City Explores Ways To Make Schuylkill River Trail Safer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia city council hearing Thursday took a look at ways to make the Schuylkill River Trail safer, in light of reports that runners and others using the trail have been harassed and, in at least one case, attacked.
USA Today named it the best urban trail in the country, but problems have been growing since the spring, when women -- like this runner -- started getting groped by teenage boys on bikes as they rode by:
"As inappropriate and horrible as that is, it was never something that made me fear for my safety, like what happened last week."
Last week, a man grabbed her from behind, "and he covered my mouth so I couldn't scream and so I bit his hand so he would let go."
She got away, but hasn't been back since. She came to the hearing to ask if the city could install cameras on the trail -- an idea that police endorsed, but warned would be costly to be effective.
Others suggested fixing broken lights and installing mile markers so police could more easily find victims who call 9-1-1. The runner, who wished not to be identified, says it would be sad if such a popular trail can't be used safely:
"What happened really shook me up. I'm hoping that meetings like this can help bring about some safety measures."
