Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was told it's because hunting dogs should be heeling on the opposite side to the one you're carrying your hunting rifle, and that spread to all dogs heeling on the left.

What's safe and considerate is to follow established rules and to train your dog properly. If you are going to take your dog somewhere crowded, it should be essentially glued to your left knee, and not because you're hauling it there by a leash. If you are afraid of dogs and don't want them to come anywhere near you, don't go places where dogs are allowed.

I am not afraid of them, I don't want to run over them while riding my bike. If they are on the right, it makes the experience of using the trail better for all, IMO.

If they are heeling properly, you won't run them over.

Anonymous wrote:
As a pedestrian (runner, mainly) I find it safer if I'm toward the center. Cyclists on the whole seem more likely to slow down when passing, and give greater clearance. You'd think it would be the opposite, but unfortunately that's not the case. If I'm on the far right, the Tour de France dingos will squeeze through anything (like if there's someone else in the opposite direction). If I'm running closer to the center, they're more likely to slow down and wait. Safer for me, safer for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was told it's because hunting dogs should be heeling on the opposite side to the one you're carrying your hunting rifle, and that spread to all dogs heeling on the left.

What's safe and considerate is to follow established rules and to train your dog properly. If you are going to take your dog somewhere crowded, it should be essentially glued to your left knee, and not because you're hauling it there by a leash. If you are afraid of dogs and don't want them to come anywhere near you, don't go places where dogs are allowed.

I am not afraid of them, I don't want to run over them while riding my bike. If they are on the right, it makes the experience of using the trail better for all, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was told it's because hunting dogs should be heeling on the opposite side to the one you're carrying your hunting rifle, and that spread to all dogs heeling on the left.

What's safe and considerate is to follow established rules and to train your dog properly. If you are going to take your dog somewhere crowded, it should be essentially glued to your left knee, and not because you're hauling it there by a leash. If you are afraid of dogs and don't want them to come anywhere near you, don't go places where dogs are allowed.

I am not afraid of them, I don't want to run over them while riding my bike. If they are on the right, it makes the experience of using the trail better for all, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After last weekend, I feel like I need an "I survived running on the Mt. Vernon Trail" t-shirt.

SO many jackass cyclists.

Slow down. Stop. Be kind and considerate when passing people, and DO NO WEAVE IN AND OUT. There is actually a speed limit to the trail. It is NOT your personal training ground.

However, I've taken a risky move. Instead of running on the far right of the path, I started running more in the center. Or, to the center-left of the "lane."

That seemed to actually encourage many of the really jackass cyclists to slow down and pass appropriately, by waiting for traffic to clear in the opposite direction. A couple were still hell bent on not slowing down, but it did make a number of cyclists re-consider splicing through trail traffic.

It sounds like the cyclists aren't the only ones who were being "jackasses" out there then.

Nope.

Doing this doesn't hinder anyone, except the Lance-wannabees who refuse to slow down. Cyclists and bikers who go a normal speed for a mixed-use trail (15mph max generally) aren't affected. Regardless, cyclists always must yield to pedestrians.

If you bike within the speed limit, you're not going to be affected by a pedestrian in the right lane - even if they're on the left, or center-left side. If you can't pass then, then wait. It's simple. Just wait.

I typically ride at 12 MPH or so on trails. But I still feel safer passing when walkers, runners and slower cyclists move to the right, as I do when I am being passed. Of course there is no legal obligation to move to the right (as long as you are right of the center line) but why not do what you can for everyone's safety?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After last weekend, I feel like I need an "I survived running on the Mt. Vernon Trail" t-shirt.

SO many jackass cyclists.

Slow down. Stop. Be kind and considerate when passing people, and DO NO WEAVE IN AND OUT. There is actually a speed limit to the trail. It is NOT your personal training ground.

However, I've taken a risky move. Instead of running on the far right of the path, I started running more in the center. Or, to the center-left of the "lane."

That seemed to actually encourage many of the really jackass cyclists to slow down and pass appropriately, by waiting for traffic to clear in the opposite direction. A couple were still hell bent on not slowing down, but it did make a number of cyclists re-consider splicing through trail traffic.

It sounds like the cyclists aren't the only ones who were being "jackasses" out there then.

Nope.

Doing this doesn't hinder anyone, except the Lance-wannabees who refuse to slow down. Cyclists and bikers who go a normal speed for a mixed-use trail (15mph max generally) aren't affected. Regardless, cyclists always must yield to pedestrians.

If you bike within the speed limit, you're not going to be affected by a pedestrian in the right lane - even if they're on the left, or center-left side. If you can't pass then, then wait. It's simple. Just wait.

Anonymous wrote:
I was told it's because hunting dogs should be heeling on the opposite side to the one you're carrying your hunting rifle, and that spread to all dogs heeling on the left.

