02 Dec Bay View Association a Valuable Partner in Trail Safety

The Little Traverse Wheelway can be a busy place in the summer season. As the crown jewel of our trail network, the Wheelway annually draws thousands of visitors who want to stride and ride along Lake Michigan’s shore.

That much traffic – though an economic boon for our rural communities – can lead to trail congestion and some unsafe situations. Bay View Association in Petoskey presents some unique challenges.

Though it only constitutes about a mile of the Wheelway, the Bay View segment narrows to a standard sidewalk, squeezing trail users together while presenting a host of distracting eye candy. Trail width is reduced by half as lake views and charming cottages with manicured lawns and colorful landscaping compete for trail users’ attention.

Often, when they should be watching the trail and traffic, they’re ogling the bay and Bay View’s charm.

Who can blame them? It is beautiful.

But, the safety concerns are real and, given the Wheelway’s growing popularity, warrant genuine concern.

Back in 2019, Bay View Association began collaborating with the Trails Council on ways to improve safety. Though complicated by Covid, the two groups nevertheless continued meeting, developing new signage and encouraging trail-side homeowners to trim foliage and forgo their own homemade Wheelway signs.

This year, those plans came to fruition as new, uniform signage appears throughout Bay View.

Pictured (l-r) on the Little Traverse Wheelway are Bay View Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Jake Porath, Trails Council Safety and Maintenance Director Bill Prall, Bay View Executive Director Megan Cappel DeWindt, and Bay View Operations Manager Patrick Kilkenny.

Trails Council Safety and Maintenance Director Bill Prall worked closely with Bay View Operations Manager Patrick Kilkenny and Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Jake Porath in developing a standardized signage plan that mitigates danger where the Wheelway intersects Bay View’s stub streets.

At each intersection, from Boulder Street to Division Street, yield signs now greet trail users, and bike route signs alert turning motorists. A larger cluster of signs near Boulder Street encourages yielding and warns trail users of the upcoming intersections.

“The Little Traverse Wheelway is a cherished asset in our region, and the safety of our residents and all who use the Wheelway is a top priority for the Bay View Association,” said Bay View Executive Director Megan Cappel DeWindt. “The new signs are now uniform, clear, and easy to recognize for bikers, pedestrians, and drivers alike. We are deeply grateful to the Trails Council for their expertise and support in making this project a success. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with local efforts that enhance the community for everyone.”

A stalwart trail safety proponent who’s worked on this project from the beginning, Bill Prall was equally excited. “Not only did we strengthen our relationship with Bay View, an important trail partner, we also made significant safety improvements on a very busy part of the Wheelway,” he said. “We are grateful for their enthusiasm and responsiveness.”