Bike/Walking Path Courtesy/Safety

[joss fisch]

When coming up on someone moving slower, especially if on a bicycle, it is courteous as well as safe, to give a shout out. People running as well. Here's an example:

"Hey coming up behind you" or if on bike "Passing on the left".

I have a less than 10% experience with people doing that. Think it's something that most would do but just aren't taught that they should.

Would appreciate if cyclists, walkers and runners would.

 

[alarson]

Maybe its where you're at i guess, but whenever i'm out walking on the trails, 90% of bikers will call out an 'on your left' before they pass me.

 

[cyclonedave25]

On Chicago's lake shore trail, it's dog eat dog. If its busy and the pass might be a tight squeeze, the majority of bikers will either give out a "left" call or ding a bell. If its wide open and nobody else around or oncoming, it's rare for a biker to say anything. And it's definitely rare for bikers out here to say anything to runners/walkers, again unless it's a really busy section of the trail. (probably because you would be saying "on your left" nearly nonstop.)

I am glad Chicago is building 2 separate trails for the bikers and the walkers/runners, which run parallel to each other. It's really helped with congestion as it can be insanely packed on the weekends and evenings, especially down by the Navy Pier, North Ave beach, and Millennium Park.

 

[joss fisch]

Maybe its where you're at i guess, but whenever i'm out walking on the trails, 90% of bikers will call out an 'on your left' before they pass me.

thats encouraging to hear. I understand when it's real busy it's not practical, just meant that solo stretch when you don't think anyone's around and they come zooming by

 

[NWICY]

Some of the douchiest bikers I've seen are on the High Trestle Trail down by Ankeny. Lance Armstrong wannabes going way faster than is safe around families/ little kids out walking and on little kid bikes. If you think your need to road race take it out on the county roads and let it fly.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Most runners and walkers have headphones in anyway. On most trails it’s usually either open enough to just cruise by safely or it’s so busy that you’re waiting to pass and everyone is pretty aware of the situation.

Plus bike trails are WAYYYYYYY wider than people think. It’s kind of like Iowans and waiting in line: TIGHTEN IT UP.

 

[chuckd4735]

Most runners and walkers have headphones in anyway. On most trails it’s usually either open enough to just cruise by safely or it’s so busy that you’re waiting to pass and everyone is pretty aware of the situation.

Plus bike trails are WAYYYYYYY wider than people think. It’s kind of like Iowans and waiting in line: TIGHTEN IT UP.

It's not so much that I almost collide with other bikers when getting passed, it's that it startles me so much I about fall over.

 

[Gunnerclone]

It's not so much that I almost collide with other bikers when getting passed, it's that it startles me so much I about fall over.

Randy? Is that you?

 

[SpokaneCY]

When coming up on someone moving slower, especially if on a bicycle, it is courteous as well as safe, to give a shout out. People running as well. Here's an example:

"Hey coming up behind you" or if on bike "Passing on the left".

I have a less than 10% experience with people doing that. Think it's something that most would do but just aren't taught that they should.

Would appreciate if cyclists, walkers and runners would.

Rare in Spokane. Recently a lady and her friend were meandering across the trail - taking the whole thing - when a biker (going way too fast) said something cute that HE thought would get her attention. She turned the exact wrong way and they collided and she's been a ***** from hell trying to sue, trying to get him arrested, etc... Biker was a biker jerk sort of fellow, and she's just a special human being. Both way in the wrong but neither have enough dignity to admit fault and get on with lives.

Oh - and MANY trail walkers/runners have earbuds on/in...

 

[CycloneErik]

Maybe its where you're at i guess, but whenever i'm out walking on the trails, 90% of bikers will call out an 'on your left' before they pass me.

You're outwalking 10% of the bikes?

 

[DeereClone]

I always call out "on your left" and most people on the trails around me do the same - there are obviously a few exceptions to this.

To the crowd that doesn't call out because the walker has ear buds in - why not just call out anyway? I would guess 75% of the time the walker can still hear me over their buds and moves over a bit, and it causes no harm to the biker to yell out just to be on the safe side.

 

[JP4CY]

Some of the douchiest bikers I've seen are on the High Trestle Trail down by Ankeny. Lance Armstrong wannabes going way faster than is safe around families/ little kids out walking and on little kid bikes. If you think your need to road race take it out on the county roads and let it fly.

Then you'll have drivers ******** about why bikers are on the road when there is a perfectly good trail their taxes pay for (when in reality a ton of the money comes from bike orientated donations).

