You’re not the only one enjoying the beautiful day, so stay to your side of the path and be alert and courteous to the other travelers. If you’re walking or running two or more abreast, be prepared to move aside for faster or oncoming travelers.

When you’re on a bicycle and approaching slower travelers from behind, call out your intention to pass them on the left so they’re not caught off guard.

When you’re on a bicycle, be sure to take everything you’ll need to fix a flat tire. Yours or someone else’s. I was once privileged to be the “Knight In Shining Spandex” to a young mother and child with a flat tire. They got home happy and we had a nice chat along the trail.

When you’re on a bicycle, on the Circle Trail or anywhere, always wear your Brain Bucket!

There are some cyclists who love to ride the trail as fast as they can. If you’re one of the speed demons be prepared for slower traffic in your path, and if you’re pedestrian mobile, be alert to fast moving cyclists sailing past you. They’re quiet and can be right next to you before you realize it!

We all love to have our favorite music playing when we’re exercising, but remember, you’re not the only one on the trail. Either leave one ear open to the world around you, or keep the tunes quiet enough that you can hear when someone calls out from behind that they’re about to pass you.

In case of emergency, you’ll want to call the Wichita Falls Fire Department as a First Responder and if you can give them a mile marker location they can find you much more quickly.

One of the prettiest parts of the Circle Trail is where it winds through Williams Park and then down along the Wichita River. While this is a very scenic part of the trail, it also has some blind curves. Stay on the right hand side of the path and be prepared to meet other travelers without warning.

The Circle Trail is very much pet friendly, just remember to pick up after your pet and keep it on a leash. If your pet is new to the trail, make sure to keep them under control when fast cyclists or runners go by, they sometimes want to chase and leashes can cause problems when stretched tightly across the trail.

The Wichita Falls Circle Trail is there for everyone and there’s no charge to use it, so get the kiddos outside and let them run and play to their heart’s content, or just get out and enjoy a walk, run or bicycle ride yourself.