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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 2 Volume II, Issue XIII 1 July 2000 Guest Commentary The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Staff: OGDEN CANYON SAFETY Deadly Accidents Just Waiting to Happen Shanna Francis Tel: 745-2688 Fax: 745-0062 Cell: 941-1957 E-Mail: shannafrancis@worldnet.att.net Jeannie Wendell Tel: 745-2879 Fax: 745-2879 E-Mail: crwendell@msn.com Barbie Sunderland Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists or letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of the owners and staff of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS. Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and the address of the writer submitted. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS reserves the right to edit or decline printing of any submissions. Announcements Sought As a community service, The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS will print local birth, wedding, obituary, anniversary and missionary farewell and homecoming Eagle Scout announcements free of charge. We invite residents to send their announcements to: The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 If you would like your submitted items returned, please send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS, while respecting all property received, will take no responsibility for lost or misplaced items. Please remember to keep a copy for yourself. Invitation for Articles The staff of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS welcomes the submission of articles by our readership. We invite you to submit local historical accounts or biographies, articles pertaining to contemporary issues, and/or other material that may be of interest to our readers. We also invite you to submit to the paper, or notify the staff of local events. Awards that have been earned by the reader, family members, neighbors or friends are also sought. While the staff of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS invites the submittal of information and articles, we reserve the right to select which material will be considered for publication. All material, to be considered, must be submitted with the full name, address and telephone nember of the person submitting the material. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS’ liability on account of errors in, or omissions of,advertising shall in no event exceed the amount of charges for the advertising omitted or the space occupied by the error. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. I am becoming increasingly concerned regarding all the various safety hazards within Ogden Canyon on any given weekday—multiplied by 10 on weekends. Upon entering the canyon, the game of “dodge-em” begins as you maneuver to miss people crossing the road to and from the hot springs and the waterfall. A mile further up the canyon rock climbers are parked along the “no shoulder” roadway donning gear to begin their climbing adventure in one of the narrowest stretches. Fishermen are casting into the Ogden River from a leaning or sitting position on the cement abutments at the worst hours of the day—as the zillion construction trucks that earlier went up the canyon are now returning to home base after a day’s work. Motorcyclists, without helmets, await an opportunity to pass any moving object. Canyon residents are desperately trying to turn into residential areas without getting tboned or rear-ended. “Driver training” vehicles maneuver the winding road with a “scared to death” driver behind the wheel. Vehicle operators are clutching cellular telephones, while trying to negotiate turns or sudden deceleration. School and UTA buses are picking up and dispatching their passengers. Vehicles are swerving to avoid fallen rocks, or, when unavoidable, are running over them. Bicyclists who lawfully travel the roadway are crazily competing for road and shoulder space. Talk about the need to drive defensively! My main focus is the safety of the bicyclists. I read Charles Trentelman’s recent Wasatch Rambler column in the Standard-Examiner regarding proper bicycling etiquette. His article addressed bicyclists competing for the same pathway space as hikers and walkers. It would seem that pathway bicyclists should find it much easier to practice bicycling etiquette than those attempting to out-cycle the onslaught of countless construction rigs, oversized motor homes, and ocean-sized boats and trailers that selfishly compete for the entire roadway and any shoul- Letters to the Editor Reader Responds to OVN June 1 Guest Commentary Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I faced it 20 years ago when moving from California to post, McCall’s Oregon 20 years ago. I guess the solution is for us all to stay where we were born. This type of thinking creates a lot of hate. Toni Powell Eden The deadline for the July 15th issue is July 5th, 2000. der space. I am aware that when it comes to the law, bicyclists have every right to use the roadway. What concerns me is, “at what price—a life?” I have two near-tragic stories to share with you in this regard. The canyon road narrows at several locations within the eight-mile stretch creating hazardous passing conditions whereby two vehicles and a bicyclist cannot safely pass. Also, twice a day the rising and setting sun hampers the driver’s vision causing them to literally steer blind and guess where the roadway lies. First story: My young son, who is an experienced bicyclist, was riding up the canyon toward home. All he remembers is that he and his hi-tech, reflector equipped, bicycle had just rounded the narrows at Peery Camp when he was hit from behind around his shoulder and neck area. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovered the weight of the bike was on him, his face full of gravel, his front teeth were missing, and no one was in sight to help him. Second Story: Almost the same scenario only the bicyclist was traveling down the canyon. A Weber State University student was riding on the same side as the river near the Peery Camp when a construction truck and a large motor home tried to pass each other. The motor home came so close to the bicyclist that the side mirror hit him in the shoulder area sending him airborne into and partially over the cement abutment. Contusions, bruises, and a damaged bike resulted. No one stopped to offer help. My guess is that the same thing caused the first bicyclist’s accident—he was side swiped by a side mirror from a passing oversized RV! What is the answer to safer cycling in the canyon? Placing a sign at each end of the canyon pleading for the safety of all who enter would help. The sign should warn bicyclists of the risk! A strong campaign for the enforcement of the speed limit, and weight and width limitations—is a must. I am forced to get as close to the side of the roadway as possible each day to avoid getting side swiped by a fast-moving construction truck with a trailer in tow, or a motor home the size of a house, or a boat so large it could cross the ocean without a hick-up. Recently, I saw parts of a blue vehicle strewn along the roadway. I have lived in Ogden Canyon for four years and have become increasingly aware of the lack of respect all motorists have for each others’ safety. The winding road gives some the feeling they are at the raceways; the truckers think they are “boss hog,” the boaters and RVR’s paid darn good money for their entertainment rigs and so think they can use the shortest route to their destination of fun; and the cyclists must have a death wish to even think they can stay in the competition. Both of the bicyclists I told you about said they will never again ride the canyon roads because they realize the risk on their lives is too great. My son’s pleasure ride cost $2,342.26 in bicycle and teeth repair, but the most important part of this tragedy was that he survived the mishap. I’m sure the parents of the other young man would second the need for strong safety measures for canyon transportation activities. Our sons were lucky enough to escape their canyon accidents. Other families have not been so fortunate. Steps need to be taken immediately to protect those who ride within the walls of Ogden Canyon. Join with us to correct the horrible driving conditions. Lorine C. Murtagh Chair, Ogden Canyon Club 526 Ogden Canyon Ogden, UT 84401 392-8743 Note: Lorine is serving a second term as Chair of the Ogden Canyon Club. She is Budget Coordinator and Emeriti Alumni Advisor for the Weber State University Alumni Relations Office. |