Fifty Plus (50+) - Surprised on Rail Trail

I've commented here many times about the simplicity on riding on my local rail trails, where the usage is very light - to the point of sometimes riding 20+ miles without passing another biker or walker. Thus I haven't had the problems that many people report on busy MUPs.

The other day I'm out for a ride, and being a beautiful day, there are more than normal trail users. Still well short of busy, but over every 5 miles I'm seeing about 6-8 people. Nearly all of them being recreational trail riders, with small kids or older couples out for a relaxing ride.

So I'm riding along, heading for home, just a couple of miles to go. I see a walker up ahead of me, a good half-mile from me, walking in the same direction as I'm traveling. I gradually come up on her. She's hanging on the right edge of the trail, walking a very straight line. No headphones on. My tires are crunching through the gravel. Walkers without headphones always hear me on these trails. Hard to sneak up on someone.

I pull out on the left and start to announce my pressure by calling out "Passing" as I almost always do. But for some reason, I don't bother. It seemed pointless, as I was making enough noise and she had been hugging the right lane for as long as I had seen her.

So right as I go to pass her, when I'm about 10' behind her, without looking, she steps directly to her left, into the left lane and directly into my path. I was shocked. I yell "Watch Out", squeeze both brakes, both tires skid briefly on the gravel, then I hard cut to my right, and start pedaling. Somehow I barely miss hitting her. I continue to fight for control of the bike for a couple of secs & then regain it and begin pedaling normally.

She yells out from behind me ... Sorry, I didn't hear you! But I was so focused on getting control of the bike, and in dealing with my irritation for her stepping in front of me, that I didn't say anything back. That is so unlike me. A few seconds later I wished that I had, but at the time, I had no words for her. I would have said that I should have made sure she knew I was there, but that she should also look before she changes lanes on a bike path. At least I didn't curse her.

My lesson learned is ... despite every factor suggesting that it was safe to pass, don't assume that you shouldn't make sure they know you're there. I should have said "Passing." And I should mount a little bell on my bike to make a more distinct noise. I had one on there, but it jingled as I rode over gravel, so I took it off.

Your point is well taken.............no matter how many times you pass pedestrians (or anyone else including bikers), sooner or later they will do something completely unexpected.

All persons and things on a country MUP are living in their very own personal world. So are we. It is really common to be unaware of others at times...........the pretty flower, an animal sighting. Sometimes its us as a faster bicycle closes from behind and passes.

No rail-trails around here, but when I did live near them, I would always announce when I was passing. One thing I noticed-a lot of people must not know their left from their right-I'd announce "passing on your left", and have had many step to the left!

No rail-trails around here, but when I did live near them, I would always announce when I was passing. One thing I noticed-a lot of people must not know their left from their right-I'd announce "passing on your left", and have had many step to the left!

Say "Passing." Automatically, folks in the USA know that passing is done on their left, and move right.

Another thing (it happened to me yesterday) is that, after giving your warning - bell, voice - whatever - kids (and sometimes adults) will look over their left shoulder and while looking, actually pull left into one's path, while trying to see what is behind them.

Another thing (it happened to me yesterday) is that, after giving your warning - bell, voice - whatever - kids (and sometimes adults) will look over their left shoulder and actually pull left, while looking, into one's path while trying to see what is behind them.

+1

Paths are scary; people on them (riders, roller bladers, kids, people walking dogs) are completely unpredictable.

Pedestrians are like squirrels - no traffic laws apply to them and in fact they don't seem to have any perception of them; only the illusion that they do. Never count on a pedestrian being predictable.

For whatever reason, people who are right-handed (the majority) almost always, when surprised by a noise from behind, will look over their left shoulder. I've read that successful fighter pilots in WWI and WWII took advantage of this by, whenever possible, attacking from behind and below on the right side.

Of course there's always that one left-handed iPod-using jogger that'll get ya every time!

For whatever reason, people who are right-handed (the majority) almost always, when surprised by a noise from behind, will look over their left shoulder. I've read that successful fighter pilots in WWI and WWII took advantage of this by, whenever possible, attacking from behind and below on the right side.

