Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic Fox
We've discussed motorized vehicles and bikes on the walking trail, now I should be grateful for clarification on a related matter.
I have always been advised to walk on the left so that I can see any approaching traffic (whether that be cars, golf carts, e-bikes or pedal bikes) and take appropriate avoiding action if needed.
Yet there are some posts on TOTV suggesting that I should walk on the right if there is no motorized traffic in that location.
Why the difference? Surely if we all walked on the left all of the time then no-one would bump into each other and, should some traffic appear (even if it is just a pedal bike), we would know well in advance?
Thank you
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First of all, let's clear up any confusion about what a "walking trail " is. At the Lake Miona Rec Center, there is a "walking trail" that is quite nice. It's only about the width of a sidewalk (a regular sidewalk, not the skinny sidewalks we have in TV) and bikes and e-bikes are NOT Allowed. I don't think dogs are allowed either, but I'm not sure. Since there is no vehicular traffic, we can accurately call this a "walking trail". It makes perfect sense to walk on the right.
However there are trails that do allow bikes and e-bikes. An example being the Hogeye Preserve Pathway. Note that it is not referred to as a "walking trail", but rather as a "pathway". Bikes and e-bikes are allowed. Golf car(t)s are not. Bikes and e-bikes are considerably faster than human foot traffic, and also rather quiet, so they can sneak up on you from behind.
Hence, it makes perfect sense on the "pathway" to walk on the left, so you can see approaching two-wheeled vehicles, and move to the left, into the grass if needed, and avoid being startled and maybe making a move unanticipated by the cyclist, that could lead to a collision.