HiYoSilver

On those multi-purpose paths, what do you do with the unobservant walker/jogger with ear buds blasting?

How do you pass safely? Yelling doesn't work.

Would a bell work?
Would airzounds scare them into your path and lead them to vow to ambush you at the earliest opportunity?

What do you do that works?

noisebeam

Bell - its the only thing that has a chance of cutting thru headphones and it is unique to a bike.

But ring it well in advance and also when closer and if clearance is tight slow to near walking speed (it is a shared MUP remember) for the pass and enjoy the chance to sprint back up to speed.

Al

HiYoSilver

so I'm supposed to use the bell and not just use as decoration? novel idea.

I've always feel weird using the bell as I haven't heard other cyclists using it. Thanks for the double ring at different distances suggestion.

Guest

I ring the bell in advance. About 90% of the time, they hear it.

Koffee

Roody

I pretty much gave up on trying to control pedestrians. It's a lot like herding cats!

I usually go real slow around them, often riding on the "shoulder" of the trail. Of course, I can't go fast on crowded trails. Around here the trails will be crowded only when the sun is shining and the temperature is between 67 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. These pedestrians are such delicate creatures that they only emerge from their lairs about 12 days a year! That gives me the other 353 days if I want to enjoy the scenery on our River Trail.

HiYoSilver

and the choir sang AMEN.

scarry

If you haven't heard cyclists using their bells, then you havent' been to a Critical Mass ride. Or been passed by me on my recumbent. Ding, Ding, on you left, shoosh.

scarry

I pass em so fast, they didn't even know I was there.

Seriously, I use my bell. But it seems to work better giving no warning, because when you warn them, they then turn into your path, instead of going straight.

noisebeam

Which is why you need to be going slow enough and give early enough warning so that you can be prepared to avoid the worst case scenario. You are sharing the path and while you want to expect it, you can not resonably expect the average MUP user (including kids, family outings, etc.) to be fully trained in the 'proper proceedures'.

Going faster than walking speed for a pass with minimal to no warning is a reasonable option if you know that if there are sudden and unexpected movements by the person you are passing that you still will pass them with sufficient safety and social (i.e. don't give 'em a heart attack) clearance.

Al

scarry

Didn't you catch the rolled eyes', that means sarcastic.

Roody

Man, I just had a bad experience. I blame it on those Spanish fans at the top of the mountain in Stage 15. They are a bad influence on kids right now. Here's what happened.

I was riding on a rail trail today and slowed way down as I approached a little girl walking with her father. I had plenty of safe clearance but she suddenly ran right up to me. Her hand was raised as if she was trying to pat me on the butt like the TdeF fans were doing on Sunday. She was saying something like, "Go Lance Go!" I had to swerve to avoid her, and I was so startled that I'm ashamed to say I yelled, "Get out of the way!" right in her face. Her dad just stood there with a clueless grin on his face.

Well, even though this was sorta flattering , I had it hammered home to me how important it is to slow way down for pedestrians on the MUPs. I remember reading on the BF something like, "Expect pedestrians to do anything unless it is physically impossible for them to do it."

oboeguy

To answer the OPs question: it's impossible.

Now that we've solved that problem...

I don't have a bell on either of my bikes. Maybe I should invest in one, but often my "teacher voice" works pretty well. It's the ones without headphones who somehow don't hear us that scare me. But what truly drives me nuts is the little neglected children that are allowed by irresponsible parents the stand, play, etc in the middle of a multi-use path, when there is a lot of nice grass to either side. WTF is up with that?

kwhord

fog horn

DCCommuter

Slow down.

andygates

Multi use paths. Horrid things. Best way to pass a ped of any sort (remember: no headphones might still be clinically deaf) is WIDE. 2, 3 yards wide. If you gotta go close, a cheery "Good mornin'" works for me. But really, why would you want to ride on a route thick with shambling ipod zombies? Get on the road!

noisebeam

I did and I knew it was sarcastic. But I think that it can in some circumstances be a viable, safe and respectful option if you go at that fast controlled speed (still requires some slowing) with suffcient clearance (say 8ft+) where you are not going to have them jump sideways suddenly or crap their pants because you startle them.

Al

cc_rider

Ring twice, pass wide.

va_cyclist

you have a way with words, sir

recursive

This is actually how I pass everyone when there is enough space to do so. I've been doing it for a year, and have yet to have a single issue. On the other hand, if there's not space, then I alert them with some noise, while planning to slow down and wait until they get all the panic out of their system. I don't understand the need to alert someone that you're passing them if there is plenty of space.

Alerting them unnecessarily only creates a chance that they will get in your way.

Bikepacker67

Ohh MAN!
That sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

It's been my experience that Peds can make sudden moves (straddle wide to stretch... pick up something on the ground.... turn around abruptly)

I think cyclists on MUT's and MUP's should pass Peds (and slow cyclists) with the same courtesy we WISH the cagers used when passing us!

cc_rider

The reason is courtesy.
If your are not willing to give courtesy, you don't deserve to get any.

'nother

Taser.

Bikepacker67

LOL!
But how do you make sure that the flopping body doesn't land in your path???

benzol

I usually feel safer on the roads than some of these paths. Between rollerbladers taking up both lanes, walkers with headphones blaring, and people that think it's a good idea to be in the wrong lane while speeding through blind curve, you have no idea what to expect.

Hawkear

Most of the time, if I yell to announce my presence or something, the pedestrians will inevitably look beind their shoulder and drift into my path, and then do something erratic.

Passing without warning works the best for the solitary pedestrians.

Large groups stringing out over the path, now that's a whole different problem.