Do you really have time to do all that greeting and then notify them that
you intend to pass?  It seems to me a greeting should always be to someone¹s
face.  As either a pedestrian or a biker being approached from the back, I¹d
prefer just ³On your left² as opposed to any verbiage beyond the main
message.  

Actually, despite all the ³rules,² and suggestions, I prefer no warning at
all.  To me, the verbal warning or the bell is kind of like the motorist who
blares his horn at me simply because I¹m riding on the street no matter how
far to the right I am ­ feels rude and unnecessary.  I¹m far more likely to
do something unexpected if someone makes a big racket than if the biker or
motorist simply passed me in silence.  Of course I prefer that the passer
gives enough clearance as he passes.

Mary


On 11/23/12 8:52 AM, "Tom Held" <[email protected]> wrote:

> 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.
>>> 
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
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>>> http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 


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