Walking in the danger zone!
 

This has come up before but the other morning while walking on a path (facing potential traffic) a gentleman on a bicycle decided to play chicken to see if I would move. When he finally pulled on the grass he informed I'm to walk with traffic. I explained that ever since I was run over by a bicycle with stiches to show for it I will face traffic when possible. We agreed to disagree.

Out of curiosity I did a Google search for pedestrian regulations in Florida. In turns out that in 2022 Florida state regulations, 316.130; Pedestrians; traffic regulations it clearly states if there is not a sidewalk when walking along a road the pedestrian is to walk on the left side facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction.

I guess you can quibble as to what makes a road or highway but for me if anything with wheels is on that surface I'm on the left side. Walking on the right side with carts and bicycles coming behind me is like trusting everyone in a roundabout to stay in their lane! Below is a link to the regulations.

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

My practice is if there is motorized vehicle traffic I walk against the traffic, if it's just walkers and bicycles I walk with traffic. I expect a cyclist coming up behind me to say "on your left". I said that to a walker the other day though and he went left in front of me. Claimed he hadn't had his coffee yet.

We have a walking/bike path behind our house. Things pretty much operate as you describe. We do get a few that insist on walking on the left but they are the exception and not the rule.

This person did not pay attention in the second (I think) grade…..that’s where we learned that! Geesh!

As we all seem to regularly discover there are LAWS. Assuming that others around you KNOW the laws is a reach. Assuming they KNOW the laws AND WILL FOLLOW THEM is an even bigger reach

Far as second grade. Basic psychology. About the age of two a baby discovers there are other people besides ME, ME, ME. The poster always reports they are right. There are obviously two sides to every story. Where it happened, we don't know. Was there other traffic around so that if the bicyclist went into the road, he/she was in danger, we do not know.

I ride a bike, walk, drive and have a golf cart. Bike rules are at best strange. At one time bikes were a major form of transportation. Horses cars and people is also like HUH? The villages-add in dogs, in outfits. in a stroller surely a HUH , HUH,HUH.

As far as shouting on your left. It is perhaps a practice in other places. In the villages it will often get you, a snarl, a, hand gesture, that is not a turn signal in Florida is it, or a panic response-several people scattering all over the place blocking how you planed to go around them.

As posted previously assuming others know the law and will follow it is a reach. The LAW is
bicycles are SUPPOSED to travel WITH traffic. Walkers are SUPPOSED TO walk facing traffic.

Yep! Always walk facing traffic. It is the safest option. Particularly considering the possibility/probability that the walker may be hearing impaired. "On your left" ! Do they hear you? Do they understand what you said? Who are you shouting at?
Always walk facing traffic.

I believe you are talking about walking on a road. The law that was quoted says “if there is not a sidewalk “. I would consider a walking biking path as a sidewalk. That’s all I have to say.

Yes, on a road ALWAYS walk facing motorized traffic. On a sidewalk or other walking path, walk on the right.

I disagree with your characterisation of the cyclist. He is definitely not a gentleman. Oh, and he was wrong.

Walk against the traffic, ride with the traffic. That said, you need to be on the lookout for everybody.
And I don't play chicken with anyone, too many nutjobs out there.

Yeah, I wouldn't walk with my back to traffic. Too many bad drivers.

On a path the bicyclist was right.

The walker was already not where he belonged. As a cyclist I would have been wary of what he was going to do next. He was blocking my side of the path but if I tried to go around him would he then move towards his side of the path and cause a collision? It's either roll the dice and hope for the best or stop and try to explain why the walker should not have been walking on the left. The cyclist chose option B but apparently the walker is too stuck in his ways to appreciate the good advice.

What does a sidewalk imply? I was always under the impression that you shouldn't be riding a bicycle on a "sidewalk". I believe the paths harboring walkers, bikers and golf carts are multi Modal paths. If I see a golf cart on the path, then I walk to face it. If the next vehicle I see is a bicycle, I expect that to be traveling in the right lane as the golf cart was. I would be on the same side facing it.

I recommend a bell.

As an experiment I tried different warning devices to warn pedestrians of my approach while cycling. Most bells* were superior to yelling "on your left". This bell, a copy of a 1950s design, worked surprisingly well Retro Metal Bicycle Bell Handlebar Vintage Bike Bell Ring Horn Clear Sound Loud 788411009071 | eBay. The 80mm Dutch style 'DING DONG' bells we're also excellent ORIGINAL! DING DONG BICYCLE BELL 80MM CHROME. ( ALMOST GONE) | eBay.
*The free, tiny, 'dink' bells that come with some bikes are useless.

Bells frequently elicit waves, thanks, and smiles.

People will argue about almost everything. I was not there, I do not know either party. Thus, I wonder who is right , or wrong.

There is always hope. A post like, THANKS, I was wrong and didn't realize it. Has anyone seen ONE? Who knows. Perhaps, someone discovered what is right and will do it.
I call them ASTRONOMERS. There is no shortage of people who think, no are sure the world revolves around them.

