town to address the situation, along with signage and an awareness campaign. Councillor Bob Kwapis said the line-painting measure was delayed by supply-chain issues, but he hopes it can be effective.

“Widening of the trail is not an option,” Kwapis said on Facebook. “However, together with educational signage and visible markings, I am hopeful that it becomes clearer and easier on how to share the trail by everyone.”

Christina Reynolds lives near the trail and walks it every day. She said even though she has not had any conflicts with trail crowding herself, she has heard them.

“I do hear people getting yelled at for being on the wrong side or biking too fast,” she said.

But so far, Reynolds said she has noticed people are obeying the lines.

“It’s sad that we need them but it does get crowded on the path, so it does make sense,” she said. “People are actually following, staying on the side of the sidewalk you are supposed to with the lines. That’s obviously beneficial.”

The town is due to have a workshop on the matter in the fall. Councillors spoke about possibly reining in bicycle speeds in February, but the town has yet to implement anything in that direction. 

Wallace said he thinks riding the trail has been better. He said people get mad at cyclists, but awareness has to go both ways.

“They got to be cognizant that there’s bikes on the trail, too.”