bikers, walkers, who has the right of way?
OK, here's one for you. I have been walking up at the field of dreams for years, either pushing a stoller with my grandchild, or walking two dogs on either side of me. The path is not that wide, but certainly people are able to pass each other.
My beef is with this one women who uses the path to ride her bike around, every time she get behind you she rings her bell and wants you to get off the path onto the grass so she can pass, this pisses me off. I have had to push the stoller onto the grass while she goes her merry way.
Tonight she had her kids with her, I was up there with my two dogs, they all ring their bells and say excuse me, I had had enough, didn't move just said walkers have the right of way. Then comes mother and son ringing their bell for me to move, I wouldn't move, just said Pedestrians have the right of way. She said we're ringing the bell, walkers have the right of way, I said. She's on a freakin bike, ride around us on the grass.
Am I wrong, I have always understood that that is a walking path, people ride on it, but it is a walking path, if you want to ride on a walking path go around people on the grass and stop bothering them. For that matter, go for a real ride in the woods, on the road, or on a designated riding path.
Legally I would like to know who has the right of way?????
s@hm
I don't know if anyone has the "legal" right away in this situation but there is such a thing as common courtesy. To me, this is just plain rude... You are right s@hm...you were on the path first so they should just go around YOU...or go another way for their ride.
Joyful 
I agree the walker has the right of way. Not sure what the paths law is but common sense would say wlakers have the right of way IMO.
Christine 
Calico696 Life must be good if this is what you have to complain about! Be thankful they are letting you know they are there, and not just scaring you at the last minute... But I forgot its probably all about you!
Notafan She can't be there 24 hrs. I would change my walk time and not be stressed about it. Other than that, the person comimg up from behind should go around.
maja Don't believe you should have to clear the path, but conversely, the path must be shared if bikes are allowed, and you should be allowing enough room for a cyclist to safely pass you single file. Ringing the bell as you approach somebody from behind is proper protocol, so you don't startle them and end up veering into the path of the bike.
Bruin It's nice that Independence Township paved that narrow little walking path , but back in the day before it existed when I used to jog ( I believe I started jogging around the cemetery in the 70s or at least I was one of the first to do so) I went around the Pequest Cemetery (half a mile then now even longer all the way around) , maybe the cemetery loop would be better ? It's certainly much wider . My own personal gripe is all that grass they grew over the field of many arrowheads we used to find there when it was Nykun's cornfield !
Zombo I can see how over and over that can be irritating, but honestly its just silly, if you didnt already get your point through to this woman, youre gonna have to move or deal with it.
icicle In my opinion the walkers have the right of way. I know its a give and take sometime and can see that you are on the giving end. Some people are just morons. Serenity Now....
Here is some rules I pulled from the internet, not field of dreams rules
Trail Use for Parents with Small Children
Keep your child under control. Don't let your kid run into the path of oncoming traffic especially cyclists who may not be able to slow down.
If your child is cycling, make sure they obey you when you tell them to "Get out of the way."
Teach your kids that they must share the trail.
Handicapped Trail Users
We have on our trails a number of handicapped people. They could be in a wheelchair, or a "racing chair." Both are about twice as wide as a bicycle and neither are as maneuverable as a bicycle.
A handicapped trail user may not be obviously handicapped. They may have hearing or vision problems. Some may have a problem with their balance. BUT. They are bona-fide trail users.
They may need a extra bit of courtesy when they interact with horses and riders since they cannot ambulate without the vehicle, so they can't escape off the trail.
A inline-skater overtaking a handicapped person should shorten their stride, so that the handicapped trail user can change direction or steer away or around the blade-user.
Trail Use Rules for Walkers
You are almost the slowest trail user. All of the others are faster and will be coming from behind to pass you. Make it easy for them.
Walk on the right side of the trail, slowest traffic keep right; pass on left.
Don't walk three abreast. Two people walking side by side fills up a lot of trail. When faster traffic comes up from behind switch from walking abreast to in-line to give them room to go by you safely.
Pay attention to the traffic. Don't wear a headset with the volume turned up so you can't hear those trying to pass you.
Trail Use Rules for Runners
You're faster than the walkers but not as fast and the skaters. When approaching slower traffic move to the left side of the trail (pass on left only) and say "Loudly" before you get to the walkers: "On Your Left". This will give them time to get out of your way. Of course astute walkers will hear your feet hitting the trail and your loud breathing before you reach them and move out of your way.
Trail Use for In-Line Skaters
You are much faster than walkers and runners. Follow the "On Your Left" rule for the runners. Special Note: Watch for cracks and tree roots that make the trail less than safe. Check to see if the trail is rough in advance.
Trail Use for Bicyclists
You are the fastest traffic on the trail. Some of you are riding at (perhaps) dangerous speed.
Warn slower moving traffic that you are passing. Sound your bell or say "Loudly" before you get to the other traffic "On Your Left"
Don't wait to make some noise until you are right next to the walker or runner. You'll scare them half out of their skin as I and my wife have been scared by a less than considerate cyclist.
So I believe for a small path - the person coming up from behind should go around and ring her bell.
Just Asking Okay better website - you have the right away
http://voices.yahoo.com/walking-path-etiquette-3771186.html
Skaters, Joggers and Bikers.
