Cedar River Trail plan to go to council

A plan to address safety issues on the Cedar River Trail and city streets for bike riders and pedestrians will go before the full City Council on Monday.

The council, meeting as the Committee of the Whole last Monday, heard a final update on changes to city ordinances that govern the trail and to etiquette rules.

With warmer weather nearing, the council wants to act quickly on the safety plan. So it will have a first and second reading of the ordinance at 7 p.m. Monday in its chambers on the seventh floor of City Hall.

With council approval, the speed limit on the trail will drop from 15 mph to 10 mph starting at South 149th Street at Ron Regis Park to Lake Washington. There are also dismount zones on the trail and spots where passing is not allowed.

Violations of the speed limit or failure to dismount could result in a $101 citation.

The intense scrutiny of trail rules and etiquette comes following the death of Velda Mapelli, who was hit by a bike rider in April and died the next day.