A little rain was not the only thing to disappoint people who spent Monday afternoon at Two Rivers Park. There was also a big, spray-painted message that had cyclists and walkers talking about safety, and each other.
In large, orange letters, someone had spray-painted the words, “stay right walkers” onto the path on the Two Rivers Bridge. Its presence dismayed many of the people who walked or rode by it.
Our David Lippman shows us why the three words on the ground are a big deal.
“It’s pretty disgusting,” Karen Kesselring said. “It’s pretty nasty.”
Kesselring was one of many people who walked across the bridge Monday afternoon, despite the less-than-ideal weather. She said she visits the area at least once a week, either to walk, to ride her bike, or to kayak on the Arkansas River. “I feel it’s really safe, and I love the environment and seeing all the wildlife,” she explained.
“It’s a great spot because there’s no cars,” Brandon Thornton added. “You’re protected, and it’s just beautiful out there.”
But instead of admiring the view, people have looked at graffiti the last couple days. Aside from the warning to walkers, there were two other designs painted on the bridge in a similar color and style.
“If a biker did it, that’s really sad,” Kesselring stated, “because this is for everybody, and they have to just say, ‘to the left, to the right,’ and people usually move over.”
While the spray-painted message might seem like helpful advice, there are several official notices along the pathway that say the same thing. Kesselring said she had never seen any issues between riders and walkers, but Thornton claimed he had seen a handful of close calls.
“You know, as a cyclist, we could probably do a better job of, you know, yielding to the pedestrians,” he stated. “We go a lot faster, and this really isn’t a place to go fast. It’s not a place to set records, it’s really just a trail to get somewhere, and enjoy the trees and lake, and just the beautiful scenery.”
Thornton said some of the problems that arise between cyclists and pedestrians arise because one or the other will have headphones on, and the music they are listening to makes it harder to hear or notice the people around them.
Kesselring said both riders and walkers share the responsibility for each other’s safety. “I mean, I understand that, when you’re with a group of people, you’re gonna be a little wider than normal, like if you have a single person,” she explained. “But, the bikers, that’s all they have to say, is, ‘to your left,’ and most walkers will move over. So, you know, I don’t really see an issue with it.”
There are security cameras all around the park and on the bridge, but Cozetta Jones, a spokesperson for Pulaski County, said staff members were reviewing the footage, but since they did not have a narrow timeframe to work with, they had not yet discovered when the messages were painted, or by whom. Crews are scheduled to remove the graffiti on Tuesday.
The Arkansas River Trail Foundation is offering a $250 reward for help leading to a conviction of the tagger.
Thornton had an idea for the suspect’s next move: “We’ve got such a beautiful area. I appreciate people feeling they need to express themselves, but maybe get a bike, and express yourself out on the trail!”