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BPAC approves pilot striping for new Tierra Contenta trail after safety discussion
Summary
After public comment about aggressive bicyclists on the Santa Fe River Trail, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee approved a pilot striping project and reviewed proposed trail signage intended to clarify trail etiquette and reduce conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee voted to approve a pilot striping project on the newly constructed Tierra Contenta (Acequia) Trail following public concerns about fast bicyclists and near-miss incidents on multiuse trails.
At the start of public comment, a long-time Santa Fe resident said she has used the Santa Fe River Trail for 30 years and described a recent increase in aggressive cyclists who “almost knock you over,” recounting two near misses in the past two weeks and urging stronger measures than small signs (Resident).
Chandler Moore, who presented the committee’s proposed sign design, said the draft focuses on three priorities: “bikes yield to pedestrians,” “slow down, give warning, pass on the left,” and “pedestrians stay to the right.” Moore said the intent is an easy-to-read, community-minded message for all trail users.
Members and public commenters questioned whether such language is legally enforceable. Laura Long flagged that the draft’s phrasing reads as advisory while the city’s legal requirements (leash laws and other codes) are firm, asking whether the signs would have any enforcement power (Laura Long). Committee members confirmed there is no multiuse-trail speed limit in city code; the sidewalk ebike speed limit is 10 mph, but trails are not classified as sidewalks.
Captain Ramirez of the Santa Fe Police Department described an expanding bike team — “one sergeant and four bike members” in the near term — intended to provide more coverage but acknowledged patrols cannot be everywhere at once. Ramirez said the department is testing ebike training and plans to add ebikes to the team to increase range and endurance on patrols.
Committee discussion emphasized design choices to improve comprehension: larger fonts, visual cues rather than long text, pavement markings, and a pilot center stripe on the Tierra Contenta trail to guide expected user flows. Staff said a consultant for the Acequia/Tierra Contenta project indicated striping is feasible and that the city has extra funding available for the simple striping work.
After discussion, Chandler moved and a member seconded a motion to approve striping of the Tierra Contenta (Acequia) Trail as a pilot project. The committee conducted a roll-call vote and the motion passed; the chair announced the motion passed and staff said they would proceed with implementation and follow up on details about signage, stripe design and longevity.
What’s next: staff will coordinate stripe design, finalize sign artwork (subcommittee to refine legibility and visual cues), and report back on implementation timing and any enforcement guidance. The committee also discussed additional options such as pavement legends and an educational outreach push tied to the trail’s grand opening planned for Aug. 27.
Sources: public comment and committee discussion at the BPAC July 9 meeting. Quotes and attributions come from meeting participants as listed in the committee record.
