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Old February 12th 17, 04:45 AM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
Joy Beeson
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Posts: 1,638
Default AG: How to ride on a walkway


A walkway is a walkway. Putting up a sign saying that bikes are
allowed makes it legal to ride on a walkway, but it doesn't make it
safe.

Indeed, putting up a sign saying that wheel toys are welcome may make
a multi-user path *more* dangerous than an ordinary walking path.
"Bike" paths are very rarely safe places to stand up on the pedals,
put your head down, and sprint.

Where-ever a walkway or a multi-user path intersects a road, the
people on the walkway are one-hundred percent responsible for crossing
safely. The driver on the road can't do his share because he doesn't
know there is an intersection. When the walkway is a sidewalk, he
knows that there is an intersection, but he *doesn't* know that you
are operating a vehicle on the sidewalk. He may well pull into the
crosswalk to get a better look at the roadway where he expects traffic
to be.

When riding on a walkway, you must use exaggerated care every time you
cross a road, a street, an alley, a driveway, or even another walkway.

On a walkway, the pedestrian has the right of way. If you want to
continue to be allowed to ride on the walkway, you must carefully
avoid injuring, inconveniencing, or alarming the pedestrians.

On a walkway, it is rarely polite to ride faster than you could run;
even when you can see that the way is clear for a long distance ahead,
you can't be sure someone won't step out from behind a bush without
considering the possibility that there might be a wheeled vehicle on
the path.

Sometimes a walkway is wide enough that simply keeping to the right
gives ample room for an oncoming pedestrian. Sometimes you have to
slow; sometimes you need to put a foot down to assure him that you
have the bike under control. When in doubt, dismount entirely; once
both feet are on the ground, you are a pedestrian with a full set of
rights.

ALWAYS speak before overtaking a pedestrian. NEVER startle anyone.


--
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
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