Spring and summer bring reminders for pathway etiquette
With spring here and summer coming fast on its heels, use of the area’s walking/biking paths is on the rise. Anyone who has been suddenly startled off balance by a bicycle quickly approaching from behind knows how important it is to understand basic guidelines and etiquette for these mixed-use byways.
The Ohio Department of Transportation said, “Shared-use paths should be thought of as a system of off-road transportation routes for pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonmotorized users for transportation and recreation purposes.”
A good starting point can be to stay to the right.
Cyclingsavy.org says, “When all users keep right, faster users can simply slow and wait for the opportunity to pass. If you cannot keep your bike balanced at walking speed, you probably aren’t ready yet to be on the path.”
The Ohio and Erie Canalway website at www.ohioanderiecanalway.com discusses guidelines that easily translate to paved city walkways. They recommend adults and children, including children in bicycle trailers, wear a helmet. Bicyclists traveling in groups are advised to travel single-file. Depending on the width of the walkway, when a path is busy, walkers may want to heed this suggestion to allow others to easily pass.
To avoid the surprise of startling someone from behind, always give an audible signal when passing. A bike bell works or simply saying “good morning” or “on your left.” Then be sure to always pass on the left, giving the person being passed a wide berth. When traveling in a group, many bicyclists also call out the number of riders. And it is advised to slow down when passing.
Many people enjoying the pathways listen to books, podcasts and music as they walk and ride. This can make it difficult to maintain awareness of possible hazards. The Canalway website says, “If wearing headphones, please leave one ear clear so you can remain alert to other trail users.”
As a matter of courtesy and safety, one should move off the path when stopping for any reason. Also, whenever out walking or biking, cleaning up after oneself and one’s pet is always the right move.
Keeping dogs on a short leash when a path is busy is another common courtesy, explained by cyclingsavy. Beyond courtesy, it is a safety issue as well.
“It’s very alarming for bicyclists to have a dog on a retractable leash run across in front of them or wander toward them while the owner appears distracted,” the site says. “Dogs can cause a crash. Some people have a fear of dogs due to having been attacked. Having a dog lurch toward them can cause panic.”
When in doubt, the best course of action when navigating outdoor paths is to remember to stay to the right, yield to the slowest, announce when coming up behind, be sure to listen for alerts, clean up after humans and pets, and always be kind.