On 7/7/05, Robbie Webber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Funny, I rarely startle pedestrians on the path. Yes, the ones with the
headphones are tough to deal with. Nothing seems to get through, but
that is their choice to be unaware of their surroundings.
One way to not startle walkers is to give them plenty of notice.
Yelling, "ON YOUR LEFT!" a microsecond before flying by doesn't count.
Read Arthur's suggestions:
1. Slow down (and wait for an appropriate time to pass - ie. no
on-coming traffic.)
2. Announce your presence
3. Wait for a reaction before passing.
I think this last step is missed by many. I start telling people,
"Coming by on your left" at least five seconds before I reach the
person. If they don't react, I may even slow down to the point that I am
going pedestrian speed. Ditto if there are walkers or other bicyclists
coming the opposite direction.
Now some walkers are already looking around, and if I pass them slowly,
I don't always bother to say anything. But you gotta give them a wide
berth just in case.
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Perhaps I didn't adequately explain myself.
My point was that no matter how much warning you give some of the pedestrians on the paths in Madison, they still don't seem to understand what "on your left" or a bell ringing actually means. For this same reason, I end up slowing down to a crawl far more often than I should have to.
It's also one of the reasons (along with two-abreast stroller pushers, inept rollerbladers, poorly-controlled dogs on retractable leashes, and badly designed/implemented level-crossings) that I will take an alternate route to avoid the paths when the routes are available.
The bottom line is this: I accept my responsibility as a path user. I just think that pedestrians, rollerbladers, and all the rest should do the same. I'm aware of my surroundings and try to ensure both my own safety and that of the people around me. All I ask is that they do so as well.
And yes, I realize that this is a pipe dream.
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