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| Attacks lead to more patrols on Schuylkill bike path
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| The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By KEITH PHUCAS, Staff Writer
NORRISTOWN — After recent reports that bicyclists were assaulted on the Schuylkill River Trail, Norristown police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department have stepped up patrols there.
According to Sheriff John P. Durante, deputies on motorcycles patrol the bike path routinely since he received word that a bicyclist was hit with a rock, and a second cyclist was reportedly punched while riding on the path.
“One assault is one too many,” Durante said.
Norristown police officers now patrol the river trail more frequently, said Norristown police Chief Russell Bono.
“We’ve increased patrols when (police) are available,” he said.
Last week, Montgomery County Cycling Committee members met with Bono, Durante and Steve Nelson, the county’s director of policy, at One Montgomery Plaza to discuss the recent incidents.
A woman cyclist told officials she noticed six people on the path staring at her as she rode near Haws Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on a recent Tuesday.
As she reached their position, they struck her — one punching her in the face. The woman immediately rode to the Transportation Center and called 911.
Nine such incidents have been reported along the trail in the past three years, according to local authorities; however, at least one cycling club member claimed that such incidents were "not uncommon," though most likely went unreported.
On Tuesday, Bono said most of these attacks he was aware of occurred on the trail between Haws Avenue and West Lafayette Street.
"It's juveniles creating the mischief," he said. "But we don't want anyone to be attacked."
Durante told the biking group that officials were not able to monitor the entire path at all times.
Bono noted that he was hearing of most of these incidents for the first time and asked that the cyclists immediately report to police when attacks occur. A Web site where cyclists can report incidents is in the works.
Police have not arrested any suspects for the bike path attacks, but officials continue to investigate the reports.
"The Montgomery County Commissioners want everyone to enjoy those trails and be safe," Durante said. "I myself have been walking on the trail on the weekend."
The sheriff said Norristown police stepped up enforcement efforts have been "super."
Currently, the Schuylkill River Trail runs for more than 20 miles along the Schuylkill River from the Manayunk section of Philadelphia to Phoenixville.
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