This is a bit lengthy, covering two topics - - how shared use paths should operate for pedestrians and bicyclists, and lights at night.
Jeff Schimpff wrote: <isn't it true that pedestrians are required by law to walk facing traffic on multi-use paths, just as on streets? Very few do.> Scott Ellington wrote: <I prefer to walk on the left on the SW path, but few other pedestrians do. That just doesn't work if there are other pedestrians about. How do we educate the others?> We had considerable discussion on the topic of right of way issues on shared use paths when the Southwest Path opened. See the old Bicycling Community Page link http://wicip.org/bcp2006/statutes/BikePathROWAns.pdf. Here is the current status of this issue, which is unchanged from the previous discussion other than the position taken at the time that was published (January 2002) with regard to pedestrian and bicyclist movements along a shared use path has been further accepted and promoted by others as indicated below. There currently is no law, either state or local in Madison, on which side of a shared use path pedestrians should use. We are, however, trying to get everyone using a shared use path moving in the same direction to use the same side of the path, the right side, with faster users yielding to slower users. This is the norm in most areas that do have laws or guidelines on this. The City of Madison, The Wisconsin DNR, and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin have been consistent in trying to get this message across to all path users for a number of years. Below is educational information put out by these various agencies and organizations. Madison's bike map has promoted all users traveling in the same direction use the same side of the path for about 20 years now. We print and distribute 10 - 15,000 copies of this map each year. Hopefully people read the text side as well as the map side and this info should be sinking in. Here is the text from the map, you can also see this on line at the bottom of the following page http://www.cityofmadison.com/trafficEngineering/documents/SafeBikeTips.pdf Share the Path There are over 35 miles of bicycle paths in Madison. These paths are used by a variety of users, including bicycle commuters, recreational bicyclists, families, pedestrians and skaters. By following a few basic rules, these paths can be shared safely by all users. * All users should keep to the right side of the path. * When traveling side-by-side, stay on the right half of the path. * Faster users should yield to slower users. * Always travel at a safe speed, with due regard for others. Faster users may want to consider alternate routes to ensure the safety of all users. * Pass others on the left. Slow down, give an audible warning such as ringing a bell or calling out “excuse me, passing left”, and wait for a reaction before passing. * Move off the pathway when stopping. * Be careful when crossing streets and driveways. Watch for traffic and make sure other drivers are aware of the path and your presence. If you have purchased a Wisconsin DNR trail pass in the past few years, look at the back of it for the following, which is codified in a sense since it is a resolution passed by the Wisconsin State Trails Council in October 2003. * Treat all trail users with respect and courtesy regardless of their sport, speed, or skill level. * Stay right except to pass. * Pass on the left. Clearly alert others before passing. * Always look before changing positions on the trail. * Stay on the trail. * Do not block the trail. * Pack it in, pack it out. Pick up litter. * Control your speed. The Bike Sense booklet produced by BFW and published in 2004 includes the following on page 37. See http://www.bfw.org/projects/BikeSenseDaneCo-2004-04-27_Pantone543.pdf Trail Etiquette * Whether you are walking, biking, jogging, or roller blading, stay on the right side of the path except to pass. * Faster users must yield to slower users. When approaching another user, slow down and give the person plenty of space. * Pass on the left. Clearly alert others before passing. State law requires an audible warning when passing a pedestrian. * Always look before changing positions on the trail. * Do not block the trail. If you need to stop, move to the side or off the trail. * Control your speed. Trails are not an appropriate place for high speed riding. Respect other trail users. If you feel frustrated slowing down, the road may be a better place for your ride. Finally, the map signs we have posted along some of the paths in Madison include the following Path Etiquette for All Users * Stay right, pass left * Notify others when passing * Yield to slower users * Pull off the path to stop * All pets on a leash Getting back to the lighting issue, here is the legalese as I understand it, from the Wisconsin State Statutes. Definitions and general provisions 340.01(23) "Hours of darkness" means the period of time from one−half hour after sunset to one−half hour before sunrise and all other times when there is not sufficient natural light to render clearly visible any person or vehicle upon a highway at a distance of 500 feet. 347.06 When lighted lamps required. (1) . . . no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway during hours of darkness unless all headlamps, tail lamps and clearance lamps with which such vehicle is required to be equipped are lighted. Parking lamps as defined in s. 347.27 shall not be used for this purpose. (3) The operator of a vehicle shall keep all lamps and reflectors with which such vehicle is required to be equipped reasonably clean and in proper working condition at all times. 