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>>If you are not staying to the right so the bike can pass you on the left, then you are violating the rules of the road if not the law.<<

Of course, common sense dictates that peds stay to the right. I'm often walking with a 4-year old, keeping her to the right and me holding her left hand. This puts me more towards the right-center of the trail. I'm hoping you agree that this is appropriate!

>>Multi use paths have multiple uses, including bikes, peds, strollers, dogs, etc.

Nice to see you acknowledge this!

>>The bicycle is moving much faster than you, therefore has less reaction time.

Glad to see you also acknowledge the notion of "reaction time." I just want you to realize that the exact same reaction time applies to the pedestrian when the pedestrian is overtaken by a bicycle moving much faster. In fact, I'd argue the pedestrian has even LESS reaction time, because the cyclist has at least observed, processed, and acted on (rang their bell) in some initial segment of time that the pedestrian did not have.

And perhaps it might be nice for you and other cyclists to acknowledge that the "rules of the road" dictate that the cyclist adjust their speed to the conditions of the trail, including surface conditions, visibility, number of other user types, etc. When and where "peds, strollers, dogs, etc." are likely to be encountered, it is the cyclists' responsibility to operate at safe speeds and NOT hit those other modes.

>>The bell is a courtesy to let you know the bike is coming and to give you a chance to act predictably.

I agree, to an extent. What many of us peds are experiencing is a bit of a disconnect with cyclists on what "predictable" should mean. For many of us, it means the cyclist gets predictably annoyed if the ped doesn't leap immediately to the right, even though a ped holding the hand of a 4-year old occupying the center-right of the trail likely has a slower reaction time and, besides which, has the right-of-way. Plus, the cyclist should be operating at a speed where-in the cyclists' "much faster" speed is safely controlled to a more reasonable speed for executing a safe pass. All too often (again, daily), cyclists passing me have an expectation that the ped yields to the cyclist simply because the cyclist rang their bell. It ain't supposed to work that way, folks.

>>The ringing of the bell is the cyclist's predictable behavior.

...which, unless you are asking peds to walk with one eye over their shoulder at all times, generally comes as a surprise. And often, it is (borrowing, again, the OP's phrase) "startling, aggressive, and completely unnecessary."

by roberto on Jun 9, 2012 2:52 pm • link • report