A popular gravel path that leads out to the end of Picnic Point on the UW-Madison campus will soon be off limits to bicyclists.

The change from a shared-use path for both pedestrians and bikers to a pedestrians-only path will start on Saturday, May 28.

The reason for the change is safety, not only for people but for the natural resources.

"It is really in everyone's best interests," said Gary Brown, director of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at UW, in a Friday press release from the UW-Madison news bureau.

"There are many wonderful bicycle paths throughout the city for users to enjoy," Brown said. "We feel this new policy will help protect this fragile and important natural area on campus for years to come."

A committee looked at banning bicycle use on Picnic Point six years ago but voted to continue the dual use of the path, hoping riders would slow down and respect pedestrians.

Apparently that didn't happen, so the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee voted last month to ban bikes from the path.

Signage will be installed to remind path users it's only for pedestrians. More bike racks will be placed at the path's start so bicyclists can lock their bikes and walk to the point.

There are other bicycle paths in the preserve, including the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path from the Limnology Building to Shorewood Hills, and a paved path that goes through the woods from the Lakeshore Path to the intersection of Lake Mendota Drive and Eagle Heights Drive.