A new stop sign on Brandy Brook Road in Saranac Lake. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

The Adirondack Rail Trail has been an enormous success. Seeing people riding their bikes, running and strolling with children and pets has been wonderful. I love new businesses popping up and established businesses expanding with the opportunity. I have not biked the trail yet but have walked the various Saranac Lake and Lake Placid village sections. It is a lovely experience to walk along the paved pathways in Saranac Lake, which are easily accessible by family members with limited mobility.

Though the trail continues to expand, one recent addition that worries me is a street stop sign on Brandy Brook Road, just before the rail trail crossing. Previously, there have only been street stop signs on the north (Pine Street) and south sides (Pine Street/McKenzie Pond Road) of the T-intersection, with drivers on Brandy Brook having the right of way. I mention street signs because each segment of the rail trail has its own stop sign warning bicyclists and trail users to stop at the intersection. This T-shaped intersection now has a five-way stop, three street stop signs and two trail stop signs.

Another layer of frustration is driving through town and slamming on car breaks because a bicyclist decides to run the trail stop sign. I had slowed down for a deer near the Pine Street/Fawn Street crossing, which is the only reason I saw the cyclist approaching on my right. The cyclist didn’t even pause; he just glanced to the right, gave me a wave on his left and continued biking across the road to the other side of the road. I also saw cyclists running the stop sign at the Brandy Brook intersection. Not every cyclist broke the rules. There were plenty of trail users following the rules of the road.

The Adirondack Rail Trail website states, “All trail users are required to stop at road crossings. Vehicles must yield the right of way to pedestrians on crosswalks (including cyclists walking their bicycles). Other non-pedestrian (cyclists and snowmobilers) are required to yield the right away to vehicles on the road.” The New York state Department of Transportation states the same laws that apply to motor vehicle operations, with some obvious exceptions and special rules, apply to cyclists.

This third road stop sign is going to give more cyclists a false sense of security. Will trail users assume there are road stop signs giving trail users the right away at each crossing instead of adhering to the existing trail stop signs?

Another issue with this tangled intersection is that if the responsibility is now on the motorist, there is a significant blind spot for drivers at the McKenzie Pond Road stop sign turning onto Brandy Brook Road. The trail on the driver’s left side is obstructed by buildings and foliage, forcing the driver to enter the intersection to check for approaching cyclists.

Perhaps more signage is necessary outlining trail road-crossing rules? Though I wonder if it would do any good. A red stop sign means the same thing in most countries. It feels that Saranac Lake is designing its version of the Route 9/73 Dysfunction Junction intersection in New Russia, near the Northway.

I don’t want to see anyone hurt, and I certainly don’t want to be responsible for hurting another person. Please mind the rules of the road.