Reply to Recent KATY trail ride

I thought it best to mention a few words of caution for those who have never done a ride on the KATY trail. A week ago 5 of us left Clinton for St. Louis. I unfortunately only made it to Pilot Grove and decided to head home. My first "fall" came in Sedalia. I was too busy looking at the train depot and at the last moment realized that one of the gate posts was in the closed position. I missed the post but lost control of the bike on the gravel surface. I'm not sure why the gate posts are there in the first place, but it would be nice if during normal bike conditions that ALL the gate posts would be in the open position. While riding I noticed that some gate posts were both open, some only one side or the other and a few both were closed? Some of you might say it is my own fault but in my own defense, this was my first ride on the trail and I was too busy looking at the train depot and how cool it looked and not potential trail hazzards! My second fall came in Pilot Grove and that was just bad luck on my part. My front tire got down into deeper gravel on the bed and turned on me and for the second time down I went.
So for those who have never done a ride on KATY, I say best of luck, enjoy the many wonderful sights but be aware of the surface you are riding on and stay alert!!!!

Ironically, the gates are there for your protection...to prevent motor vehicles from driving on the trail. Falling/crashing/etc. seems to happen making a helmet a wise investment.

Thanks Trek...a helmet is a very good investment and I was also wearing bike gloves that I would highly recommend. Had I not been wearing gloves my palms would have been torn up as well.

It's always a good rule to be looking ahead...and not just at the ground right in front of your tire but a good 100 feet in front of you.

As far as the gates go, I've never understood their point. Half the gates a car could easily get through. If a car really wanted on the trail, there's plenty of farm roads (at least where I ride) where that's possible. All I see the gates as is a hindrance, especially the one's that are so tight that only one bicycle can get through safely.

A quick explanation on why the Katy Trail uses squeeze gates. Squeeze gates are located at most road crossings, to remind Katy users that they need to slow down or stop before crossing. At high-speed road crossings (i.e., state highways or other busy paved roads), both arms of the squeeze gate are kept in place, which forces Katy users to come to an almost complete stop. This is really just a reminder that users need to stop to look for oncoming vehicles before crossing. At low-speed crossings (i.e., some county and gravel roads), a squeeze gate may only have one arm. Again, they're just a reminder to slow down and look before crossing. You may notice squeeze gates with both arms intact in some areas that may not seem to need both -- in some trouble spots, we use the gates to prevent ATVs or other motorized vehicles from accessing the trail.

Thank you Dawn for taking the time to explain the rationale behind the gates. I just was too busy looking elsewhere and took a tumble! My next ride on the KATY will be different for sure!!!

Thank you, Dawn.

Quick question about the gates, i'm biking the trail late September...with a dog. He'll be in a carrier behind me of course...question is will the carrier fit through the gates?

Great Point!! If you are too busy looking at the scenery its probaby better to run into a closed
gate than to enter a busy roadway without looking.

Do you know if a baby carriage will fit through those gates?

I wouldn't think a baby carriage would be a problem at any of them, unless it's one of those wide ones for twins/triplets.

So, How much do they pay you to ride in this nearly 100 degree temperature?:) NOT my idea of a GOOD time!

I was called to pick up a rider who didn't make it through the first day because of the heat.

I understand they want to wait til school's out so the kids can ride (many of whom had to be sagged in as well), but I would think mid May or mid October would be MUCH more pleasant.

CJT, Unless you have a really big dog and a really big carrier, you should have no problem. They are not very narrow and the most narrow part is about 4 to 5 feet from the ground. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

The price for the ride was $250. I just finished riding the organized ride with the State Park group. This was one of the best vacations I have ever taken. The people on this ride were fantastic and the support team went out of their way to make sure everyone was taken care of in the heat. I do think yellow paint on the swing arms would be a good idea. It was HOT, but the memories of the ride will be with me for a long time.

Please tell me you are kidding about the yellow paint! Personal responsibility, in words of Martha Stewart, is a "good thing". I'm careful and I have still smacked a nuckle or two on those things, but that was my fault. I'm just sayin', please don't paint my "out there". Glad you enjoyed your trip, it sounds like fun.