DEL.ICIO.USIncidents on Silver Comet Trail rekindle safety issues
Authorities say crime is low on the 61.5 mile path to Alabama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Chris Dye of Cabbagetown has bicycled more than 500 miles on the Silver Comet Trail. He considers it safe but is cautious when he’s out for a ride.
Despite the recent arrests of three teenagers for two trail attacks in Paulding County this month, law enforcement officials say reports of crime are low. The trail is used by more than 2 million people a year.
PATH Foundation
For sections of the Silver Comet Trail that are secluded, signs give users a heads-up and some safety reminders.
[See safety tips below.]
“This was a big surprise,” said Ashley Henson, a deputy with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. “We primarily don’t have any problems out there. This was an isolated incident for the most part.”
The sheriff’s department patrols 20.4 miles of the Silver Comet Trail from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, Henson said.
In the last 20 months, the sheriff’s department has received 23 calls about the trail. Those calls include reports of trespassing and vandalism as well as crimes against people.
The Cobb County Police Department patrols 12 miles of the trail. Two incidents have been reported this year, said Sgt. Dana Pierce.
A man riding a bike was assaulted and in the other reported incident, a cyclist approached some men, sensed danger and rode away from them. Both incidents were solved with the arrest of two teenagers, Pierce said.
The most high profile crime associated with the trail was the July 2006 murder of 54-year-old Jennifer Ewing of Sandy Springs, a regular cyclist on the trail. Ewing’s body was found just before the 17.38-mile marker, about four miles into Paulding County. The man accused of her murder, convicted rapist Michael William Ledford, is scheduled to go on trial in April.
There was a drop in trail activity following Ewing’s murder, but it shortly increased, said Ed McBrayer, executive director of the PATH Foundation, which developed the trail.
“It actually made more people aware, and ridership and usage increased rather than decreased,” he said.
Safety is designed into the Silver Comet Trail.
The rest is up to people who hit the trail to bicycle or roller skate, run, jog or walk, ride horses or traverse in a wheelchair.
A landscape architect, Dye was introduced to the trail when he helped design a portion of it incorporating safety features established by the PATH Foundation.
Safety alert signs are posted at 25 sites along the 61.5-mile trail, reminding users to enter with a cellphone, trail buddy, water and sunscreen.
Dye carries a cellphone, his driver’s license and insurance card, his debit card or very little cash, water and sunscreen. He always cycles with friends and never after dark.
PATH design standards provide for 8- to 10-foot clear zones on each side of the trail, he said. Rest areas are spaced at quarter- and half-mile intervals. Sight lines are clear and there is good visibility on the trail at intersections.
Those measures make it difficult for criminals to hide easily and attack trail users, Dye said.
“My biggest thing is to tell people to be aware of their surroundings,” said Henson. “We don’t want people to be scared to go out there and use it.”
TAKE THESE PRECAUTIONS
Law enforcement and Silver Comet Trail users recommend these safety precautions on the path that runs 61.5 miles through Georgia from Cobb County to Alabama:
• Exercise with a buddy.
• Carry a quickly accessible cellphone.
• Have tear gas handy, not in a pack.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Lose the headphones.
• Never be on the trail after dark.
• Vary your routine.
• Tell someone your plans, and check in regularly.
• If you must exercise alone, consider taking along a dog.
• Use the trail at peak times, and stay near active areas.
• Before you go, lock valuables in your car trunk. Leave your wallet at home; carry a debit card or a small amount of cash, some form of identification and your insurance card.
• Trust your instincts and your eyes. If you sense or see anything suspicious, dial 911.
Services »