Of course there's always that one left-handed iPod-using jogger that'll get ya every time!


Say "Passing." Automatically, folks in the USA know that passing is done on their left, and move right.

Another thing (it happened to me yesterday) is that, after giving your warning - bell, voice - whatever - kids (and sometimes adults) will look over their left shoulder and while looking, actually pull left into one's path, while trying to see what is behind them.

Yep!

Glad we agree.

Say "Passing." Automatically, folks in the USA know that passing is done on their left, and move right.

Another thing (it happened to me yesterday) is that, after giving your warning - bell, voice - whatever - kids (and sometimes adults) will look over their left shoulder and while looking, actually pull left into one's path, while trying to see what is behind them.

+1

Kids seem to be the most unpredictable on the paths. I always slow down to a snail's pace when passing them:)

I am glad no one was harmed and you were able to recover safely.

My wife and I ride a MUP that makes connection to two additions we ride as part of our 10 mile ride each evening. As the sun is setting earlier, we have been riding earlier and encountering more traffic.

Always announce "on your left" and if two or more even include our number as well, [2 on your left] when prepping to pass.

Last night approached a couple walking same direction and a jogger approaching, with no room to pass we slowed, made them aware we were behind, and waited for the jogger to clear, then from behind, no sound no announcement, a person in mid thirties on MTB shoots past us and just clears the jogger because the folks in front of us had just stepped of the path.

Every one looked shocked and then to me, and I say "he is not with us".

I wanted to chase him down but my wife said to leave it be... So I did as she requested.

I think walkers that aren't regulars on the trail hear "uwr LEFT" and move left. Just "passing" "passing through" or "good morning" works for me.

I use "on your left" for riders in my same group ride.

The trouble is that the walkers/joggers now basically all have iPods if they are out alone. I always call out; they never hear me. This is now just a crap shoot. And, I just shiver when I see CYCLISTS on a MUP (or anywhere, really) also with the iPods on. Death wish.

The passing on the left is the norm in most areas of the US. But you could live here in the middle of NASCAR country, where everyone thinks that when you tell them that you want to pass, then it is time to step (pull) in front of you in an attempt to block so they can win. You see that here whether they are driving a car or just walking thru the Mall.

Good point, Tom. My little Incredibell is silent unless I ping it.

I always give them a ding or two, and also announce, sometimes by saying a simple good morning.

Knock, knock!

In our area it is required that bikes using a MUP also have a bell. I usually ping it a few times about 100 ft out (just within what I judge to be earshot) to give people plenty of time to react.

I also think that there is a certain fraction of the population that will walk in front of you unexpectedly in order to satisfy some unknown psychological need (albeit unconcious).

If you don't have a bell, you could warn like a pirate: "Aye, me maties! Passing on yer left! Ignore at yer own peril...arrrrrrrgh!

The passing on the left is the norm in most areas of the US. But you could live here in the middle of NASCAR country, where everyone thinks that when you tell them that you want to pass, then it is time to step (pull) in front of you in an attempt to block so they can win. You see that here whether they are driving a car or just walking thru the Mall.

:lol::lol:

To carry the NASCAR analogy further, maybe people are expecting to have their own personal "spotters" the way NASCAR drivers do. If we all had two-way radios in our ears, with a spotter up in the sky, we could have folks telling us what to do in advance of a colllision.

Now, there's an idea with merit!

:lol::lol:

To carry the NASCAR analogy further, maybe people are expecting to have their own personal "spotters" the way NASCAR drivers do. If we all had two-way radios in our ears, with a spotter up in the sky, we could have folks telling us what to do in advance of a colllision.

That only works on MUPs with all left hand turns. :p

If I had a NASCAR mentality, I would have put her into the ditch.

My wife is hard of hearing in her left ear and its really hard for her to hear a lot of the time such as when we are riding and she gets noise from the air moving past her helmet. Even when she has her hearing aid in place she has tones and db ranges she still doesn't recieve. I have tried to impress upon her to check the mirror frequently but she still gets the occasional surprise.

Okay, one more time.

Knock! Knock!

OK, I give up -----

"Who's there?"

