The paths in Madison do have instructions for trail use, but they aren't very visible. If you look at the new maps that were installed on many of the multi-use paths around town, you will see that there is a section on "Etiquette for All Path Users." There it says "Stay Right, Pass on Left," and "Yield to Slower Users." The reason for people to stay on the right side is that on the multi-use paths, pedestrians are intended users along with everyone else. Because of that, they should be walking on the right side with all the other traffic going their same direction. Then all the normal traffic rules apply. Lane placement is in relation to speed. Slower users stay right, faster users pass on the left when it is safe.
The practice of walking on the left of ROADWAYS is appropriate where there are no sidewalks. Pedestrians are not intended users of the actual roadway. Given the speed differential between cars and pedestrians, and that cars are not expecting to find pedestrians walking along the side of the road, pedestrians should walk on the left facing traffic so they can more easily see what might run over them and kill them and be able to get out of it's way. So it is their responsibility to step off the roadway when a car comes at them, as the car still might not see a pedestrian walking toward them in their own lane. So following that same convention, if people want to walk on the left (wrong or unintended) side of a multi-use path, then they should step off the trail whenever another user comes toward them in that lane. (Usually they just glare at you and expect you to swerve into oncoming traffic on the other side of the path.) Otherwise, what rules apply when you have someone walking the wrong way, someone walking the right way, bicycles or rollerbladers coming from opposite directions, and they all meet at the same spot on the path? (Yes, I come across this situation relatively often on the John Nolen section of the Capital City Trail.) Who does what? Who yields, who moves left, who moves right? And if people don't step off of the path then you have them coming towards you either straight on or from the right, and bikes or bladers coming towards you on the left. So you can either squeeze between the pedestrians who are now on your right side coming the wrong way and the bikes coming the opposite direction on their own side of the path, or you can come to a dead stop and let the pedestrian choose which side to go around you. Whatever happens, it's just a Cluster... um it's a Big Mess. So Stay Right, and Pass On The Left WHEN It's Safe. John Rider Bicycle Safety Educator League of American Bicyclists League Cycling Instructor And Regional Trainer -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Schimpff, Jeff A - DNR Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 11:34 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Bikies] SW Bike Path - Pedestrian Injury My version of reality is that when we walk on shared trails, we should do so facing traffic in our lane, just like walking along a street with no sidewalk. That way, as a pedestrian you have a chance to protect yourself against inattentive cyclists - unless you are an inattentive pedestrian. The bike/shared use trails should be signed as such, because most pedestrians seem to have no knowledge of that practice. Personally, I'd like to see separate wood-chipped walking trails designated on each side. That might encourage gangs of pedestrians and some dog walkers not to block the path, and runners to put less stress on their joints, by using a side trail. There is some room for that, except at the current bridges, and ped bridges could be added to each side. That brings the question: what IS the legal nature of the SW Path, Cap City Trail, etc? Roadway? Sidewalk? Something in between? That would seem to affect the way everyone should use it. In this instance, if both parties were east-bound, there is the potential that the sun was in the rider's eyes. At least, if I was the defense attorney, that might be what I'd have the cyclist testify. Or, maybe they were the type of cyclist who usually rides head down and doesn't look much Jeff Schimpff "Bus, Bike, Walk or Carpool to Work for Clean Air for Kids" -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 8:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Bikies] SW Bike Path - Pedestrian Injury A bicyclist rode into the back of an 80-year old women on the SW Corridor path between Midvale Blvd. and Odana Rd. last Tuesday (6/26). The women (who I talked to because she is my neighbor) was knocked down and suffered a dislocated finger. She was hit from behind in broad daylight - about 9:00 AM. The police were called and an ambulance came to the scene. (I've looked but haven't been able to find the police report on the incident yet.) How does a bicyclist riding a bike path in the same direction fail to see a pedestrian directly in front of them in time to avoid plowing into them? This gives us all a bad reputation. What can we do to minimize the chances of this happening again? Mike Neuman _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