 

[Gunnerclone]

I always call out "on your left" and most people on the trails around me do the same - there are obviously a few exceptions to this.

To the crowd that doesn't call out because the walker has ear buds in - why not just call out anyway? I would guess 75% of the time the walker can still hear me over their buds and moves over a bit, and it causes no harm to the biker to yell out just to be on the safe side.

It’s really not the earbud people that are the problem. They usually stick tight to their line and are alone. It’s the roving packs of fupas with yoga pants ladies going five wide on the trail cackling with each other at a near standstill that could barely be called a “walk”and you can’t figure out which way to call and if you do call out there’s a good chance that the two on the right will go to their left and the other 3 will jump to the right.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Then you'll have drivers ******** about why bikers are on the road when there is a perfectly good trail their taxes pay for (when in reality a ton of the money comes from bike orientated donations).

Since moving to a larger city from Des Moines drivers here are WAY more in tune with bikes on the roads than in Des Moines. You can’t really drive without having a biker in your view somewhere unless you are on the freeway or way out in the burbs.

 

[DeereClone]

It’s really not the earbud people that are the problem. They usually stick tight to their line and are alone. It’s the roving packs of fupas with yoga pants ladies going five wide on the trail cackling with each other at a near standstill that could barely be called a “walk”and you can’t figure out which way to call and if you do call out there’s a good chance that the two on the right will go to their left and the other 3 will jump to the right.

Point taken. Great post.

 

[Cydkar]

I always call out "on your left" and most people on the trails around me do the same - there are obviously a few exceptions to this.

To the crowd that doesn't call out because the walker has ear buds in - why not just call out anyway? I would guess 75% of the time the walker can still hear me over their buds and moves over a bit, and it causes no harm to the biker to yell out just to be on the safe side.

Correct. If they can't hear you it's their fault. If you say nothing it's your fault.

 

[pulse]

How about just slowing the **** down. It’s not a velodrome. It’s like skiing, it’s the responsibility of the person uphill even if a person cuts you off.

 

[BoxsterCy]

I always call out "on your left" and most people on the trails around me do the same - there are obviously a few exceptions to this.

To the crowd that doesn't call out because the walker has ear buds in - why not just call out anyway? I would guess 75% of the time the walker can still hear me over their buds and moves over a bit, and it causes no harm to the biker to yell out just to be on the safe side.

This. Most of the time when I call out "on your left" passing roller bladers with buds in they do hear me. Important to try to get their attention as some of the wide striders eat up most of the path but even those seem to get over pretty well when they need to.

I don't always call "on your left" if it is busy and people are in single file and maintaining their place (right half of path). You aren't startling people when it's kinda busy on the trail. Always call out for families since the kids can be a little unpredictable even if they LOOK to be maintaining a steady single line path.

A lot of the busier pathways have separate lanes here which is great especially at the lakes. Worse thing I have to look out for is walkers crossing the bike paths to get over to the walking path or lake. They should have the right-of-way but they should also LOOK before stepping out into the path. I am not biking too fast for those trails and won't hit them but there are guys who are booking it way too fast for a park setting.

 

[Tri4Cy]

Then you'll have drivers ******** about why bikers are on the road when there is a perfectly good trail their taxes pay for (when in reality a ton of the money comes from bike orientated donations).

Exactly. As someone who tries to ride a decent pace around 20mph I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. Walkers hate me because I'm using THEIR walking trail. Cars hate me because I'm using THEIR roads. I actually had an incident a few weeks ago where I had someone walk out in front of me on the trail (head on) which caused me to swerve and wreck. My biggest issues tend to be groups of people walking 2-4 wide pushing strollers and wagons. Yelling "On your left" doesn't always get their attention so I'm contemplating an airhorn

This goes for both roads and trails...if slow traffic would stay right, then many problems would go away.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Exactly. As someone who tries to ride a decent pace around 20mph I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. Walkers hate me because I'm using THEIR walking trail. Cars hate me because I'm using THEIR roads. I actually had an incident a few weeks ago where I had someone walk out in front of me on the trail (head on) which caused me to swerve and wreck. My biggest issues tend to be groups of people walking 2-4 wide pushing strollers and wagons. Yelling "On your left" doesn't always get their attention so I'm contemplating an airhorn

This goes for both roads and trails...if slow traffic would stay right, then many problems would go away.

Well, 20 mph is too fast on a mixed use trail if it is busy at all. It's like driving 60 mph on a residential street. Just because you can and want to bike 20 doesn't mean you should in these situations. Whether you like it or not if you are riding 20 mph and it's not a rural trail you do belong in the street.