Walking paths are made for walking, but we enjoying sharing this pleasure with our faster friends as long as you use common sense and the following tips SO YOU DON'T KILL US.
Etiquette Tips for our Faster Friends
Since you are moving much faster than us walkers there are some common sense things you need to be aware of. Make sure to let us know way in advance which side you plan to pass on and say it loud. Even if you go off the path let us know which side you are on so we don't accidentally turn and hock one your way.
Also, try to keep your speed reasonable for a walking path. Make sure you can maintain your balance when passing others. Again, if you are not one to say hello are wave we completely understand when one is biking or skating. Keep moving and stay in balance is all we ask.
Pedestrians Have the right of way!
Wheeled vehicles Do Not!...
Come behind me with a wheel and push me...and even in a shopping isle...and I'll Cave Your Freekin Chest In!
Case Closed!
embryodad s@hm, I would add that if you do not have a stroller and are just walking your dogs, it would be a nice thing to move off of the path for a few seconds. I would.
I walk up at the fields also. I do not move for bikers. There is plenty of room for them to pass on the left. And it is greatly appreciated when they let you know that they're "on your left". Worst place for this is the Columbia Trail. The bikers are so disrespectful on that trail.
Going off a trail on a bike for little kids can be dangerous. They could hit rocks and the switching from pavement to uneven ground could cause them to fall. So it would be in the best interest for all, if you could move over to let them pass.
nutty Ring ring gose the bell please step to the side ring ring thank you peddel peddel
Caged Animal Not sure how it applies here but on state land trails, walkers must yield to bikers. It makes sense as they are traveling much faster.
The briker is also showing you a courtesy by ringing her bell to let you know she is behind you. Would you rather she just ran you off the trail?
Seriously get a grip. There's room enough for you to move slightly over to give her room to pass. Countless bikers and walkers have been sharing that trail for years.
hillbilly this is my issue with people form the gm/independence/hackettstown area . . . .
they all think they are right all the time. this is a problem and i see it all over town, the unchecked egos in this area that have a superior attitude that says, "why should i have to compromise with my neighbors or have any empathy for them".
in highschool drivers ed we learned the 'golden rule' of who has the right of way:
"The right of way is something you never have but can always give"
so to the walkers: move out of way and let them by
and to the bikers: so go around the walkers already
BrotherDog Is it possible for people to answer a simple question without being nasty? Wow. Silly me, I know the answer, but still. Why does there have to be so much hostility?
Tracy i walk up there with my ipod blasting .. so i wouldn't hear the bike bell. i walk and mind my business..avoid the dog poo that people forget to pick up.. I do say hello and smile at all i meet..walkers/bikers/dogs. I'm there for exercising.. its ME time.. I hope the bikers don't hit me... lol
darlughh I think both should share the walkway, common courtesy. I would be annoyed if someone was walking 4-wide and not moving to the right...just a pet peeve of mine. I try to always move to the side of the walkway and have taught my children to do the same, I don't think anyone should completely block a walkway when they can at least move over a little.
tripsy wow some reactions. The path is surrounded by grass, so for a biker to go around you on the grass would be no danger to them, lugging a stroller over, or dragging the dogs off the path is difficult. This women doesn't want me to watch out for her passing, she wants me to get off the path every round she makes. It never occurs to her to actually continue to ride around the pedestrians onto the grass, everyone has to move out of her way, always right off the path completely. People share this path all the time, even some bikers, but they always just ride onto the grass around the walkers, this women is zooming around the path a zillon times and wants you to jump out of her way every round she makes, it never occurs to her to do the moving.
related: (I'm talking actual ROADS here)
The cyclists (the ROAD BIKERS)... should not ride 2 abreast, taking up (effectively) the entire traffic lane. I don't know if it's legal, but it's certainly RUDE. And I AM A ROAD BIKER!! SINGLE FILE, A-HOLES!!! If you want to chat with your buddy go to Starbucks!
I have heard the theory "if we ride 2 abreast, we are more easily seen and therefore it's safer." Bullshit. It crowds the road. A 45 mph road where you are doing 16-20mph (IF you're reasonably fit). Sorry. GET TO THE SIDE OF THE LANE! Stay on the raod, stay to the left of the white line even, but single file. Don't saunter down the road, 2 abreast, at 12mph. Next time I pass road bikers doing that, they're getting an earful!!
And again- I AM A ROAD BIKER.
JeffersonRepub In talking to the Police in another town, Bikes are considered Vehicles and are SUPPOSED to act like one. For example, if there is a marked walking path across a public road, you as a motorist or a bike rider are supposed to stop and let the walker cross. If it is a bike on the walking path, the bike is supposed to stop, then proceed across the public road when safe to do so. Vehicles on the road are not required to stop for a bike on a walking path. Likewise, bikes are supposed to ride with the flow of traffic and obey the rules of the road. On a walking path, bikes are supposed to give way to walkers because they are a vehicle.
That said, we all need to use common sense and watch out for each other. Give each other room and we can all get along and teach our children to do the same.
Mr 4paws
4paws Leave a Reply
To comment on this topic, fill out the form below. If you would like to comment directly to one person, you may click on the envelope next to the posters name if they provided their email.