What's safe and considerate is to follow established rules and to train your dog properly. If you are going to take your dog somewhere crowded, it should be essentially glued to your left knee, and not because you're hauling it there by a leash. If you are afraid of dogs and don't want them to come anywhere near you, don't go places where dogs are allowed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After last weekend, I feel like I need an "I survived running on the Mt. Vernon Trail" t-shirt.

SO many jackass cyclists.

Slow down. Stop. Be kind and considerate when passing people, and DO NO WEAVE IN AND OUT. There is actually a speed limit to the trail. It is NOT your personal training ground.

However, I've taken a risky move. Instead of running on the far right of the path, I started running more in the center. Or, to the center-left of the "lane."

That seemed to actually encourage many of the really jackass cyclists to slow down and pass appropriately, by waiting for traffic to clear in the opposite direction. A couple were still hell bent on not slowing down, but it did make a number of cyclists re-consider splicing through trail traffic.

It sounds like the cyclists aren't the only ones who were being "jackasses" out there then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who run with dogs on their left. Your dog should be on your right, and likely on the grass, so you allow enough space for people to safely pass and not worry about your animal.

Those that stop on trails or sidewalks. If you need to tie your shoe, take a picture, check your bike, or otherwise stare into space, pull over OFF the path. Go on the grass. Ditto for people that randomly stop in the middle of a sidewalk. Just like driving, if you need to stop, pull over. You don't just stop in the middle of the road, do you?

Dog trainer and books say to walk dog on the left and to consistently walk him that way.

What is the reasoning in this? Is it based on some old British rule?

It makes no sense to do so on paths and sidewalks that basically follow rules of the road. It's much safer and considerate to others, to have your dog on the right to avoid interference with others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who run with dogs on their left. Your dog should be on your right, and likely on the grass, so you allow enough space for people to safely pass and not worry about your animal.

Those that stop on trails or sidewalks. If you need to tie your shoe, take a picture, check your bike, or otherwise stare into space, pull over OFF the path. Go on the grass. Ditto for people that randomly stop in the middle of a sidewalk. Just like driving, if you need to stop, pull over. You don't just stop in the middle of the road, do you?

Dog trainer and books say to walk dog on the left and to consistently walk him that way.

Anonymous wrote:People who run with dogs on their left. Your dog should be on your right, and likely on the grass, so you allow enough space for people to safely pass and not worry about your animal.

Those that stop on trails or sidewalks. If you need to tie your shoe, take a picture, check your bike, or otherwise stare into space, pull over OFF the path. Go on the grass. Ditto for people that randomly stop in the middle of a sidewalk. Just like driving, if you need to stop, pull over. You don't just stop in the middle of the road, do you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BIKE RIDERS.

They are awful. They don't follow the rules, they think no rules should apply to them because they are somehow more special than walkers or drivers.


Multi-use trails are for everyone and everyone- including bikers- needs to be cautious against injuring others and SHARING the path.

Don't ride next to each other like it's your trail.

There is a "hierarchy" of right of way on the trails, it's posted on the signs. On our part of of the W&OD trail it goes from highest to lowest- horseback riders, walkers, bikers.

You yield, which entails slowing down. You don't put another in danger by whizzing by a crazy speeds and clipping them and saying "well I said on your left".

I think the right of way you describe is universal, and is analogous to rules on water.

Power boats have to give way to sail boats. Bikers have to give way to slower movers, like walkers, children.

Cars yield to pedestrians and bikers (who should be walking their bikes at CROSSWALKS). If a biker is not in the crosswalk, car does yield. Hate when bikers try to beat cars to crosswalk or blow off signs and traffic signals on the trails.

Several years ago Arlington police were issuing citations to bikers and pedestrians for infractions near key bridge. Does that will go on today?

Anonymous wrote:BIKE RIDERS.

They are awful. They don't follow the rules, they think no rules should apply to them because they are somehow more special than walkers or drivers.


Multi-use trails are for everyone and everyone- including bikers- needs to be cautious against injuring others and SHARING the path.

Don't ride next to each other like it's your trail.

There is a "hierarchy" of right of way on the trails, it's posted on the signs. On our part of of the W&OD trail it goes from highest to lowest- horseback riders, walkers, bikers.

You yield, which entails slowing down. You don't put another in danger by whizzing by a crazy speeds and clipping them and saying "well I said on your left".

Anonymous wrote:BIKE RIDERS.

They are awful. They don't follow the rules, they think no rules should apply to them because they are somehow more special than walkers or drivers.


Multi-use trails are for everyone and everyone- including bikers- needs to be cautious against injuring others and SHARING the path.

Don't ride next to each other like it's your trail.

There is a "hierarchy" of right of way on the trails, it's posted on the signs. On our part of of the W&OD trail it goes from highest to lowest- horseback riders, walkers, bikers.

You yield, which entails slowing down. You don't put another in danger by whizzing by a crazy speeds and clipping them and saying "well I said on your left".