Require all bikes to use playing cards attached to the bike frame with clothes pins & touching the spokes.

Yes - Should Ring and Announce
 

Sorry this happened to you - it has happened to me too.

Yes, cyclists should ring a bell and announce when passing.

Also, walkers need to pay attention and never step to the other side of a pathway without looking first. This is especially true if the walker is listening to music or taking a call. Head on a swivel.

On every path here in TV, except the true walking path at Lake Miona, walkers should always walk against traffic. Why would any walker want to be startled?
Also, if you think you can get sued for hitting someone because he didn’t ring a bell or say something, the biker can always say that they yelled on your left/right so the Walker will have to prove the biker never yelled something

No No No
 

OMG - this would be horrible - constant beeping would drive me crazy - I hate the backup beepers on carts.

All the noise would ruin the serenity of a walk.

And annoy everyone living along a pathway.

Helpful acknowledgement
 

When riding I always give an "on you left" warning. And very much appreciate it when the walker gives some sort of indication they heard it. A quick raise of the hand is perfect. You never know if someone has earbuds in or hearing challenges. I don't want to startle anyone or worse yet collide.

Regardless of what the rules are, I'd walk facing traffic so I can see bicycles and e-bikes coming at me. Some rules are just too stupid to follow, and the rule that says I should let e-bikes and regular bikes approach me from behind, unseen and unheard, is one of those rules.

Most walkers on trails that I’ve experienced, walk on the opposite side (their left side). That way never surprised if a bike is coming. I do bike a lot.

Did you have earbuds or earphones on?
I am an avid biker. I always announce passing left. Most of the time they don't hear because they are engaged with their phone. Often, walkers like to walk in the middle of the trail. Mature bikers will normally announce they are passing. There are discourteous walkers and bikers.

Side?
 

The problem with these bicycle walking trails is there at times isn’t much of a side. What I mean is they are almost too small for a golf cart, let alone the right side left side rationale. It’s easy for a walker to be on the wrong side. It’s also highly likely that two dog owners will stop and carry on conversation coming from opposite directions which leaves zero room for a bicyclist to zoom on by. A standard leash certainly can extend from side to side on the paths. Add continuous bends and twists and there is certainly room for accidents to happen. Always be as careful as you can.

There should be safe pathways for people to walk, and pathways for bikes to ride. Caculated Controlles Chaos.

1) Multimodal paths are NOT roadways. Walk, run, bicycle on the right-hand side of path.

2) When overtaking anybody, pull left (assuming no oncoming person, cart, bicycle) and give audible notice (voice, bell, horn tap)

Oh, and glance behind you from time to time to see if anyone is approaching

I am shocked when a bicyclist speeds by extremely close to me at a very fast pace with no warning whatsoever. Inconsiderate!

So the rules won't apply to you, if you decide that the rules are stupid. Be sure to let the ambulance driver and police know this, next time you're involved in an accident where you did something that was against a rule that you thought was stupid.

Blowing by someone walking a dog, is really stupid, because the dog is on a leash and could move out in front of the bike, which could be deadly for the dog and the bike rider.....

I can't believe we even have to have this conversation. I have ridden a bicycle on paths all over the United States and it is a common practice to advise others, (walkers, joggers, even other bicyclists) of the intent to pass, by whatever means necessary. Many trails actually have notices posted to make your presence known when passing. To avoid someone stepping into your path, announce your presence early enough to make sure a collision can be avoided. The ones that get me are those wearing ear buds that wouldn't hear a freight train approaching!

Best to expect the unexpected when on the trails. I try to remember to look behind me before moving from my current position. But I do agree with you that it is certainly safer when a biker announces their approach. Have to say though even though I usually announce that I’m coming up behind them, I’m guilty of not always doing so but I do move way over to the other side when I don’t. Will work on making it an every time habit.

Believe it. Not everyone has your experience and/or sense of awareness.

Trails are wide in our area.