Isabelle

At least I didn't curse her.


Nor did she curse you.
I'm sure she learned a lesson that day also, without you having to explain to her.
Glad it ended well for the both of you .

you are so right that you would have put her in the ditch, but that is what a lot of us here have to deal with. The walkers think they have the entire trail and all others have to yield to them, then you get the bikers that think they are driving on the race track and no one will get around them.

Say "Passing." Automatically, folks in the USA know that passing is done on their left, and move right.

Bad assumption. I say "passing" myself, but I hold no illusion that everybody will expect me to pass on the left or that they will move to the right. Unilateral assumptions cause accidents, especially on MUPs, where unlike the road, everyone is not operating from the same playbook (ever notice how many peds treat MUPs as roads and walk facing traffic, rather than with it?). As Ronnie Reagan used to say "trust but verify", or as I like to say, plan for Murphy...always assume the other person is going to do the stupidest thing possible and plan your contingencies accordingly...so when/if they do, you are ready for it. When it comes to passing on a MUP, I assume everyone is deaf, stupid and spastic. ;)

On every MUP I know, we are obligated to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. For me, that serves as a reminder to keep speeds down around walkers. I use both verbal announcement and my little Incredibell but consider them only a matter of courtesy.

Some riders suggest that our bells and announcements cause problems because they provoke otherwise predictable walkers into erratic behavior. That certainly seems true sometimes. Reducing speed is the only good way I've found to avoid problems.

Went out at lunch today and bought a new brass Incredibell. It was 68 degrees and clear blue skies. Had my Fuji in my car and so I took a ride around one of our lakes. Really nice. All paved MUPs and some low traffic back streets. Will admit that I stretched the lunch "hour" to 90 minutes. Hard to come back in for afternoon meetings.

Ding - Ding ... I can now announce my presence.

Three things that I've learned from riding on Rail Trails ( C&O Canal, Shippensburg R-T-T, and The Grand Canyon Pine Creek Trail) is that: 1.) Ringing a bell will usually cause people to stop where they are at and look around, 2.) Young children will usually run out in front of you as you pass, and 3.) Groups of walkers will seldom clear the trail to the right. Don't even get me started on passing horses and riders on the trails.

Yep, pedestrians usually respond kindly to bells and freindly hellos
from considerate, slowly passing cyclists.

I've tried "passing" but the results are about the same as "passing on your left".

If there is enough space I just slow way down and pass without comment.

Went out at lunch today and bought a new brass Incredibell. It was 68 degrees and clear blue skies. Had my Fuji in my car and so I took a ride around one of our lakes. Really nice. All paved MUPs and some low traffic back streets. Will admit that I stretched the lunch "hour" to 90 minutes. Hard to come back in for afternoon meetings.

Ding - Ding ... I can now announce my presence.

It's nice to have all the latest bells and ..... :)

Isabelle who?

Nor did she curse you.


Nor should she have.

At any time that I'm walking, riding a bike, or driving a motor vehicle, and I decide to suddenly turn into the other lane, without looking or signaling, and I cause or nearly cause another person to crash, I don't think I'm the person who should be cursing. Unless it is at myself.

But, yes, at least she didn't.

Yep, pedestrians usually respond kindly to bells and freindly hellos
from considerate, slowly passing cyclists.

Slowly passing cyclists. Anytime I pass someone it is slowly. That's the only way I ride!

In this case, I was doing 11 mph when she stepped in front of me. Slowing down from my approach speed which had been 12.5 mph.

I suspect she was walking at about 3-4 mph, so I was gaining on her at a rate of approximately 9 mph (I actually think of these things as I'm riding). She was a bit over a half-mile from me when I first spotted her, so it took me about 3.5 minutes to overtake her. Over that period she walked on the far right side of the right lane, never once even venturing out toward the middle. That is, until I was only a few feet behind her and in the left lane.

Next time I'm at least going to be dinging my little bell.

Yep, I assumed if you were roaring down the path at warp speed that she
would have been upset with you instead of apologetic. That and I think you've often posted that you ride the trails at a relaxing pace rather that like a speed demon. (a throwback to that trip over the cliff?) :D

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were going too fast.

