HillCusser

Cyclist need to take greater care!!!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/woman-80-killed-in-arlington-after-collision-with-bicyclist/2012/06/12/gJQA5FGaXV_blog.html?hpid=z6

Here's another link to the story with a video of where it happened
https://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/06...ton-76872.html

PJCB

Jeez. I've always been afraid I was the one who'd end up dead...not killing someone else. But as you said, greater care is needed. As someone is partially deaf, I know the difficulty in hearing your surroundings, especially when outside. Maybe pedestrians should get the same 3 feet rule that cars have with us...

Tundra_Man 

Sad situation. He rang his bell and announced his presence, so props to the rider for attempting to do the right thing. I have changed my announcement to simply state, "passing!" for this very reason.

There is still the occasional pedestrian on the MUP that moves to the left even with this statement, so great care is still needed.

locolobo13 

It's instinctive for some people surprised by a sound to turn towards the sound. I've observed this in others and even in myself when walking a path or sidewalk. Nowadays, when passing a pedestrian who hasn't acknowledged me in some way I slow way down and say "EXCUSE ME". Even that doesn't always work. But when it does be prepared for them to turn towards your side of the path instead of away from it.

acidfast7

don't you guys divide the paths into a pedestrian side and a cycling side?

SW7783

I usually ring my bell but on occasion I voice myself, but usually pass with as much room as possible. I'm always edge cautious around dog walkers too. My nemesis on the paved multi-use trail is the strolled, though. They take up a lot of room and in my experience they don't move much either.

Doohickie

Most MUPs in the US (that I've seen) have no markings whatsoever. Large sections of the MUP along the river here have two different paths, one paved and one packed crushed stone, and people on foot usually stick to the stone and cyclists to the paved path, but this is not universal and there are no signs instructing people which path to use.


I rarely use verbal callouts anymore when passing a pedestrian on the MUP. When I'm about a hundred feet back, I'll ring my bell once. If the pedestrian responds (moves right, waves, looks, whatever) and I know they see me, I proceed on through. No acknowledgement? When the distances is closer I ring the bell again, several times in a row and slow down. If they still don't respond, I ring it continuously as I pass and prepare to stop if necessary. At times I will go 20+ mph on the MUP, but NEVER when I'm passing pedestrians. Even if they acknowledge me I still pass slowly, maybe about 10 mph. It's a MUP- Multi-Use Path- and pedestrians have the right of way.

A few months ago, someone was similarly killed on a MUP in this area. The cyclist was not charged with anything because the jogger was jogging along, then abruptly stopped and did a U-turn (right into the passing cyclist) without looking to see if it was clear. She was also wearing ear buds. I don't remember for sure, but I think the cyclist had already slowed somewhat.

Wolfwerx

I don't think that there's any "great" solution for interaction between cyclists and peds on a MUP. I will say that, in my personal observation (as a runner and cyclist), that the absolute worst people on a MUP are those out for a leisurely stroll. They have every right to use the path, but they are generally the ones that will walk up the wrong side of the path, or right down the middle with a pet on a leash/ children, or a whole group taking up the entire width of a path. No matter what you call out, they are so ignorant/oblivious to the rest of the world that they present a danger to anybody on a bike, and major annoyance to runners. The annoyance/danger is multiplied when they are plugged in to their mp3 players and have them blaringly loud.

Just last night, I was jogging on a MUP and the weather was quite nice so the "strollers" were out in force. The path I was on is ~8 feet wide and as I'm approaching a couple of older women (from the front, they could easily see me, and my day-glo shirt) one of the older ladies actually stepped IN MY WAY and was doing a weird fake jogging pantomime. I'm sure that she thought she was being funny, or friendly, or something, but she caused me to have to slam on my brakes. Totally unaware that I could've twisted an ankle/knee, or not been able to halt as fast as I did and I would've bowled her over.
All the paths around me are like that. It's kind of getting to the point that I prefer to use the paths when it's raining, or at some ungodly hour (though that is not a great choice, because technically the paths are closed from dusk to dawn, also there are other safety issues) so I can avoid the casual users.

Obviously, that article doesn't/can't give all of the details, so I hope the cyclist was acting properly and this was just an unavoidable accident.

locolobo13 

Not that I've seen around here.

