HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-25 Public Comment - N. Schmutz - Bike path suggestionsFrom:Ann Tappan
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bike path suggestions
Date:Sunday, September 7, 2025 3:06:43 PM
Attachments:Bike path suggestions.msg
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RE: Bike Paths in Bozeman
I grew up riding a bike as a means of transportation around my
hometown. In 1998 I bought a business in Manhattan MT and I
commuted to work on a bike. I moved to Bozeman in 2024 and expected to ride around town much more to commute to errands,
appointments, etc. However, it’s not a very safe activity. I realized
that most bike paths are separated from cars with only a white
line. Also, there no clear signs how to cross the intersections.
Lots of bikers and scooters become freestylers, reckless and
hazards to all traffic due to the lack of clarity.
Bozeman did a great job creating bike paths giving us the look of a bike friendly town. A white line is one solution which is
hazardous to bicyclists. Cars and bikes should be separated
whenever possible.
The Bozeman Chronicle, in an August 15 article about the Fowler
expansion, mentioned that people have complained about bike
and pedestrian mixed-use paths. That problem can be solved by
extending the width of the paths and making them elevated or physically separated from car lanes whenever possible.
For example, the strip of land reserved for Ferguson Av seems to
be over 100 feet wide. Car lanes and 2 bike paths together
occupy about 43 feet total. The rest of the land is used for lawn and 2 sidewalks. I don’t see why bikes should share the road with
cars in that situation. If you double the width of the sidewalks they
can be used as pedestrian/bike mixed-use paths, separated from
cars.
Not all two wheeled vehicles are the same. E-bikes driving at
speeds up to 35 mph should be classified as motorbikes and be
licensed and insured. It doesn’t make any difference to an injured
pedestrian if they are hit by a gas or electric powered vehicle.
Changes like this will cost money. I suggest that there should be a
license fee for bikes, e-bikes and scooters. This would help offset
the cost of safe mixed-use paths for pedestrians and bikes. The separation of bikes and cars would benefit both riders and drivers.
I hope Bozeman will become a real bike friendly city, not a
pretend one.
Nick Schmutz
3155 Oliver St
Bozeman 59718