Assaults, harassment on Schuylkill Banks cause alarm

Recent reports of women being assaulted and harassed along the Schuylkill Banks are causing alarm among Philadelphia runners and prompted the nonprofit that oversees the trail to encourage victims to report incidents to authorities.

The Schuylkill Banks Development Corp. posted messages on its website and social media accounts Thursday, urging those who witness or experience incidents on the popular running and cycling trail to contact police.

"A call from the victim or a direct witness as the incident is happening gives police the best chance of catching the assailant," the message says.

Discussion about the incidents took off after a woman posted Wednesday night on the Run215 Facebook page, a group created for Philadelphia's running community, about an incident she witnessed.

The woman wrote that she saw about five male teenagers riding their bicycles on the Schuylkill trail near the Race Street entrance, surrounding a female runner who looked "terrified." After the group of teenagers took off, the runner said the teens harassed her, slapped her butt and cornered her with their bikes.

In the comments to the post, other runners wrote that they recognized the group of teens, recounting seeing the group purposefully swerve into or try to knock over runners, smack women as they ride past and make lewd comments.

The Schuylkill Banks Development Corporation's post said police will increase their presence on the trail in response to the incidents.

The nonprofit noted that it would also like to know about incidents on the banks, but "we suggest that people first contact the police, by calling 911 at the scene of the crime and giving a detailed description."

The Schuylkill River Trail is an extremely popular route for runners, walkers and cyclists, and was named the best urban trail in the nation this summer in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice poll.