See that black tree over the Dave Clark Path? I didn’t, and it knocked me off the bike today, June 10, 2026.
My neck hurts and there are bruises in various places, but I don’t want to waste a minute complaining before warning everybody of a potentially deadly hazard on Albany’s Dave Clark Riverfront Path.
I learned of this dangerous place about 5:30 Wednesday evening. I was sailing along on my old mountain bike, riding west through the trail’s dark and tunnel-like dip near the entrance off Front Avenue, on the path’s east end.
BAM! Something hit me hard, on top of the head, or rather the crown of my helmet. It knocked me off the bike. I went sideways, into the fence on the right before landing on the concrete below.
After I untangled myself from the bike and determined that nothing was seriously broken, either on me or on the bike, I discovered what it was that conked me on the head.
There’s a deciduous tree there. I don’t know what kind; Google Photos thinks it’s a dwarf hackberry. Its thick branches that hang over the path. It looks like one downward-pointing branch has been cut off, but enough of it remains to snag any unwary passer-by that’s tall enough. Or that’s sitting on a bike.
Covered by vegetation and curved, that section of the trail is like a tunnel, and a dark tunnel at that.
I’ve long thought that a painted center line might keep bike riders going in opposite directions from colliding head-on in the curve, especially now that we are contending with motorized bikes.
I often worry about colliding with a speeding e-bike. But I never expected to be brought down by a killer tree overhead. (hh)
Here’s how dark that section of the path looks on a sunny afternoon in June.
Look at what a collision with a low branch will do to an old bike helmet.
Local bike lanes/paths have too many branches that are invisible at night. When the City trims them, it’s usually a minimal amount and in a couple weeks, the problem reappears.
The City has to quit expanding parks etc. if they don’t have the money to take care of them.
I am glad to hear that you weren’t seriously injured in your run in!
Oh wow Hasso, thank goodness you are okay.
Good that you were wearing a helmet!
Wow! Glad you’re okay, Hasso. Now notify the City so they can get their butt out there and take it out. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Your collision could have been “all she wrote,” Hasso. You need to reconsider some of your regular routes and avoid them. The City is not going to have the money to keep parks and paths maintained. The Council is the City and vice versa. You can’t rely on them. Any group of decision-makers who would ruin the Sr. Center and put in that ridiculous “piink brick” plaza should be written off as incompetent.
Sorry your candidates for Council haven’t won over the years. Oh well…
Typical, no ray we are not going to reelect you anytime soon we aren’t that desperate, yes we have a green council, but our city manager is greener, he doesn’t seem to care about educating our council, so we will run the city on a complaint basis only, so now that hasso has complained, and is ok from a bigger injury, the city will probably go out and really cut the tree branch down further, yes ray stay retired. Thanks hasso
I’m so glad you had a helmet on! Thanks for the warning. Take care, Hasso.
Dear Hasso,
I’m glad you’re not seriously hurt. That must have been a real shock to your body. Please be careful out there.
Better your helmet than bare head! Keep it as a trophy-as is… :-)
Unfortunately now you have to buy a new helmet maybe you should bill the city
We older people don’t see in the dark as well as the young city landscapers.
Prayers up for a pain-free recovery. So grateful you had your helmet on.
Warm hugs from Arizona!
Hey Hasso, come by; we can go there if you want?
I’ve got a bike and a chainsaw and I’m not afraid to use it… Pothole at the train tracks is fixed. But not the train engineer they’re still blowing their brains out all night long. Just the switcher of course. A landscape company bought the building on the corner. Hope that can hear their customers when they call them. They’re also painting that building. Would be nice to see you before I leave. I have tell the end of the month.
Thanks for what you do my friend. I’m glad you’re okay..
Ouch, so glad it wasn’t worse. We were just walking that trail on Tuesday but didn’t do the whole length of it so I’m not sure if we passed under this tree or not. Thank heavens for helmets, eh?
You had an angel on your shoulder that day Hasso.
That low bridge should be removed.
I am glad you escaped serious injury.
Another HAZZARD ZONE is the crossing on Ferry street and Water… beautifully designed new area but not pedestrian friendly… both sides of street are NOT CROSSWALKS… but are NOT LABELED as such. The far ( East side) crosswalk is constructed for level foot traffic… the West ( Left side) looks to be navigable but has uneven levels of toe stubbing impediments. It makes for a nasty fall when there are many passersby and the surface is not real visible. A SIGN IS NEEDED TO LABEL AS SUCH. A lawsuit is waiting to happen. Fortunately i didnt break any bones but if I had…
Good luck getting a hazard sign. I have taken some nasty spills on the bike on our wooden bridges during wet weather over the years and not one warning sign, not an inch of non-skid in spite of numerous contacts with parks dept.