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‘Very scary’: Bicycle store owner worried after cars seen driving on bike path in front of business

ORLANDO, Fla. — Seasoned bicyclist Brett Hauke frequently comes face-to-face with cars on his way into work, because drivers are using a bike path at the corner of Colonial Drive and Baldwin Lake Lane to cut corners and avoid traffic.

“It’s just very scary, very dangerous,” Hauke said. “And I’m just hoping that talking to you will shed some light and hopefully get something done here.”

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Hauke manages Elite Bikes Orlando at the same corner, and said cars on the path have become a hazard to his customers who rent bikes or test drive them before buying.

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“I had a mother with her handicapped … son on a bicycle tandem, and was head-on looking at a car coming down this bike path,” Hauke said.

Just a few months ago, the city actually put up signs that say “no motor vehicles,” But Hauke said it hasn’t made a bit of a difference, and part of the problem could be yellow markings on the ground and a stop sign that might confuse people, leading them to believe the bike path is actually a road.

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Hauke said he’s been asking the city and county for help because it’s on county property, but the city installed the path.

He said he wants to see concrete poles installed so it won’t be possible for cars to get through.

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.