12 Nov Bill Prall’s Push for More Wheelway Safety Bears Fruit

Trails Council Safety & Maintenance Director Bill Prall worked with Bear Creek Township and MDOT for eight years to get safety improvements on a short, but crucial section of the Little Traverse Wheelway.

This year, he got some of what he’s been asking for. Between the Trails Council and Petoskey State Park, Bill asked for and received two safety improvements: plastic delineator posts and double-line striping. Both improve safety in Wheelway’s road shoulder section by better defining the the road/trail divide.

“I think the posts changed that very dangerous section of the Wheelway dramatically,” Bill said. “The motorists didn’t hang over onto the shoulder and the trail users seemed far more comfortable, less afraid, and much safer. You could see it in their casual cycling faces.”

The pavement lining still isn’t right, according to Bill. But, he said MDOT would repair it.

Bill is still looking for long-term safety solutions in that area, arguably the Wheelway’s most perilous.

In this recent photo, Bill is shown removing the delineator posts at season’s end.

He also worked with several business owners along the Wheelway, installing new safety signage and adding traffic cones to further alert trail users and motorists at dangerous intersections.

If you’d like to contribute to Bill’s maintenance fund, please click here.