Great discussion and I thought Robbie had an excellent approach. I would add this: I try to greet people first - good morning, good afternoon, Hi, how are you - to let them know I'm behind them. Then announce my intention to pass. It gives people time to react.
Tom On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 12:41 PM, Mark Shahan <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > >
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