Letter: Walkers overrun by 'rude' cyclists, skateboarders on Palm Beach's Lake Trail

I walk my dogs along the Lake Trail at least four times a week. I’m so glad someone is finally paying attention to the conditions there. [''Popular public spots could close at night,'' June 19, 2022, Palm Beach Daily News]

The Lake Trail was designed to be a safe walking path. It is not. Speeding electric skateboards, electric bikes (and otherwise) coming at or behind us, two or three abreast, ride roughshod into the elderly, mothers with babies in carriages, [and] even those confined to wheelchairs.

Residents are confronted with rudeness and arrogance, the non-local interlopers making the trail hazardous.

As a senior citizen, I love Palm Beach because of the safety it affords. This is no longer true of the trail.

Walkers are bullied.  It is worse every time I take a walk. Skateboarders and cyclists pay no heed to the law that pedestrians always have the right-of-way.  

The 10 mph speed limit is posted yet completely ignored by snarly cyclists and skateboarders. When this is called to their attention, they curse us, they make vulgar gestures, ringing bells and buzzers violently, forcing the elderly to run for cover. You’d think they’re in-training for the Tour de France. When asked, one finds they’re invariably not residents of Palm Beach.

The path is for tax-paying Palm Beach residents, not for out-of-town interlopers who flaunt our laws, turning our beloved trail into the Indy 500.

With this worsening recession, we’ll have many more crimes from strangers.

Thanks for paying attention.