# Do NOT walk on the bike path. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 26, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694 "2009-05-26T16:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/61 "2009-05-27T21:12:37Z")
Ok, I get the logic of the ‘passing on your left’ and the pedestrian moving to the left - I’ve even done so myself, to be honest. But why don’t people intuitively walk to the right side of the side walk (and mall, grrrr) as they do when they drive on the road? I just naturally go to the right, and if it’s a busy path, I stay to the right. I don’t need to walk in the middle of the shared path. I should also add that most paths in Calgary actually have a yellow dividing line down the middle so you do have lanes, and most people stick to them. (reverse this whole post if you live in a country where you drive on the left) ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/62 "2009-05-27T21:15:03Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > **tdn** ’s post shows why I assume pedestrians will do the worst possible thing. > > That’s why I slow down to 5 mph when passing them and give as wide a birth as possible. Even if he turns and bolts just so he can set right in front of me I’m covered. Just throw my feet on the ground and come to a dead halt so I can stand there and glare with the wtf u do’en kind of glare. Once past then it’s just a matter of speeding back up to 20 mph. You go 20 mph on the PATH?! People here, if not just recreationally cycling, ride on the road if they’re going that fast. In fact, it’s illegal here to ride over 20 km/h on the pathways (some area’s are 10 km/h) and they do have officers standing there occasionally with radar handing out speeding tickets. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/63 "2009-05-27T21:18:00Z")
Hah. Instead of shouting “on your left!”, try “get off the damned bike path, you cretin!”, assuming it’s a dedicated bike path. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/64 "2009-05-27T21:47:22Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m not so sure it’s idiotic. > > Let me float this idea: In Kansas, when it snows a lot, some roads become very hard to see because everything is covered up. The only guidelines are the rows of telephone poles. Every now and then someone will spin out, and occasionally hit a pole. How often were poles hit? Far more often than is statistically probably. A study was done on why this is (sorry, no cite), and it was discovered that the last thing on drivers’ minds just before collision was “I must avoid that TELEPHONE POLL. I don’t want to hit the TELEPHONE POLL. That TELEPHONE POLL is the one thing I don’t want to hit.” They were so focused on the TELEPHONE POLL that subconsciously, they steered right for it. > > I think that “on your left” works the same way. When I hear that, my mind doesn’t say “Hmm, someone on my left. Probably a jogger or cyclist. They are coming up on my left, therefore I must move right.” All I hear is “left”, and so sometimes I move that way. Given a second or two to work out the logic, it’s clear what I need to do, but often I don’t have that second or two. My ears tell my muscles to react, and my brain plays catch-up a little later. That brief interval of time is plenty for a collision to occur, especially since most bikers/joggers don’t give a whole lot of forwarning. > > “But that’s dumb!”, you might be saying from the comfort and safety of your computer. And yes, from the comfort and safety of your computer, it certainly is dumb. But out on the street it’s a whole different thing. Where can we find this study? It sounds supremely stupid if it’s just what you describe. If you were going perpendicular to the line of telephone poles, it would be statistically unlikely for you to hit one in a spin-out incident. I assume you’re talking about the stanard line of telephone poles that runs parallel to the road, though. Those are pretty impossible to avoid when you’re out of control and barreling towards them at a soft angle. > [@EmAnJ](#): > > You go 20 mph on the PATH?! > > People here, if not just recreationally cycling, ride on the road if they’re going that fast. In fact, it’s illegal here to ride over 20 km/h on the pathways (some area’s are 10 km/h) and they do have officers standing there occasionally with radar handing out speeding tickets. Where’s “here”? What’s “recreational” cycling if not at least 20mph? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/65 "2009-05-27T21:54:58Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Where can we find this study? It sounds supremely stupid if it’s just what you describe. If you were going perpendicular to the line of telephone poles, it would be statistically unlikely for you to hit one in a spin-out incident. I assume you’re talking about the stanard line of telephone poles that runs parallel to the road, though. Those are pretty impossible to avoid when you’re out of control and barreling towards them at a soft angle. It’s not quite the same as **tdn** ’s claim, but I’ve heard that driving instructors who teach skid recovery tell the students to look in the direction they want to go, and their hands will almost subconciously steer in that direction. I can imagine someone who’s untrained focusing on an obstacle and accidentally guiding himself right to it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/66 "2009-05-27T22:11:56Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > You go 20 mph on the PATH?! Sure, all the time. In places you can keep that up for a couple of miles. For road crossings and busy sections you need to slow down but 20MPH is the only way to work up a sweat. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/67 "2009-05-27T22:13:55Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > In Minnesota, land of the OP, there is a state statute that prohibits pedestrians from walking, jogging, or running down the street whenever sidewalks are available _and passable_. The ‘and passable’ bit is important in Minnesota, because after a winter storm, we all walk in the streets until we dig ourselves out. > > So, **SmellMyWort** , when I’m driving in the 1-2 weeks that are snow-free here 🙂 and encounter a fucktard running in the street instead of the passable sidewalk, I HONK MY FUCKING HORN at the scofflaw. > > (But I also try not to run him/her over, because while I may be a rightous bastard, I’m not a sociopathic bastard.) > > P.S. St. Paul, where I live, also has separate ped/bike lanes. You Minneapolitans always think you’re _so_ fuckin’ unique … :rolleyes:Try reading the rest of the thread. I think runners should stick to the sidewalk whenever possible and never said otherwise. My advice is equally applicable to bikes and runners whether there is a sidewalk or not. Go ahead and honk all you want, I’m sure you’re teaching the scofflaws a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/68 "2009-05-27T22:58:15Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Where’s “here”? What’s “recreational” cycling if not at least 20mph? 