Walking trail in The Villages - right or left side?
 

Always walk on the left side facing traffic but was politely told that on a walking trail with bikers (no golf carts/cars) to walk on the right?

I would like to see what is coming toward me.

If there is ANY type of moving vehicle on the road or path be it a bike, golf cart or skateboard I want to see it coming before I inadvertently step into it's path and get waffled and end up on a slab. Not sure what (if any) "official rule" there is but when I walk I walk facing any possible thing that has wheels coming at me. Anyone who told me otherwise I would smile and politely say "thank you for your information, I will take it under advisement." :)

You were told by who? If there is golf cart or bicycle traffic, you should walk facing the traffic.

Actually you can walk down the middle 3 or 4 abreast and some do while yakking and not paying attention. But I wouldn’t recommend it. I also like to see what might run over me so I can jump off the MMP or diamond lane. When two vehicles and me are going to meet at the l point I get way off path. I remove myself from any danger, it’s so easy to just step out ow the way.

I don't know it was, another walker. Either way takes me more to get rattled than someone offering an opinion. I thought on a walking/bike path, walkers stay on the left (facing the traffic) but was told otherwise. I also want to see a roller skater coming towards me.

It’s nice that they were polite. But they were wrong nonetheless. :)

And have you seen how some of the people drive here?

if it's a foot path and no car or carts allowed, I tend to treat it like a sidewalk and walk on the righthand side of the path

if bikes use the path, stay alert, as someone coming up behind you on a bike should be saying "on your left" as they approach you...which means they intend to pass you on your left side...and you should move to the right of the trail

Not really a walking trail if there are people riding bikes?

Yup, that was my thinking.

As one who has been run over by a biker (requiring stitches) I would like to see all walkers on the left side. If there's wheels I want to see them coming.

Yep, bike & hike, different rules than a walking trail.

Now if your on the phone, ALL bets are off because you will not know what side your on....

Let's not forget about all the dog leashes crisscrossing the walkways

[QUOTE=Debfrommaine;1818319]Always walk on the left side facing traffic.

That's how I have always interpreted the "rule". Ride with, walk against! Riding a bike or anything other than walking, you travel on the right side with traffic. If you are walking, you belong on the left side, which should be against (facing) traffic.

I don’t know if it’s true everywhere, but up north there were forest preserve paths that were used by walkers, joggers, bikers and roller bladers, and it was common courtesy if you were about to pass someone you’d let them know by saying “on your left” as you approached.
We all traveled on the right, in the same direction!

Yeah where we lived, if it wasn't open to motor vehicles, then everyone is on the right. And anyone who wanted to pass the person/people ahead of them just said "passing" or "on your left" or "coming up behind you" or some other indication that they're about to pass.

In other words, the responsibility is with the person doing the passing, not the person moving at a slower pace.

We treated it like a sidewalk. Lots of little kids just learning to ride their 2-wheeled bikes ride their bikes on the sidewalk. And they're taught to ride on the right side of the sidewalk, and ring their little bell to pass people.

This is stuff we learned when we were little kids growing up in the suburbs. We continued this behavior in summer camp, when we were hiking on trails, if we were walking pretty much anywhere where there wasn't motor vehicle traffic.

Basically - if it's shut off to vehicles with motors of any kind, then it's "pedestrian traffic" and you travel on the right side of the path. Even if you're jogging, and wanting to pass the walker ahead of you, you call out so the walker isn't startled.

It looks from this thread that my experience was hardly unique.

If it’s walking trail no bikes should be on it.

ditto

Whoever told you that is....well, let's just say don't believe everything you hear. Walk facing oncoming traffic. It could save your life. :duck:

In the Midwest, where I am from, people walk on the right side of the lane. Apparently, in the East, people walk on the left side with traffic coming toward them. Actually, I think walking on the left side is much better, because you can see traffic coming toward you, which I like.

Bikes are considered to be traffic
 

Bikes are considered to be traffic, that is why they are allowed to ride on a road, and as traffic, they are always on the right side of the road. I grew up in the Midwest also, and we did not have sidewalks, we had country roads to get around, and you always face traffic. You do not leave it up to the bikers for your safety. Besides, there are a lot of walkers with earbuds in their ears, and can’t hear a biker telling them they are on their left. When you face the biker, which I am one also, they can see you, and you can see them. I have met two people that were hit by bikes from behind.

Instead of smiling and saying BS, why not be honest and say "I feel safer seeing traffic coming at me". The truth might actually help the other person reassess their position.

Walking
 

On rail trails where there are bikes and people you walk on the right

This is exactly what I thought. Walk on the right. I walk on the walking trail along side of Marsh Bend Trail and there are no cars or carts allowed on it. There is bicycle traffic and occasionally a skater. I have never encountered a walker on the left side of the trail. Everyone is always on the right side. So, I just assumed we walkers were supposed to be on the right. If that is incorrect, I would love to know. On the other hand I don't want to be the only one on the left. LOL!

Always walk on the right side. Do you drive down Buena Vista or Morse on the left side because you want to see coming? Do you drive down SR 44, 75 or the Turnpike on the left side? Again to see what is coming. You will surely meet your maker sooner by doing so.

If you had read your newcomers information pack it is a combo walking, skating and bike path when it has double post at cross road. Multi paths have one pole and are for walkers, bikes, skaters, golf carts. People riding bikes in the street really run the risk of getting hit by vehicles especially services pulling trailers as they cut the corners into the golf cart street paths and drive to fast. You’re right till your dead right

Spot on
 

Spot on. :bigbow:

I bike the trails west of the turnpike frequently and all I can say is you who are walking on the right side of the trail with your back to traffic (yes, bicycles are traffic) are an accident waiting to happen. Between the noise coming from the turnpike and our reduced heading abilities, even if I yell "on your left" as I'm coming upon you, my experience says more often than not, you'd don't hear me. And with you walking with your spouse and your dog, taking up most of the pathway and unaware that I'm coming behind you, there is going to be a collision at some point. Why be oblivious to what's going on when all you have to do is walk on the correct side of the path, facing oncoming traffic.

Only walk on left facing traffic!! You need to see bikers coming towards you. On multi-model. It is imperative that you see carts coming towards you!!

you and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walk wherever way you want and if someone has any thing to say tell them kiss off

Granted this is about cars but I say it would apply to any mode of transportation.

Researchers found that pedestrians walking against traffic have on average a 77 percent lower risk of being struck and injured by a car. "If no pavement or pedestrian lane is available," they write, "facing traffic substantially improves pedestrian safety."

Dennis Barker is the head coach at Team USA Minnesota, where he has coached 24 national track champions and an Olympian. Seeing oncoming traffic is important, he says, so that the runner and the driver know what the other is doing. When he used to run on rural two-lane roads, he noticed that when cars approached and passed one another, they would move away from the center — and closer to the runner. Running against traffic allows you to notice this adjustment.

"As a driver, I appreciated others who walked or ran facing traffic because it helped me see them better when they adjusted their position as I approached," Barker says. "I, in turn, adjusted my position. We both took responsibility for each other's safety."

This is a common sense type of answer - if you have to share a lane with carts and bikes ALWAYS FACE TRAFFIC.