Frank Hassler wrote <As for bike/pedestrian interactions on the bike path, I think walkers and runners need to be more responsible for their own well being. >
Unfortunately, this is the kind of thinking that has gotten to the point where, as a society, we think nothing of killing 40,000 people a year on our highways (an epidemic if this many people were killed by any other means) and when someone is brought to court for killing someone with a motor vehicle there are few if any consequences because it was just an "accident" (unless the driver was drunk). Until motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others can get over their "entitlement" we cannot solve out traffic safety problems. Whatever our mode of transportation / recreation, we all need to operate in a way that places the safety of others we interact with above our own convenience. Robbie is absolutely correct that these are "MULTI-USE PATH and all users need to yield to slower users." On the back of the Madison bike map for the past 20 years is the following information 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. For everyone's safety, I would hope these are rules that we can all abide by. 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 _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