That rule only applies to the multi-modal paths not the walking/bike paths. The biker was correct. My question is you see a bike riding toward you, in their own lane, and you didn’t move? Why did you “play chicken” with the biker who again was doing exactly the correct thing? You forced the biker off the road when you could’ve taken a couple of steps onto your own side? :confused:

Clothesline

He, just like a golf cart needed to pull into the flow of traffic to pass you safely. You were doing it correctly.

The first thing I learned in kindergarten: Walk on the left facing traffic.

Most bicyclists prefer that you do this too. When your back is to them, they have to wonder if you know they are approaching. Especially with so many walkers wearing earbuds.

I'm half-way with you here, my friend. The OP states that the cyclist "chose to play chicken". I don't see how one person can play chicken by himself. It takes two.
I walk facing traffic. But I do so in order to see what's coming at me, and I do that so I can step aside.
As a bicyclist, I prefer to see the walker facing me, then I can assess whether or not he/she sees me, or is engrossed in a cell phone.

While a bell may be the superior way to alert a pedestrian of your approach, it doesn't tell them anything about which side of them you intend to pass, which is fine if you are not intending to zip by them at full bicycle speed. Part of the issue is that many bicyclists feel entitled to pace themselves as if there were no pedestrians about. We wouldn't accept that from automobiles. If there are people around walking, bikes, as well as cars, should slow down a bit.
Bicyclists want to be treated with the same respect as automobile traffic, but often forget that along with that respect comes some responsibility, and in the case of cycling on a path heavily populated with walkers, that means not acting like it's a bicycle race course.

Our experience when walking on walking paths is about half of the bicycle riders never give you notice when they are coming up behind you, therefore, we walking against the traffic. The other problem we have encounter, with a small minority of bike riders on walking paths, is the speed they are traveling. I believe, if you want to ride at 20 mph, you should do it on the cart paths or roadway. I am also a bike rider and try to be courteous to walkers.

The biker is not necessarily correct. The OP stated only that he was "walking on a path" (NOT "on a walking path). It did not specify if this was a walking/bike path like the areas south of 44, or a MMP. The difference is critical to the story and which party is "right".

Multi modal paths are just what the term means… all forms of traffic … walking… biking…golf carts…mechanical chairs…. Slow down to accommodate one another and pull aside when you have to. Many visitors don’t know any ‘rules’. Be cautious. No one wants to be a victim.

Perfect answer. The bicyclist was wrong, and an a--hole as well.

Everyone needs to SEE who or what is about to run them down.

In memory of my high school friend, Ralph, who never saw what hit him. It didn't matter if he was on a road, a sidewalk, or a multi-modal path, so stop the stupid quibbling about where one walks. Ralph's dead!

Bike on Sidewalk OK in FL
 

In Florida, bicyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks.

Bikes are traffic, that’s why they can drive on the road. Also a 200 pound man on a 75 pound motorized electric bike going 25 mph can hit you from behind and kill you. Take your choice, left or right. Your life is in your hands. Not the biker’s.

Cyclist was rude!
 

It is bicyclists like that who give us all a bad name. As a cyclist I would rather have walkers facing me. Too many walkers have ear buds in or are hard of hearing and do not hear me call out when I am approaching from behind.

You were right. He was wrong.

A Drivers Ed teacher that I had in high school used to say “You can be right, just don’t be dead right.” Just like in defensive driving, walkers should think defensively when on any path that has other modes of transportation.

I've been running for 41 years. Always face traffic of any sort. When I run on the MM paths I always stay left. I want to see whats coming. Sidewalks are a different animal. I stay on the right, most runners/walkers I see do the same.

Walking
 

I see a lot of people walk in the golf cart lane even when there is a sidewalk.

True, on all points.

A fair number of people who live in TV walk (and drive) in contravention to Florida law: not so many now as during snowbird season. I don't walk or bike on paths designed just for that traffic, but when I'm walking on an MMP you can be goldurned sure that I'm walking on the LEFT. The way some people drive those golf carts, I want to see what is coming as far in advance as possible.

Walking in the danger zone
 

Walk facing the traffic. Bikes are considered as vehicles.

Vehicles are not allowed on sidewalks - bikes are.
Vehicles are not allowed on the walking paths in the Fenney area - bikes are.
Vehicles are allowed on the turnpike - bikes are not.

Be predictable: Walk facing motor vehicle traffic, including 500lb golf carts, and walk on the right on sidewalks and walking trails.

:laugh:

I always walk against motorized traffic and on paths that allow bikes. I don't trust anyone in a car or on a bike behind me. Most bikers do say, on your left, but I have had a few almost run me over! :ohdear: No thanks! I want to see what is coming at me at all times.

Walkers on Cart Roads
 

This is a great thread that discusses legal and safe ways to walk on the cart roads. I would like to add a note about the few walkers who walk as a couple, side by side, and do not yield to oncoming vehicles. There are certainly many who walk single file when a vehicle approaches but there is an occasional couple who must feel they can walk side by side and the cart must negotiate passing them. Common sense would indicate that the walkers ought to briefly move to single file and the cart should slow down to safely pass the oncoming walkers. Normally there is plenty of room for all walkers, bikers, and carts but be very careful when the path splits and there is an island of trees and shrubs dividing and narrowing the path. If everyone shares the road with safety and courtesy in mind, all will be better off.