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Trinity Trails security?


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#1 johnfwd

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 06:38 AM

An incident in which an undressed male on a bicycle attacked a female jogger along the Trinity Trails last Saturday evening got some media attention, including this S-T article by Domingo Ramirez, Jr.  The term "Saturday evening" is a bit misleading in terms of public perception possibly raising a security alarm about getting assaulted in darkness.  The incident occurred around 6:00 p.m., which is still daylight this time of year, at a point along the Trails west of Edwards Ranch.

 

Yet any story about a female jogger being assaulted usually raises security alarms.  I hope this doesn't result in an over-reaction in the way of too much police patrol or night-time lighting (lighting along the Trails south of downtown has increased in recent years on account of new residential and commercial developments).  I like the free and unfettered access that still exists along the Trinity Trails for bikers, pedestrians, and runners.

 

http://www.star-tele...e174009636.html



#2 Doohickie

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 07:40 AM

I think the fact that this is such big news points to the underlying security of the trails.  Crime can happen anywhere but generally doesn't.  When it does, there is stepped-up police presence to counteract both crime and the negative perception it brings to the trails.

 

There have been 3 or 4 incidents on the Trinity Trails since I started riding almost 10 years ago.  None that I can remember resulted in serious injury to the victims.  In contrast, there have been at least a half dozen shootings within a couple miles of my house.  The trails are a big part of the image of Fort Worth, but this and previous incidents should be kept in perspective.

 

There is a new Trail Ambassadors program getting off the ground; I wonder if that will provide some level of "Neighborhood Watch" for the trails?


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#3 hannerhan

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 10:07 AM

I hope this doesn't result in an over-reaction in the way of too much police patrol or night-time lighting (lighting along the Trails south of downtown has increased in recent years on account of new residential and commercial developments).  I like the free and unfettered access that still exists along the Trinity Trails for bikers, pedestrians, and runners.

 

I would welcome more police patrols on the trail.  I live directly on the trail and can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a policeman out there in the past 3 years.  As much as the foot/bike traffic has increased in the past decade, it only makes sense to me that they should have bike cops out there regularly.

 

Lighting is a different story...the last thing I'd want is my back yard lit up like a stadium at night.



#4 Doohickie

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 11:39 AM

Before they closed, Trinity Bicycles supplied a road bike to the FWPD for patrolling the trails (as opposed to the mountain bikes they use downtown... which are better at popping curbs).  It makes sense to use a road bike because it's easier and faster to ride over longer distances than with a mountain bike.  Maybe CCPD can spring for a few more of those.


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#5 JBB

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 11:49 AM

With regard to the incident on Saturday, I'm not sure that a larger police presence would have prevented it since the suspect was likely someone under the influence of something or not completely with it.

#6 Austin55

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Posted 21 September 2017 - 12:17 PM

Didn't the police buy several dirt bikes recently?

#7 bclaridge

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 06:18 PM

I had thought this incident happened near the new Clearfork development.  That is one of my favorite parts of the trails, and I have decided to steer clear of that area for a little while.  But it is more because of the heat we've been having than anything else.

 

Having some bike patrols might be beneficial, but I haven't heard too much over the years about issues with crime on the trail system.  A few incidents, yes, along with maybe the occasional car burglary at the trail heads.  Part of the issue with the news highlighting this incident might be due to the fact that it occurred in a nicer (and busier) portion of the trails, somewhere you would be less likely to expect something like this to happen, especially in broad daylight.  If something like this happened on the portions of the trails on the east side I doubt there would be as much attention drawn to this, sadly.  It's the same phenomenon that draws a lot of news attention to something like a murder happening in Southlake, for instance.


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#8 johnfwd

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Posted 09 November 2017 - 07:52 AM

The City Council heard a crime report on the Trinity Trails at its last meeting.  Story in FWBP.

 

http://www.fortworth...3239f17d98.html

 

As a frequent bike rider on the Trails I can appreciate the need for security...so long as it doesn't go to extremes.  Too much police surveillance could adversely affect the sense of freedom that both bicyclists and pedestrians enjoy when they embark on the Trails--particularly along those stretches that are not so urbanized.  And particularly if you venture out on the Trails very early in the morning or late at night.  For example, I hit the Trails very early in the morning, way before dawn, whenever I commute to my downtown office from my southwest-side home.  Sometime ago recently, early in the a.m., I would pass a cop car parked on a grassy area just south of the Trinity Park bridges.  What was annoying was the fact that the car had its bright lights on blinding me as I biked north on the Trails at that location.

 

Another potential concern:  .Am I going to be stopped for questioning by a police officer wondering why a bike rider should be out on the Trails at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning?  I hope it doesn't come to that.



#9 Doohickie

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Posted 09 November 2017 - 09:08 AM

The headlights are definitely a pain, but my experience with the FWPD along the Trinity has been pretty positive.  I think if you're just riding the trail at a good clip, well lit, they're not going to question you.  If you're a ninja and it looks like you're loitering or trying to avoid them, they're more likely to want to investigate.


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