So you’re that person walking on the opposite side of all the other walkers. Are you also the one who forces them to move into the path of oncoming traffic or bikes coming from behind to get around you?

The new walking path that starts from Lake Miona Rec Center does not allow bicycles. But it also does not allow dogs. Is that the one where this person was walking? As for the Multi Modal Pathways, people can walk there, but they aren’t walking trails, and you are right.

Did you mean a retractable leash that allows extension? I’ve never seen a non-flexible leash - that would mean walking the dog at the end of a “stick”! :loco:

I think technically that if it is a bike and walking path only you are supposed to walk on the right side. At least that is what a number of bike related web sites state. On an MMP that has golf cart traffic, you would walk on the left. Personally, around TV, you never know what might be coming down the path so I would walk on the left. I've seen maintenance and contractor trucks using many MMPs and pathways.

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to which side of the path/trail to walk on or bike on. Solution: seems simple enough- signs to regulate the confusion.

You must be south of 44 because you folks simply do not understand if you walk against traffic you will always see what is coming at you. Many times I say on your left and the walker has ear buds on and does not hear me anyway. In my neighborhood anyway yes North of 44 all walkers go against traffic. It is not that hard to do and all of your problems will be gone. Maybe tell your neighbors too. Us bikers are not going away. It is not just a walking trail so get over that right away. I mentioned this to the people at Ezell about maybe putting up signs asking walkers to walk on the opposite side but like the rest of the recommendations I have made for the safety of our community it falls on deaf ears. Good luck.

When I was a kid, we were all taught to use our bell if we had one, NOT a horn if we had one (because that can be too startling, which is dangerous), and call out "on your left!" if we didn't have a bell.

The horn was in case there was actual danger (not just a "heads up), or a car in front of us stopped at the light, the light turned green, and they were just sitting there not trying to go.

This bike rider was a jerk and gives all of us a bad name. Based upon my experience, the worst ones seem to be those who ride road bikes wearing all of their bicycle gear. They seem to have some kind of entitlement thing going on. Of course, I don't mean all of them.

They are referring to walking trails, where there is NO vehicular traffic at all. No golf carts, no cars. On walking trails, pedestrians -are- the traffic. You can't walk against yourself. The pedestrian has the right of way, and bikes need to take extra caution when passing them.

If everyone did what they were supposed to do, there'd be no problem. On a walking trail, everyone is on the right. There is no "against traffic." Bike riders call out or use a bell to alert pedestrians that they're about to pass, and dog-walkers keep their dog properly heeled on a short leash.

and you be sure, after you've been creamed from behind by a bike or e-bike you neither heard, nor saw, to let the paramedics know you were obeying the rules. That will make your broken bones heal much faster.

Rules
 

In our community rules seem to mean nothing. Just ask the golf cart riders in automobile traffic circles.

You were walking the wrong way then. You are supposed to walk against traffic so you would have seen him coming.

Do you see that often? I saw it once. I don't think it was a case of ignoring rules as much as being somewhat confused.

as far as the rule about walking with bike and e-bike traffic, I have never heard a good reason for doing that, as opposed to facing the traffic as one would in a street or MMP.

Other than "it's a rule"...I value my health more than I value the blue ribbons they give out to people who never break rules because they believe rules are sacred.

Three times this spring. The one most memorable was a cart traveling opposite of traffic flow next to the Mallory gate.

Regardless of the side you walk on, you will not see traffic approaching from behind.

The biker came from behind...did you not read that?

I guess you are supposed to have eyes in the back of your head. No matter what side of the path you walk on there will be traffic coming from behind. My opinion, and I won’t change my mind, walk on the right like you are supposed to.

The one I saw was the circle by Sea Breeze. She, too, was going the wrong way.

I was sure I was going to see a fatal encounter, however, the cars all managed to stop before hitting her.

Yes

Well, the OP isn't talking about a "walking trail", so there's that...

On the left side of the path... Facing traffic...

Good thing there is no such rule...