Bob, The problem is most people don't know that when they walk against traffic on the left, they are suppose to move off the path when on-coming traffic approaches. The result is I have had some close calls when people, especially dog walkers, won't move to the side of the path. This most often happens on my way to work when I turn left from the ramp onto the Pheasant Branch Creek path to go under Parmenter St. in Middleton. As I turn onto the path under Parmenter St., sight distances are limited and reaction time is further limited by the fact that people are moving toward you instead of away from you. Despite having to slow way down due to a sharp turn onto the path, I have nearly hit a couple of dog walkers who would not step off of the path.
At night on the SW Path, it can be difficult to tell if someone is coming towards you or moving away from you. The result is again decreased reaction time once you determine they are moving towards you. And as John Rider has said on this list, what do you do when 2 bicyclists moving in opposite directions each meet a pedestrian walking against traffic? This situations happens on the SW Path resulting in a traffic jam as everybody comes to a complete stop. Mark On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 5:23 AM, [email protected] <[email protected]>wrote: > I apply the same rule as I use on any other > multi- > user intermodal paved transportation facility (i.e., STREET, ROAD, HIGHWAY) > that > lacks separate sidewalks. I walk on the left, facing the direction of > traffic > for safety. I know we go over this from time to time, and someone > inevitably > trots out the party line doctrine that you follow OPPOSITE pedestrian rules > when > the wheeled shared user is a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle. I'm not > convinced by the nonsensical party line doctrine anyway, but the real test > (and, > indeed, the only one that matters) is that I feel much safer on foot if I > can > see what's approaching and can move to the side as needed. And when a > bicyclist, I can also proceed with more certainty knowing that the other > person > sees me as well and can adjust my speed and shift my position as needed > just as > when I am approaching from behind a pedestrian. > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web - Check your email from the web at > http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > -- Mark N. Shahan ------ __o 607 Piper Drive ------- _`\<,_ Madison, WI 53711-1338 ---- (*)/ (*) (608) 274-9367 [email protected]
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
