[roob1]

Yes, I rang my bell (or yelled "On your left"), as I approached you on my bike from behind.

Is your hearing adequate? Did you forget to wear your hearing aid? Were you talking on your phone? Were you wearing headphones?

Give me a freakin break, and don''t yell at me. Be responsible and assure that your hearing is adequate. If not, stay off the path!

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by roob1

Yes, I rang my bell (or yelled "On your left"), as I approached you on my bike from behind.

Is your hearing adequate? Did you forget to wear your hearing aid? Were you talking on your phone? Were you wearing headphones?

Give me a freakin break, and don''t yell at me. Be responsible and assure that your hearing is adequate. If not, stay off the path!

[rustyp]

Ringing your bell is something I am conditioned to hearing and associate with a bicycle. Yelling "on your left" IMHO is a problem creator. I associate a loud human voice as danger but my next instinct is to figure out what was said. The lack of instantly understanding what was said my mind interprets as danger to me - not you. At that instant my natural defence kicks in like duck or swerve. That puts you or I in more danger than before the yell.

Hey I just invented a new saying - DON'T YELL GET A BELL !

[roob1]

I have lived in an area where biking is extremely popular, and "on your left" was what most said. I also feel vocalizing can be more personal and friendly than a bell ring, but I understand your concern.

[Oldragbagger]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Ringing your bell is something I am conditioned to hearing and associate with a bicycle. Yelling "on your left" IMHO is a problem creator. I associate a loud human voice as danger but my next instinct is to figure out what was said. The lack of instantly understanding what was said my mind interprets as danger to me - not you. At that instant my natural defence kicks in like duck or swerve. That puts you or I in more danger than before the yell.

Hey I just invented a new saying - DON'T YELL GET A BELL !

I am an avid cyclist, and also a walker. Trying to act in a way that gives you the best chance of getting around someone safely is sometimes a head scratcher, but it shouldn’t be. There are definite rules concerning these pathways, the problem is, not everyone is aware of them. If you are on a Rail Trail or other public trail they are usually posted at the trailheads, but here that signage doesn’t exist and a lot of people just don’t know.

It is the walkers’s responsibility to walk on the right and in a predictable manner. If the walker’s hearing is compromised by earphones or a telephone conversation that predictability (staying to the right, not altering course to go back and forth across the trail, if you have a dog on a leash making sure it stays to the right also) becomes even more critical. Using a bell or calling out “on the left” are both acceptable methods of signaling. I usually do both. I will first ring my bell to get the walker’s attention and then call out “on the left” as I get close and pass. I have found calling out those instructions to be essential in some instances as I have encountered quite a few walkers who have absolutely no idea what to do when a bicycle approaches. Sometimes they move to the left, sometimes they move to the right, sometimes it’s a group and they start scattering randomly in both directions, often with great confusion. Telling them what side you are planning to pass on let’s them know what to expect so they can move accordingly.

I have been riding all my adult life and I feel blessed to say that I have never had a collision of any kind on a trail except a crash into a wall once, my own fault. But it takes a great deal of courtesy, understanding, and awareness on everyone’s part to make it work. The more heavily populated the trail is, the more of all that required. I am also happy to say I have not once encountered any rudeness from anyone on TV trails and I try always to conduct myself in a safe and courteous manner.

Happy Trails, no matter how you use them.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Oldragbagger

I am an avid cyclist, and also a walker. Trying to act in a way that gives you the best chance of getting around someone safely is sometimes a head scratcher, but it shouldn’t be. There are definite rules concerning these pathways, the problem is, not everyone is aware of them. If you are on a Rail Trail or other public trail they are usually posted at the trailheads, but here that signage doesn’t exist and a lot of people just don’t know.

It is the walkers’s responsibility to walk on the right and in a predictable manner. If the walker’s hearing is compromised by earphones or a telephone conversation that predictability (staying to the right, not altering course to go back and forth across the trail, if you have a dog on a leash making sure it stays to the right also) becomes even more critical. Using a bell or calling out “on the left” are both acceptable methods of signaling. I usually do both. I will first ring my bell to get the walker’s attention and then call out “on the left” as I get close and pass. I have found calling out those instructions to be essential in some instances as I have encountered quite a few walkers who have absolutely no idea what to do when a bicycle approaches. Sometimes they move to the left, sometimes they move to the right, sometimes it’s a group and they start scattering randomly in both directions, often with great confusion. Telling them what side you are planning to pass on let’s them know what to expect so they can move accordingly.

I have been riding all my adult life and I feel blessed to say that I have never had a collision of any kind on a trail except a crash into a wall once, my own fault. But it takes a great deal of courtesy, understanding, and awareness on everyone’s part to make it work. The more heavily populated the trail is, the more of all that required. I am also happy to say I have not once encountered any rudeness from anyone on TV trails and I try always to conduct myself in a safe and courteous manner.

Happy Trails, no matter how you use them.

But it takes a great deal of courtesy, understanding, and awareness on everyone’s part to make it work.

