Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Walkers on the walking trail
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Old 06-21-2023, 06:29 AM
Ktots Ktots is offline
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Default Recreational Paths

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564 View Post
In the end, some people in the Villages are stubborn and are going to do what they want because that's the way they've always done it. We can discuss and debate what is best but we will never get everyone to agree on what is best or to follow it.

That said...

<snip>

Putting all the above together:
- Americans will likely walk to the right on any path (sidewalk) that doesn't carry automobile (or golf cart) traffic
- On a sidewalk or a walking/biking path, bicyclists will assume that walkers will stay to the right.
- When walking along a roadway (or a path that carries automobile or golf cart traffic) Americans will likely walk to the left
- On a roadway (or MMP here in the Villages) drivers expect walkers to be facing traffic
- Deviating from the above, typically by the pedestrian, creates an unpredictable situation which is unsafe for all.

There have been numerous threads on this topic which all have come to the same conclusion: People are going to do what they want to do regardless of what is safe. Then when there is an accident, those same people are going to stomp their feet and insist they were being the safest and the problem is with everyone else.
I agree with everything that you wrote and you are correct, people will always do whatever suits them, for their own reasons.
I will add:
-There are NO posted guidelines for the use of the Recreational Paths in TV, most likely because the powers that be know that people will not follow them anyway.

-The recreational paths where we lived up north had posted guidelines, at entrances to the path, directing pedestrians to walk to the right, as others seem to be familiar with, which is probably why many walkers and cyclist assume walkers “should” walk on the right.

-I have seen a few posts on this thread talking about cyclists “sneaking up on you”.
This is taken directly from Florida bicycle statute 316.2065:

10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

-Soooo…. there should be no “sneaking up”, but again, people do not comply and give audible warning, which is why walkers will insist on acting in their own best interests and walk to the left, assuming cyclist ride on the right.

-The statute also says that law enforcement may not issue a citation to bicyclists on private property, which I “think” would apply to the recreational paths in TV. However, if I was a cyclist, I would not want to risk being sued, should I “sneak up” on someone and have an incident that results in injury.

-My husband and I walk 3-5 miles daily with our dogs, on the rec paths. We change sides depending on where we are walking, be it close to a pond where a gator is resting on the bank, or near grasses or other vegetation where there may be snakes or gators. We check behind us before changing sides. When a cyclist does give warning they are coming, we raise a hand to let them know we hear them.

As with most things, the majority of people we encounter on the paths are pleasant and courteous and we are grateful for that and enjoy.