Indianapolis cemetery puts brakes on cyclists

INDIANAPOLIS -- With scenic rolling hills, winding trails, smooth pavement and a tranquility only the dearly departed can provide, Crown Hill Cemetery has long been a favorite destination for bicyclists.

But a series of incidents, including a serious bicycling accident and disruptions of two graveside burials, have forced the cemetery to issue rules of the road for the first time.

The guidelines ban riding down one side of Crown Hill, the highest point in Marion County, impose a speed limit and close the cemetery on Veterans and Memorial days, the two busiest visiting days of the year.

Cemetery President Keith Norwalk said the guidelines are in place to respect the privacy of mourners and keep everyone safe. Though Edward “Cannonball” Baker — winner of the first motorized competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — is buried there, that doesn’t give cyclists license to barrel through private services, he said.

“We’ve always been welcoming of competitive cyclers and families, as well, and we’d like to keep it that way,” Norwalk said. “But after those few incidents, we decided we needed to make people accountable and protect everyone’s liability.”

The cemetery has 25 miles of paved road. Its shady lanes are popular on weekends with bicycling families and picnickers. But the main attraction for serious riders is the 842.2-foot-high hill topped by the grave of Indiana poet and author James Whitcomb Riley.

In February, however, a cyclist broke her collar bone and suffered a concussion when she crashed at the bottom of the hill. Norwalk said she is still in rehabilitation.

In two other instances, pairs of cyclists rode between parked cars lining the narrow roads during graveside ceremonies. One was at a mausoleum near the top of the hill and a mourner was brushed by the cyclist.

“I was there both times, and it was unbelievable to me,” Norwalk said. “I was absolutely astounded and humiliated.”

Norwalk said after the accident, he temporarily forbade riding up the hill and arranged meetings with the cycling group IndyCog. The two sides reached a compromise about a week ago. One agreement was that descent on the steepest side of the hill, the south, would be prohibited. Norwalk said the bottom of the hill is dangerous because the tall grave marker of former Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay blocks the view of the crossroad.

“There’s a blind spot that can obscure cars at that intersection,” he said. “The path down the north side of the hill is more gradual.”

IndyCog President Kevin Whited said the talks were delicate and he stressed to Norwalk that it would be a shame if the actions of a few reckless cyclists who bore through memorials ruined it for everyone.

“We thought it was lack of education and was something we could correct,” Whited said. “Some of these bicyclists don’t know they’re being jerks and we thought we could address that.”

The guidelines emphasize being courteous to the point of turning around when cyclists come upon cemetery visitors or mourners.

The guidelines also limit riders to groups of four and impose a speed limit of 24 mph.

Whited said the Central Indiana Biking Association has offered to print signs that Crown Hill can post. The organizations will also widely distribute the rules through social media.

Kevin McKinney, who rides through the cemetery about four days a week, said cyclists love to train by riding up the hill. The cemetery is popular for cyclists because there is little car traffic, the paths are tree-lined and cool and the scenery is excellent, he said.

“It’s just a beautiful place that is is safe enough that you can just meditate while you ride,” said McKinney, 57, the editor and publisher of Indianapolis alternative weekly NUVO.

Norwalk said he will consider lowering the speed limit to 15 to 18 mph. But McKinney said a limit that low would drive out the competitive cyclists.

McKinney said the other rules were reasonable. Though the competitive cyclists are highly skilled and don’t get in many accidents, some can be “arrogant” or disrespectful of the rights of others, he said.

Earlier this year, much of the Indianapolis Museum of Art grounds was declared off-limits to cyclists.