I guess I am one of those who should not be allowed on teh MUP as I frequently pass at 22 to 25MPH I start yelling at them well ahead of when I will pass - gives them time to respond irradically before I get too close. If they don't respond I yell louder. If they still don't respond I figure they have ear plugs in and am force to make a slow pass.

Today - I also took a few hours and rode the MUP. The power went out around 3:00 at work, when it came back on the computer network was down so I left work at 3:30 for a 90 minute ride. I was coming around a blind corner and there was a guy walking his dog coming towards me in the right lane and two cyclists working thier way up the hill in the left lane behind him where they all should have been - I thought we were in for a crash but I got between all of them OK - it was teh first time I had a problem in that location.

Sometimes I don't know what is less safe, the MUP or the road during commuting hours. I'll still take my chances on the MUP - at least I can bail out on the soft grass rather than end up in the ditch.

Went out at lunch today and bought a new brass Incredibell. It was 68 degrees and clear blue skies. Had my Fuji in my car and so I took a ride around one of our lakes. Really nice. All paved MUPs and some low traffic back streets. Will admit that I stretched the lunch "hour" to 90 minutes. Hard to come back in for afternoon meetings.

Ding - Ding ... I can now announce my presence.

That's a really good idea if you ride regularly on MUP's.

Bells can be heard from a long ways away, are instantly identifiable as an overtaking bicycle, and don't have the "startle factor" that can sometimes happen when trying to announce "Passing" or "On Your Left".

Unfortunately, they don't work with the ever growing legions of "Pod people" - for those just cruise by 'em with about 6" of clearance and a deep-voiced "Hi!!!", and watch 'em jump in your rearview mirror. :D

I think I shocked a couple of guys on my ride Sunday last, when I called out "izquierda" instead of "on your left."

ding ding?

People with bad hearing can't hear the ding ding. It is high pitched. That includes me.
I use a squeeze thingy that clamps on a handlebar. It looks like a macaw, other things are available.

Last year I moved from Summit County, Colorado. That includes Breckenridge.
The bike paths kept the ambulance busy on weekends. It could not keep up with the carnage.
Cyclist that ride over 10mph did not use it on on weekends once they learned how bad bikepaths are.

As I wrote earlier, and in other threads, the bike paths around me are very lightly used. To the point of where earlier this year, I took two rides of over 25 miles and didn't pass another person (cyclist, walker, or even dog) on either ride.

On a typical ride of 20-25 miles, I see maybe 8-10 people. Rarely ever see a dog walker.

I have seen two crashes. Once when a bumblebee stung a rider in the face, and the other time when a derailleur went into the spokes.

But it is good to read about other busy bike paths. That means they are being used and perhaps more will be funded.

If I had a NASCAR mentality, I would have put her into the ditch.

Well, rubbin' is racin'. You would have been well within your rights.:thumb:

People can detect sound direction pretty well. It doesn't seem that people jump the wrong way as often if I announce 'passing' when I am behind and to their left rather than behind and to their right. YMMV

I suspect she was walking at about 3-4 mph, so I was gaining on her at a rate of approximately 9 mph (I actually think of these things as I'm riding).

...and so if a locomotive is leaving Town A going 50 miles hour, and you are on the rails-to-trail path going 13 mph (still closing on the pedestrian at 9 mph), but you left a half hour before the locomotive, how long will it be before the engineer driving the locomotive remembers that they removed the train tracks?

Isabelle who?

I think walkers that aren't regulars on the trail hear "uwr LEFT" and move left. Just "passing" "passing through" or "good morning" works for me.

I use "on your left" for riders in my same group ride.


If someone is deep in concentration they're unlikely to hear the "on your" part, and hear only "left" which is also spoken more emphatically. As in, "on your LEFT!". So, they move to the left.

"ding! ding! ding!" or "Good morning!" or "Passing!" works for us.

Anyway, glad you didn't fall or have any other type of mishap on an otherwise nice day.

Isabelle who?

Isabelle necessary on a bicycle?


:roflmao2: I slay me.

Isabelle ringing. ^ Didn't see that coming.