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Bikers etiquette on Licoln Park paths

Started 10 months ago by 365Stairs
Latest reply from sbre

365Stairs
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I believe (hope) most byciclists know & practice the "On your left!" or "On your right!" courtesy call outs when approaching pedestrians on paths...

Lincoln Park paths (especially on the beach) are not line designated like other park paths are for either user...so this call out practice should be used and emphasized...(note...I'm not advocating LP make lines...)

The appropriate biker call out is not "Get out of the way!" as I heard yesterday by a fine biking citizen who wanted to go real fast...apparently training for the next Tour d' somewhere.

I had (5) smallish kids with me...they have been taught to listen for the appropriate call outs...but they are kids and may not move as fast...but in turn...please bikers use your courtesy call outs in advance and we will move...I promise...

Posted 10 months ago #
ItsForrest
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Unfortunately, calling out "on your left" or "on your right" more often than not doesn't help at all. These phrases have the best effect on a multi-use path like the Burke Gilman where the majority of path users are used to hearing them. Even so, the percentage of people who just turn around and stand in front of you looking confused is pretty high. In a park like Lincoln park where bikers are a small percentage of users, it seldom does any good.

A bell works much better. A bell is non-verbal and the brain processes it quicker. It also transcends language. We have a large population of non-native English speakers here, not to mention lots of tourists in the summer and the bicycle bell is universal, especially in many other countries where there are huge numbers of people who bike for regular transportation, not to emulate Lance Armstrong.

It's also much easier to use a bell than to try to verbalize anything at all when you're "in the zone" or a bit winded on a bike.

Having said all that, the real solution is to slow down around pedestrians, in well-used parks like Lincoln Park and on multi use paths like the Alki path.

I love riding my mountain bike fast through the trails at Lincoln park for some quick trail fun but it's best done in off seasons, not during crowded summer days.

Posted 10 months ago #
365Stairs
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Bike Bells! (hand to head in embarrassed astonishment)...

Why didn't I think of that?!

Why not cow bells...air horns...bull horns...whistles too!
(all probably very hard to carry easily) :)

Seriously...Really Simple fix!...Good stuff ItsForrest!

Posted 10 months ago #
Al
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I concur with ItsForrest. Calling out in my experience results in people stopping in place and turning around and looking at me funny. Or they move left (if yelling "on your left!"). Or a group will scatter in random directions across the path.

My bike bell is much preferrable and gets consistent results.

;-)

Posted 10 months ago #
CMP
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I would use my bike bell but someone ripped it off my bike, ironically while I was swimming at Colman Pool. In agreement that slowing down around pedestrians is far more helpful than yelling out "on your left"!

Posted 10 months ago #
Charlestowner
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The bike bell is a helpful idea, but I'd like to include a reminder to headphone wearers (roller bladers, bikers, walkers, joggers, all of us) - please be aware of your surroundings and remember you are on a shared path.

It is hard to hear a bell, a person approaching, a call "on your left" or much else when you are tuned out.

Posted 10 months ago #
JanS
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I agree..if I'm out walking, and someone comes up really fast behind me, yelling "On your left", it just startles me....

Posted 10 months ago #
dbsea
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I too like the bike bell. Most people know what it is when they hear it. Somebody yells "Get out of my way" and I'm clothes lining him.

And don't go fast on narrow trails around people. Duh

Posted 10 months ago #
squareeyes
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I learned "on your left" over 25 years ago so have long thought it was standard operating procedure when on a path; it's surprising to learn people see it as a problem.

Posted 10 months ago #
JanS
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I was just remembering my tricycle when I was a kid with it's little bell on the handlebar...I really think they need to make a comeback :D

Posted 10 months ago #
JayDee
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When I went bike riding in Canada once they mandated bike bells. I think they are better than "on your left" because so many people are confused (20%) on direction. Yeah, the path around Lincoln Park really isn't a bike path...so just slow down enjoy the view. In the words of Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"

Posted 10 months ago #
metrognome
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Based on years of observation, I would say that the best solution is to use both suggestions: ring the bell and then say 'Passing on your left'. Why? The bell alerts you to the fact that there is a cyclist coming up behind you, but doesn't tell you their intention. The 'passing on your left' (or right, depending on the situation) tells the ped where the cyclist is going. I have often seen peds respond to 'passing on your left' by itself by making a loop to the left to see who is behind them and ending up right in front of the cyclist. This is because the brain hears 'left' and obeys. Ringing the bell first seems to trigger a more appropriate response by the ped.

Posted 10 months ago #
hammerhead
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I guess from my restaurant days, I am used to on your left or right. When I am walking down the street faster than some one else. I say that, I don't carry bells with me. I personally prefer that.

Posted 10 months ago #
velo_nut
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Biker? They let motorcycles on the paths at Lincoln Park?

Oh wait... You mean bicyclists, or cyclists.

Posted 10 months ago #
DP
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"The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry."

—John Jensen

http://tinyurl.com/life-in-the-slow-lane

Posted 10 months ago #
Kevin
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Taken directly from the Seattle Municipal Code:
.
Section 11.44.120 RIDING ON A SIDEWALK OR PUBLIC PATH. Every person operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk or public path shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of sidewalk or public path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all traffic control devices. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.

For more information about the Seattle Bicycle & Pedestrian Program, call (206) 684-7583.
.

Posted 10 months ago #
sbre
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I am one of those cyclists who pass peds and others on the trails of Lincoln Park and elsewhere in our city.

I save the 'on your left's for other bikers, when passing someone moving faster than foot-speed I'll add 'jogger, boarder, mom or dad (if pushing a stroller)' etc to the verbal warning. Always try to do it a second time if it appears they did not hear me.

When coming up on a group where they are likely to scatter like chickens, from even farther back I'll yell something to the effect of "good morning", or "I'd like to pass please". Something that will get the attention of one or more that will (should) result in a safe passing.

If any of the above don't work after two soundings because they're not paying attention or have wires hanging from their ears, then I'll pass anyway, aware of the space I'm leaving between us. Not menacingly, yet guilt-free as I tried doing my part.

Of course there are those who are legitimately hard-of-hearing/deaf, and I'd like to think most of them are hyper-sensitive to situations like that. However, we know humans right?!!!

In the Marine Corps (and I'm sure in other branches of the service and LEO training) we learned about 'situational awareness', KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU!!!.

It may be our (bikers, faster persons) responsibility to pass you safely, but what about your responsibility of keeping yourself safe?

Heck it's really easy to look behind you every couple of minutes to see if potential trouble is headed your way.

What if you get one of the a-holes on a saddle who don't give a poo-poo and fly by, smacking an elbow with the handle bar causing the two scoops of ice cream to fly off their cone and into the group, with the strawberry one landing in Grandma's purse?! (I actually witnessed this happen at Gas Works park a few years ago)

In utopia bike paths are ONLY for bikes, here on earth we're all in the mixing pot together, lets make something delicious out of it.

Posted 10 months ago #