Exactly, especially HERE in TV where there are a lot of people that don't know "the rules".

Myself and my family road bicycles for decades. Everything you said was correct. And you said it nicer than I would.

It is the bicycle riders responsibility to NOT hit the pedestrian. The same as it is car drivers responsibility to NOT hit a cyclist. Just because you have a green light in your car, you are expected to NOT hit anyone crossing the road, even if they are crossing against the light. Same with riding a bicycle, just because you are right, does not making it okay to take a chance to hit them.

Our club had a rule, if you are not CERTAIN the pedestrian you are about to pass is aware of your intent, you don't pass.

Ring the bell all day long, if you don't get a reaction confirming they heard you, the slow down and approach them carefully. Say in a firm voice (not yelling - yelling startles people) "on your left" or "passing on your left" or anything to that effect, and if they still do not react, then proceed very slowly arounds the as far away as you can. If there is oncoming traffic and you can't safely pass them, then don't pass. Pull up close enough to them to say, not yell, I am going to pass you on your left, can you hear me?

If you don't want the issue of walkers, you can 99% removed them by riding on the roadway and not the multimodal pathway. Personally, if I was still able to ride still, I would never ride on a path for walkers (sidewalk) if a road is available. The road is much safer. I know the multimodal is intended for walkers and bikers. It just looks too much like a sidewalk and sidewalks are VERY dangerous places for bikers. The one time I did ride a couple blocks on a sidewalk to avoid a congested road situation when I was late for work a car pulled out of a blind driveway and I hit my breaks, went over my handlebars, and broke a wrist, sprained the other, cracked several ribs and tore both rotator cups.

Typically there are no blind spots around Multimodal paths, but it was a lesson I learned the hard way and I personally would stick to the road. Many thousands of miles and no accidents or problems on roads.

So, I suggest that the OP rethink their attitude, and be safe and courteous to other people that are sharing the path with.

[villagetinker]

I am confused, I always walk on the LEFT facing traffic, so I can see what is going on. Why would golf cart paths be any different?

[Dallasdon]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am confused, I always walk on the LEFT facing traffic, so I can see what is going on. Why would golf cart paths be any different?

I’m new to golf carts. Friday, I came upon a walker (living, not dead) coming towards me in my lane, and golf carts also passing on my left, so no where to go, so I just stopped until the walker passed me. Golf cart behind me honks. What should I have done?

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am confused, I always walk on the LEFT facing traffic, so I can see what is going on. Why would golf cart paths be any different?

It isn't!!!
Always safer (for all) to walk on left facing oncoming traffic.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am confused, I always walk on the LEFT facing traffic, so I can see what is going on. Why would golf cart paths be any different?

You are supposed to walk on the left on the road, and on the right on the multimodal.

On the road it is because the cars come up so fast, you wont have time to hear them before they hit you. If you walk facing them, you can see them coming.

At least that is what I was told when I moved here.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Dallasdon

I’m new to golf carts. Friday, I came upon a walker (living, not dead) coming towards me in my lane, and golf carts also passing on my left, so no where to go, so I just stopped until the walker passed me. Golf cart behind me honks. What should I have done?

You should have smiled, waved, and told them to have a nice day. Then go on your way. Were you late for work? Then, lets just enjoy and be polite - not the end of the world.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I never ride on the pathways , between golf carts and walkers ( including me ) I find it much easier and actually safer on the street

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am confused, I always walk on the LEFT facing traffic, so I can see what is going on. Why would golf cart paths be any different?

Me too and I don’t hesitate to get off path. It’s my responsibility to keep me safe and out of harms way.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Dallasdon

I’m new to golf carts. Friday, I came upon a walker (living, not dead) coming towards me in my lane, and golf carts also passing on my left, so no where to go, so I just stopped until the walker passed me. Golf cart behind me honks. What should I have done?

What would you have done in the same situation while in your car? Walkers should be on the left facing traffic, vehicles should move to the left of their lane to safely pass the walker.

- If there was a golf cart approaching then adjust your speed to allow it to go by and give you space to move

- If a golf cart was overtaking you at the time then they were wrong but your only option would be to slow down until they got by you and you had room to move

- If the walker was coming down the center of the lane and did not move to their left then they were also wrong but since you can't legally hit them, your option would be to move to your left to give them space.

- If you were in one of the sections of the MMP where the two lanes are separated then you would hope that the walker would move to the left or even off the trail but your only option is to move as far as possible to your left to give them space

There is no need to stop unless the walker is coming down the center of the trail and giving you no space to go around them. But if that was the case and I was forced to stop then I would absolutely position my cart to be as inconvenient as possible for the inconsiderate walker.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

You are supposed to walk on the left on the road, and on the right on the multimodal.

On the road it is because the cars come up so fast, you wont have time to hear them before they hit you. If you walk facing them, you can see them coming.

At least that is what I was told when I moved here.

IMO you was told wrong. I would never walk on right on MMP. I don’t want to get ran over. At least on Left I can see when to jump off out of way.