346.57 Speed restrictions. (2) REASONABLE AND PRUDENT LIMIT. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. The speed of a vehicle shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and using due care. (3) CONDITIONS REQUIRING REDUCED SPEED. The operator of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of sub. (2), drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, when passing school children, highway construction or maintenance workers or other pedestrians, and when special hazard exists with regard to other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Note that since 347.06 and 346.57 refer to "vehicles" it can be assumed that these law applies to bicyclists as well as motorists since a bicycle is defined as a vehicle in Wisconsin State Statutes. See below for bicyclist's lighting requirements. Pedestrians There is no legal requirement for any pedestrian to use, carry or display any lights or reflectors, nor is there any requirement for pedestrians to wear or not wear any color clothing at any time. Bicyclists There is a requirement that bicyclists use a white front light and a red rear reflector during hours of darkness. This requirements is solely to make the bicyclist visible to others from certain distances away, the 500 feet indicated in the definition of hours of darkness above. There is no requirement that a bicyclist's front light allow the bicyclist to see the road ahead, other objects, pedestrians, etc. Additional lights and reflectors, front and rear, can be used by bicyclists. 347.489 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles, . . . (1) No person may operate a bicycle . . . upon a highway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bicycle way during hours of darkness unless the bicycle . . . is equipped with or . . . the operator is wearing, a lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of the bicycle. . . . A bicycle . . . shall also be equipped with a red reflector that has a diameter of at least 2 inches of surface area . . . on the rear so mounted and maintained as to be visible from all distances from 50 to 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red or flashing amber light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to but not in lieu of the red reflector. Motor Vehicles Motorists have much more defined requirements for lighting. Their head lamps need to "reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead" for low beams, and 350 feet ahead for high beams. If a motor vehicle's head lamps are only capable of revealing persons or objects up to 75 feet ahead, the motor vehicle can only be operated at speeds of 20 mph or less. 347.10 Headlamp specifications for motor vehicles other than mopeds and motor bicycles. (2) Multiple−beam headlamps shall comply with the following requirements: (a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading; (b) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead, and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high−intensity portion of the beam shall be so directed as to strike the eyes of an approaching driver. (4) Any motor vehicle may be operated during hours of darkness when equipped with 2 lighted lamps upon the front thereof capable of revealing persons and objects 75 feet ahead in lieu of lamps required by subs. (1) to (3) if such vehicle at no time is operated at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour. Given the above, here are my recommendations for bicyclists. See this on the web at http://www.cityofmadison.com/trafficEngineering/bicyclingSafety.cfm USE LIGHTS & REFLECTORS AT NIGHT * Lights and reflectors make you visible to other traffic at night. Your white front light also allows you to see hazards that could cause you to crash. * Even on city streets with street lights, your lights and reflectors help you stand out from the background and identify you as a bicyclist to motor vehicle drivers. * You need lights on bike paths and sidewalks to be seen by other bicyclists, pedestrians and cross traffic. BE RECOGNIZED AS A BICYCLIST * Allowing motor vehicle drivers to recognize you as a bicyclist from as far away as possible is the key to nighttime bicyclist safety. * Start with a bright white front light and a large red rear reflector. * Add lights and reflectors that move. Pedal and wheel reflectors, reflective leg bands or leg lights, and flashing rear lights are eye catching due to their motion. * Wear reflective clothing. A reflective vest can be worn over any clothing and helps outline your body, making you more recognizable as a bicyclist to other drivers. * Apply reflective tape to your helmet and bicycle. (Make sure the tape is approved for use on your helmet.) * Use a red rear light. Reflectors alone won’t help if the driver behind you doesn’t have his lights on. Flashing rear lights are especially effective. SEE THE ROAD AHEAD * The law only requires a front light that is visible to others 500 feet in front of you. But you should also want to see the road far enough ahead of you so you can stop if necessary to avoid a hazard. * It takes 35 feet to stop a bicycle traveling at 15 mph on a clean, dry, flat road. Under the best conditions, your front light should allow you to see the road at least 35 - 50 feet ahead. Additional lighting is needed under adverse road or weather conditions. * Be careful not to override your front light. Slow down if you cannot see far enough ahead to avoid road hazards. This will prevent the feeling of hitting something as soon as you see it. Arthur Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 100 PO Box 2986 Madison, WI 53701-2986 608/266-6225
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