PJCB

They divide the paths in Connecticut generally by speed, not mode of transportation. Joggers and cyclists have the left, walkers on the right. Now whether or not anyone follows those divisions is another matter...

acidfast7

here, even the "sidewalk"/"bikelane" is divided ... notice the sign at 00:13. cyclist to the left side of the white lines and pedestrians to the right side. there's also a huge amount of "walk your bike", or "cyclists use walking speed" or "dismount bike" signs.

alan s 

Not sure about 4MR trail, but most of the MUPs in the DC area have a dividing line down the middle for separation of opposing traffic, not that it would have made any difference in this case. I use an Incredibell, and if some sort of response is not detected showing the ped knows I am passing, I'll slow down, ring again, several times if necessary, and use my voice to get their attention. Kids and dogs require even more caution. The trails here are rather narrow and dangerous at times. Best solution would be to create an adjacent trail to separate peds and bikes, but not likely to happen.

KevinF

I was out walking the other day in a local park frequented by walkers and MTBers (dirt paths). Anyway, I heard "on your left" and immediately stepped left to get out of his way. Thankfully the rider wasn't that close to me so my stepping left gave him plenty of time to go right instead.

I used to say "on your left" whenever I was passing somebody, but it seems like most people (myself included...) step left when hearing "on your left". Now I just pass, usually silently. (There are no bike paths near me, so my riding is on the open road and I just swing way left of whoever I'm passing and pass. Usually say "hi" when I'm along side of them).

PJCB

Germany has always been cooler than us.

SkippyX

I'm rarely on a multi-use path. When I am, I always slow down dramatically when approaching a pedestrian. When approaching from behind I always say something along the lines of "passing on your left", but I don't try to pass them until they've looked back and have seen me coming.

I certainly don't claim to be the most law abiding citizen when it comes to traffic laws while riding. In a world of auto traffic it's all about maintaining my safety, and if that means violating a traffic law, that's fine by me.

However, when it comes to an environment where I'm the largest, fastest thing "on the road", it's incumbent on me to ensure not only my own safety but the safety of others as well. I'd have a hard time dealing w/ causing injury to someone else because of my own carelessness.

I don't know what to think of the actions of the rider in the cited incident. He rang his bell. He shouted. Still, he ran down an 80 year old woman. I can't help but feel that the incident could have been avoided with just a little more caution.

acidfast7

I'm not sure about that. But the cycling over is pretty nice (compared to TX.)

PJCB

Less babies, more dogs (+ gov stipends for owning one), bike-friendly streets, stable government, strong financial situation, reasonable higher education, individualistic fashion...seems pretty awesome to me

acidfast7

you may actually like Scandinavia even more

edit: check out "hunddagis"

PJCB

I can imagine I would.

Yo Spiff

I did that recently when I found myself unexpectedly cycling through a large running event on our MUP. There were people everywhere, so I just announced "bicycles passing!". One runner corrected me that I should have said "Passing on your left". Damned if you do and damned if you don't, I suppose.

locolobo13 

Nice video. It looks to me like you still have to be cautious approaching pedestrians. There seemed to be quite a few autos and what not parked partially in the bike lane.

SlimRider

If I had a dollar for every time someone veered to the left, after I shouted, "On Your Left!", I'd be worth millions...

Sometimes, I think, people confuse there right and left side, on the spur of the moment, out of nervousness and the urgency to think quickly.

OTOH with an Airzound horn, there's no thinking involved --->

* Nobody wants to move towards that awful sound! *

Surrealdeal

For what it's worth I think that it is beneficial to give the other person an extra second to process what you are saying. I call out "Passing on your left" rather than just "On your left." In heavier traffic where I am already moving slower (& not out of breath) I might even draw it out with "Hi, I'm passing on your left."

I am especially inclined to do that on the ride home when I overtake moms out with their wobbly kids on their little starter bikes. In addition to cutting them some slack I think that it sounds friendlier and less ass-hattish than just barking out 'on your left.' I also think that's important to do demonstrate courtesy in those situations so that it will make an impression on the kids for how things are supposed to be done.

Re: oblivious and/or earbud wearing people who don't acknowledge me, I always overtake them with an evasion plan for where I'm going to go if they alter course and I have to ditch. It's the same skill that you use each time you drive a car.

cycronin

A few weeks ago encountered a drunk staggering along a trail... he'd veered off to the left side of the trail so I was passing on the right. I yelled "passing by" and he veered right into me. I'd slowed down to the point that all I did was bump him. Fortunately he wasn't an angry drunk. But ultimately it seems to me the best safety technique in these situations is to slow down. It would seem from the story, the cyclist probably did not slow down enough, or at all. You have to be prepared to slow down or stop.

sauerwald

The purpose of a MUP in the US is to move pedestrians and cyclists away from the motor vehicles, so that the cars can go faster. Safety for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as convenience for cyclists pedestrians is not a part of the reason for building these facilities, so no, the MUPs are generally not divided into pedestrian and cycling sides, and often are not divided for direction either.