10 Simple Commandments of the Boise Greenbelt That Everyone Should Follow
When you think of all the things that make the city of Boise special, the Greenbelt is near the top of the list! As the city grows, more and more people are using it. They may not know these unwritten (and written) rules or could benefit from a refresher course.
The Greenbelt celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2019, which means that for more than half-a-century people living in and visiting Boise have gotten to enjoy the 25-mile-tree-lined path along both sides of the Boise River. It’s a resource that’s truly gotten better with age. Over the years, more sections of paths were added to connect newer parks like Marianne Willams Park (2013) and Esther Simplot Park (2016.) More and more restaurants and places to stop along the way have popped up too!
There are so many ways to enjoy the Greenbelt: walking, running, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, riding an eScooter. That makes it the perfect place to escape to for relaxation, exercise or just for getting from Point A to Point B.
We’d like to say that 90% of the time people using the Boise Greenbelt are courteous and kind to each other. (There’s really nothing better on a day where you feel like you’re on the struggle bus during a run and someone walking their dog gives you a wave and says “Keep up the good work!”) The other 10% of the time, there are folks engaging in rude behavior that can really ruin the experience.
We’d love to see that number shrink even smaller, so we put together the unofficial “10 Commandments of the Boise Greenbelt that Everyone Should Know and Follow.” Sticking to these makes the Greenbelt a pleasant place for everyone to be!
10 Commandments of the Boise River Greenbelt Everyone Should Follow
Some of these are actual rules put in place by the city. Others are just common courtesies to fellow Greenbelt users!
1. Thou Shalt Announce “On Your Left”
What’s great about the Boise Greenbelt is that there are a number of activities you can enjoy on the pathway. Running, walking, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, riding an e-scooter…and depending on which one you’re doing you may be moving faster than others. It’s cool to pass slower-moving traffic. Just do those people a solid and let them know you’re passing them on the inside by yelling “On Your Left” or ringing a bike bell. We’re big fans of folks who will go the extra mile by saying something like “On Your Left. 4 bikes” so we know how long the bike parade coming around us is!
2. Thou Shalt Watch Where You Spit
Spit happens. Sometimes for no reason at all. Sometimes because you unexpectedly swallowed a bug. It’s only natural for you to want to get it out of your body. Just be aware of the people around you before you hock a loogie. No one wants to get hit by that. The same goes for snot rockets. (You former track and field athletes know EXACTLY what we’re walking about.)
3. Thou Shalt Not Block the Bridges
Earlier this year, we wrote an article about another fun pastime that often comes along the same time that Boise River Float season begins - bridge jumping. As long as you’re doing your best to stay 50 feet away from floaters when you splash down, have at it! But PLEASE stop blocking the bridges while you wait between jumps.
This author happens to be a runner and will tell you there is nothing worse than coming to the Baybrook Court Bridge on a hot day and not being able to cross it because of bridge jumpers who have no spatial awareness whatsoever. Just this week, we had to yell “excuse me” loudly to try to get the jumpers to make a lane. They just stared at us like we were the problem.
Nope. We’re not the problem. There’s a section of Boise City Code about activities prohibited on or around the Boise River addressing the issue:
“Obstruct the pathway, bicycle lane, sidewalk or roadway of any bridge in the City or cause the flow or movement of pedestrians, bicycles or vehicles to be obstructed in the passage across a bridge, including the immediate area surrounding the access to the bridge. "Obstruct" means to stand more than two (2) persons deep along the railing or side of any bridge or along the side of any bridge accessway. Alternatively, "obstruct" means to occupy all or such portion of the path, lane, sidewalk, or road, as to block or delay more than the momentarily safe passage of another person or vehicle using the path, lane, sidewalk or road lawfully and carefully.”
We’re sure that BPD bicycle officers will give you a nice warning to keep the path clear when they roll through, but if you become enough of an issue you could be cited with an infraction carrying a $100-$300 fine.
4. Thou Shalt Keep Your Dogs on a Leash
We’re sure your doggo is well-behaved. They’d never leave your side. Until something spooks them and they go running in front of a bike or between someone’s legs. The Boise Greenbelt is a “Dog On Leash” area. Ridge to Rivers says that an off-leash violation in the City of Boise will cost you an $81.50 fine. But hey…luckily the city has a link that’s easy to access on their website to pay it.
5. Thou Shalt Control That Leash
Did you know that according to Boise City Code, your dog’s leash shouldn’t exceed eight feet in length within 250’ feet of the Greenbelt? They’re allowed to be retractable, as long as they’re not longer than 8 feet. If your dog gets that far ahead of you, DON’T let their leash extend the width of the path.
6. Thou Shalt Throw Your Trash Away Properly
One of the comments that you hear when people visit Boise is “I can’t believe how clean this city is.” Normally, they’re talking about Downtown Boise but we like seeing a clean Boise Greenbelt too! Don’t toss your trash on the side of it. Water bottles. Food. Plastic bags. Those little gel packs that runners use on long runs. There are plenty of trash cans along the Greenbelt. Hang onto your junk until you come across one.
7. That Shalt Retain a Reasonable Speed
There’s technically no posted speed limit on the Greenbelt, so Parks and Rec ask you to ride at a speed that’s reasonable for the safety of pedestrians. In some old news articles, they suggest 20 mph or less. E-bikes that go faster than 28 miles an hour are banned from the Greenbelt. We know that some pedestrians have their music so loud that they may not hear you coming, but even if they don’t or are using bone-conducting headphones that allow them to hear both their music and their surroundings…it can be hard to hear someone coming when they come up on you that quickly!
In the summer of 2022, a bicyclist traveling a high speed ran into a child, causing the child to tumble a few times and suffer a concussion. Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way on the Greenbelt, so be courteous to them!
8. Thou Shalt Not Harass the Geese
Greenbelt geese are jerks. We get it. They hiss at you. They poop all over the path. But Boise City Code prohibits YOU from being a jerk back to them. That section of the code prohibits you from hunting, molesting, harming, frightening, killing, trapping, chasing, teasing, annoying, feeding or shooting/throwing objects at wildlife on the Greenbelt…including the geese. The penalty for violating any part of this section of the code is a misdemeanor unless otherwise specified.
9. Thou Shalt Not Smoke On the Greenbelt
A reader with asthma was very adamant about this one. We don’t have asthma, but we don’t appreciate it while we’re out for a run either. Smoking and vaping are not allowed within 20 feet of the Greenbelt. They make that pretty clear by posting signs at least every two miles on the part of the Greenbelt that the City of Boise maintains. If you’re busted, you can face infraction fines of $100-$300.
10. Thou Shalt Not Urinate Where We Can See You
When nature calls, sometimes you want to respond as soon as possible so you don’t have an accident. These bathroom breaks don’t always come near a public park or one of the restaurants/stores along the path, so you decide pop-a-squat/relieve yourself a few steps from the path. No one’s judging you, but no one wants to see that either! Public urination is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in the Ada County Jail or a combination of jail time and a fine.
Read More: Boise Greenbelt Rules and Etiquette | https://liteonline.com/greenbelt-rules-2023/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
