The Riverwalk is one of the jewels in the crown of a revitalized Chattanooga. We are all blessed to live in a city that has such a strong commitment to outdoor activities, and the improvement in quality of life that these activities bring to us all. I am on the Riverwalk on a daily basis, either biking, running, or walking. During the time I've spent enjoying the Riverwalk I've met some wonderful people, both on two feet and two wheels. I've seen acts of courtesy and kindness that restore my faith in the citizens of Chattattanooga, but I've also seen my fair share of rude folks out there.
After reading the artice and all the comments above, I have to agree that the "bad apples" aren't so much a function of the biking or running/walking culture, as they are a mirror of our society at large. In the world today we are faced with an increasing number of people who spend more time thinking about themselves, and what they want, than they do thinking about the needs of others. This is sad, and leads me to point out an issue that none of the respondants has mentioned yet.
In my travels on the Riverwalk I've come across a large number of tourists. Without exception the tourists I've talked with marvel at the beauty of our city and the wonderful job we've done improving it. These people are our guests, and they are kind enough to visit and spend their money here, which benefits us all. Native Chattanoogans need to remember that we are ambassadors for our city when we're out there enjoying the Riverwalk. If we want to see our city succeed and continue to improve, we have a responsibility to extend "southern hospitality" to everyone we meet, as one never knows who lives here and who's a visitor.
So next time you're enjoying the Riverwalk, please be kind to your neighbor. If you're walking or running, be aware and stay to the right. If you're on a bike, pass on the left, make other's aware of your presence in advance, and slow down when passing slower traffic. And everyone, for God's sake, be courteous and say "Hi" and "Thank you". All of us who share the Riverwalk are united by a common bond, which is the joy of being outdoors in a beautiful setting. While I think there is some benefit to a line on the path, as a gentle reminder of the rules, in the final analysis the solution to this problem lies within our personal actions. So make the Riverwalk a better place by being kind and considerate, enjoy your walk, run, or ride, and then take that attitude out into the world at large. Therein lies true progress.
Banning bikes?
The Riverwalk is one of the jewels in the crown of a revitalized Chattanooga. We are all blessed to live in a city that has such a strong commitment to outdoor activities, and the improvement in quality of life that these activities bring to us all. I am on the Riverwalk on a daily basis, either biking, running, or walking. During the time I've spent enjoying the Riverwalk I've met some wonderful people, both on two feet and two wheels. I've seen acts of courtesy and kindness that restore my faith in the citizens of Chattattanooga, but I've also seen my fair share of rude folks out there.
After reading the artice and all the comments above, I have to agree that the "bad apples" aren't so much a function of the biking or running/walking culture, as they are a mirror of our society at large. In the world today we are faced with an increasing number of people who spend more time thinking about themselves, and what they want, than they do thinking about the needs of others. This is sad, and leads me to point out an issue that none of the respondants has mentioned yet.
In my travels on the Riverwalk I've come across a large number of tourists. Without exception the tourists I've talked with marvel at the beauty of our city and the wonderful job we've done improving it. These people are our guests, and they are kind enough to visit and spend their money here, which benefits us all. Native Chattanoogans need to remember that we are ambassadors for our city when we're out there enjoying the Riverwalk. If we want to see our city succeed and continue to improve, we have a responsibility to extend "southern hospitality" to everyone we meet, as one never knows who lives here and who's a visitor.
So next time you're enjoying the Riverwalk, please be kind to your neighbor. If you're walking or running, be aware and stay to the right. If you're on a bike, pass on the left, make other's aware of your presence in advance, and slow down when passing slower traffic. And everyone, for God's sake, be courteous and say "Hi" and "Thank you". All of us who share the Riverwalk are united by a common bond, which is the joy of being outdoors in a beautiful setting. While I think there is some benefit to a line on the path, as a gentle reminder of the rules, in the final analysis the solution to this problem lies within our personal actions. So make the Riverwalk a better place by being kind and considerate, enjoy your walk, run, or ride, and then take that attitude out into the world at large. Therein lies true progress.