Tranquil trail a danger for hikers, bikers

Hikers and bikers need to keep their eyes peeled for hazards that could send them for a loop on the East Don Parkland trail.

The trail winds through ravines and towering trees while following the course of the nearby Don River, between Steeles and Sheppard Avenues. It’s a tranquil escape from the frenetic city, which makes it a well-travelled path.

But danger awaits those who don’t pay close enough attention to the way forward, particularly cyclists pedalling along at a rapid clip who fail to see two problems that could knock them off their bikes.

Vernon Paige sent me a note about them, saying they “threaten possibly very serious injury to pedestrians and cyclists.

“One is the rusty stub of a pipe protruding above the asphalt,” at the point where the trail meets the sidewalk on the west side of Leslie Street, south of Steeles Avenue, he said.

“I have witnessed pedestrians trip over this obstacle, fortunately without injury, and many near misses.

“I have also witnessed several near misses by cyclists turning onto the trail from Leslie Street.”

Less than 100 metres west of the tripping hazard, Paige said there’s a tree branch that overhangs the same path, “at exactly helmet-height for a moderately tall cyclist.

“The trail bends slightly south at this point so that the branch isn’t easily visible against a background of foliage, particularly to a cyclist moving at modest speed or faster.

I went there and found what looks like a round metal bracket for a bollard, to prevent vehicles from driving onto the path. Not only is it easy to trip over, anyone who hit it on a bike would be launched into orbit.

The nearby tree branch is perfectly positioned for a lights-out collision with the noggin of a cyclist who doesn’t see it in time.

STATUS: An email from the city’s vast communications department said: “Parks staff were dispatched today and have replaced the missing portion of the bollard (it was found in the nearby trees) and have pruned back the tree branch.” What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter