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• Trail: Slow down, Ring a bell, Passing
• Sidewalk: Slow down, Ring a bell

I would amend #3 to say that I also walk on a sidewalk with many bicyclists (16th St) many times a week.

1. A multi-use path is exactly what it says: a path with multiple types of users, and in that situation we are going to expect a lot more interaction. Both cyclists and pedestrians have to be aware that there will be other users.

2. The speed differential between peds and bikes on these paths is as big as bikes and cars on a fast road. Peds are walking 3-4mph, bikes are going 10-12mph and more. That's 3 or more times as fast - that's like a cyclist on the road at 15mph and cars zooming by at 45.

It seems to me that in this case the cyclist was going too fast for the situation, did not announce their presence early enough, and passed too closely, but we don't know exactly what happened. I bike in shared spaces often enough to know that plenty of pedestrians look or turn left when you say "on your left." This is something you have to expect and be ready to take evasive action. Pass slowly if you need to and only when you can see that there isn't traffic coming the other direction.

There are so many examples of bad behavior by bicyclists on multi-use spaces in the DC area (including RCP on the weekends). Most of it seems to be bred by the same sort of unwarranted impatience that plagues many car drivers when it comes to bikes.

by MLD on Jun 12, 2012 9:03 am • link • report