😕 Sorry, Calgary, Alberta. By recreational cycling, I mean those people who meander along at 5 mph. The cycling you and I do is for transportation. I travel at high speed as well, but I certainly wouldn’t do that on a pathway, especially a shared one. I use the road if I’m going at road speed. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/69 "2009-05-27T22:59:39Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Sure, all the time. In places you can keep that up for a couple of miles. For road crossings and busy sections you need to slow down but 20MPH is the only way to work up a sweat. Yes, of course. I travel at about 30 to 50 kph when cycling to work, but on the ROAD. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/70 "2009-05-27T23:16:05Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > “Canadians”. Hah! > > I’ve only seen the separate paths the OP is talking about in the city of Minneapolis. In the suburbs, the “bike” paths are multi-use for bikes, joggers, walkers, rollerblades, etc. (except for horses, though I do know of one with a separate parallel horse trail.) I suppose someone from the suburbs who comes into the city (or someone from a different city) might not immediately realize there is more than one trail. Hey now, St Paul has plenty of 'em. Summit Avenue, along the Mississippi, Fairview Avenue are just a couple that come to mind right now. For local bikers, let me divert your attentions to[this cool local wiki that is the google map](http://magic.cyclopath.org/#) for traversing the cities. I remember reading a couple years ago that after Japan, Minnesota had the most mileage of bike paths in the world (and we were set to overtake them upon completion of the Wobegon trail). As for the OP, I’ve bitched about this exact thing a couple times on Straight Dope before. I obnoxiously use my bell whenever pedestrians are on the biking path (when it’s combined, state statute enforces audible announcements of overtaking, but not when it’s a designated bike path). Although, usually I find it’s the joggers and not the walkers that are guilty of this. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/71 "2009-05-27T23:23:08Z")
Try biking on the U of MN campus. People see two parallel lines and instinctively walk between them when there is a huge open area to walk in. I learned the fine art of grazing people as I biked past. Never had the heart to terrify with a horn, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/72 "2009-05-28T00:13:49Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > By recreational cycling, I mean those people who meander along at 5 mph. The cycling you and I do is for transportation. I travel at high speed as well, but I certainly wouldn’t do that on a pathway, especially a shared one. I use the road if I’m going at road speed. I don’t bike for transportation, I bike for fun. Until my last race, my top speed was set on a shared path - 35.5mph. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/73 "2009-05-28T00:19:01Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I don’t bike for transportation, I bike for fun. Until my last race, my top speed was set on a shared path - 35.5mph. Oh, I get it. I either cycle for transportation, or am racing (like you), but there is no way in hell I’d go that fast on a shared path! Too many idiots, as pointed out in this thread! I’d rather be on a nice highway with big shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/74 "2009-05-28T00:29:09Z")
No, I wasn’t racing. I think maybe our shared paths are different. The ones here aren’t for transportation. They are specifically to bike/jog/rollerblade, etc. on and not worry about getting hit by a car. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/75 "2009-05-28T01:16:52Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > You go 20 mph on the PATH?! > > People here, if not just recreationally cycling, ride on the road if they’re going that fast. In fact, it’s illegal here to ride over 20 km/h on the pathways (some area’s are 10 km/h) and they do have officers standing there occasionally with radar handing out speeding tickets. Good God no. In rural Michigan we’re not classy enough for “bike paths”. They sound like death traps from this thread. I just go for rides down the road. Riding to class tomorrow, gonna put 22 miles on the bike. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/76 "2009-05-28T07:28:51Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > This is the kind of dumbass attitude that pedestrian right-of-way laws have bred. Listen carefully: no matter who is “right”, when a ~4,000lb car and a ~150lb person collide, the car will ALWAYS win. > > Just run on the fucking sidewalk, if available. Whatever else isn’t worth it. Listen up, you impatient scrotebag - the world isn’t going to grind to a halt because you are 10 seconds late, no matter how important you think you fucking are! I don’t really think you are a scrotebag, I just thought it sounded funny. I actually think your attitude stinks worse than a Bombay beggar’s flip-flops, but that’s neither here, nor there! ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/77 "2009-05-28T07:39:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Sure, all the time. In places you can keep that up for a couple of miles. For road crossings and busy sections you need to slow down but 20MPH is the only way to work up a sweat. Or… you could try cycling in a higher gear than you need to? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/78 "2009-05-28T07:40:27Z")
Stop the presses - ! ivan astikov made a post that doesn’t make any sense! This is NEWS, people! Oh wait, no it isn’t. It’s just SOP. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/79 "2009-05-28T12:29:20Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Stop the presses - ! ivan astikov made a post that doesn’t make any sense! This is NEWS, people! > Oh wait, no it isn’t. It’s just SOP. Bob The Builder doesn’t make sense to those with the comprehension of a 2 yr old. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694/80 "2009-05-28T13:01:20Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Where can we find this study? I don’t know. I tried Googling it and came up with nothing. But if I ever need a personal injury lawyer in Kansas, I’m all set. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-walk-on-the-bike-path/497694.md?page=5)