18 replies to this topic

[4thgenFolsomite]

I walk every week with a friend for exercise from old Folsom up to Folsom Lake. We go early, before 8 am and walk at a brisk pace for about 1.5 hours. It's important to me for my health. My friend yesterday told me she had read an article in the Bee that walkers are supposed to walk in the lane facing oncoming traffic and when the side of the path is wide enough to walk off the edge of the trail. So we set out to do that.

As we were walking back, there is an uphill section with thick blackberries on both side of the trail and less than one foot of dirt off the edge of the pavement. As we walked in the lane facing bike traffic, a woman came riding towards us and refused to cross into the opposite lane to go around us. She forced us to jump out of her path and she yelled, "did you read the article??" as she passed. I shouted back, "yes, it said to face traffic." She yelled back, "get in the dirt.". There was no dirt there.

I know Eppies is this weekend and people are nuts about getting ready, but come on. This is getting out of hand. Are we now to say that all the paved paths in the state park belong strictly to bike riders and pedestrians have no right to walk on it? That's not right. In my opinion, those are shared trails. Families and the elderly should be able to walk on the paths and enjoy the park. If someone is that serious about wanting a sports training sort of bike workout, they have made special lanes for them on all of our streets. They can go there.

The idea that walkers should have to immediately get in the dirt is impractical. There are many places where there is either no dirt path, or a one foot-width covered in star thistle or black berry, or actual cobbles. Tall grass next to these little narrow sections could also have rattlesnakes for half the year. Not only that, but I had a major hip injury a few years back that makes it painful for me to walk on uneven dirt trails.

I think state parks needs to make it clear that the trails are meant to be shared and that pedestrians are not second class users. It's getting to the point in the last year or so that elderly people are no longer on the trail because they fear the riders. Is any one else feeling this way?

[Dave Burrell]

Are we now to say that all the paved paths in the state park belong strictly to bike riders and pedestrians have no right to walk on it? That's not right. In my opinion, those are shared trails. Families and the elderly should be able to walk on the paths and enjoy the park. If someone is that serious about wanting a sports training sort of bike workout, they have made special lanes for them on all of our streets. They can go there.

The idea that walks should have to immediately get in the dirt is impractical.

I think state parks needs to make it clear that the trails are meant to be shared and that pedestrians are not second class users. It's getting to the point in the last year or so that elderly people are no longer on the trail because they fear the riders. Is any one else feeling this way?

So many bicyclists are here are extremely rude and these ubber racing/training bikers need to get OFF the trails and onto the streets where it is much better suited to ride at blazing fast speeds without pedestrians needing to make a flying leap into the bushes to keep from getting run over

I'm personally tired of the bicyclists being so dam rude and taking over the trails, one of these days I'm going to be seriously tempted to shove a branch in their spokes as they ride by - its very frustrating

[ducky]

I believe we are supposed to share the trails. I'm pretty sure there is a speed limit for the bicylists. I do my best to stay out of their way, but I've faced the dilemma you have, too, 4thgen. I've decided there is no way I'm walking in rattlesnake land or stickers so some Lance Armstrong wannabe can pretend they are in the Tour de France. They can just get over it.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I believe we are supposed to share the trails. I'm pretty sure there is a speed limit for the bicylists. I do my best to stay out of their way, but I've faced the dilemma you have, too, 4thgen. I've decided there is no way I'm walking in rattlesnake land or stickers so some Lance Armstrong wannabe can pretend they are in the Tour de France. They can just get over it.

you put it perfectly. and, yes, the speed limit is 15.

[old soldier]

a lot of folks think a lot of serious bikers have personality problems and are introverted which makes them not nice to walkers and runners.l when I walk I always have a rock in my hand.

this is sort of like old soldiers other theory that jerks are drawn towards buying BMW's


as always feedback on the old theorys are welcome

[4thgenFolsomite]

a lot of folks think a lot of serious bikers have personality problems and are introverted which makes them not nice to walkers and runners.l when I walk I always have a rock in my hand.

this is sort of like old soldiers other theory that jerks are drawn towards buying BMW's
as always feedback on the old theorys are welcome

I hate to say it, but the rudest ones I've encountered are women. The men just seem to keep their heads down and go around.

[aztransplant]

This was discussed a couple years back: http://www.tomatopag...?showtopic=8851

I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience. I've decided to stay off the trails (cycling or jogging) during peak usage times (like the past few weeks when all the people have been training for Eppie's). It gets scary out there!

[Dave Burrell]

you put it perfectly. and, yes, the speed limit is 15.

it's really 15mph? some of the worse bicyclists are doing well above that speed on the trails - those people are a danger

can we smack 'em or push 'em off their bikes for going too fast and causing a danger to everyone?

[4thgenFolsomite]

it's really 15mph? some of the worse bicyclists are doing well above that speed on the trails - those people are a danger

can we smack 'em or push 'em off their bikes for going too fast and causing a danger to everyone?

I spoke with a state park ranger today who told me a big part of the problem is that the trail is under two jurisdictions. West of Nimbus Dam, its under County jurisdiction and they built and maintain dirt paths along the side of the road and encourage pedestrians to use these. around Lake Natoma and up to Folsom Lake, its under State Park jurisdiction and they post signs that indicate that bikes should yield to pedestrians and they DO NOT maintain dirt paths. Any biker who tells you to get in the dirt in the state park section is WRONG and does not know the rules.

[Warren G]

I ride on the Folsom side of Lake Natoma 4-5 times a week. 3/4 of all walkers are walking with traffic so they do not see riders coming up behind then in the same lane they are walking in. This creates big problems for the riders and the walkers.

If there's room to walk off the trail, especially around a turn, it's nice when the walkers use it. Otherwise, the biggest improvement would come from walkers walking against the traffic even if they're on the pavement.

Far too many walkers are all over the trail, as if they are the only people who use it. I'm amazed how often I have to work my way around these people, and after I go by them they are still walking in the middle of the trail.

Too many riders think they own the rights to the trail, and the same goes for the walkers.

One of the worst things is how many kids are riding without helmets. A fall at 5mph on to a head can be fatal.

The decomposed granite trails are nicer for walking on than the paved trail areas because there are very few riders and the scenery is better.

[Dave Burrell]

The decomposed granite trails are nicer for walking on than the paved trail areas because there are very few riders and the scenery is better.

Where are those decomposed granite trails? (thanks in advance for the info)

[4thgenFolsomite]

The decomposed granite trails are nicer for walking on than the paved trail areas because there are very few riders and the scenery is better.

thanks, Warren. I always walk facing traffic, but I'm not surprised walkers are confused about which side to walk on. I know to face traffic because I also ride and have friends who ride. Most people are out for a walk in the park and the "rules" aren't posted anywhere.

as for the trails, these only exist in short segments of the trail around Lake Natoma. And bikers use those too, which is frustrating.

I use my walk to get real exercise, not just take a stroll. I also had a serious pelvic injury that makes it hard for me to walk on uneven and moving surfaces. It causes the ball of my hipbone to grate against my pelvis and became inflamed. As a result, I need to walk on a paved surface, so I'm afraid I can't be jumping on and off the pavement every time a bike comes along. There are also sections where the grade differential between the two surfaces is as much as an inch. That's a hazard when you're trying to walk for exercise.

thanks for your calm and reasoned attitude. you give bike riders a good name!

[Darth Lefty]

The rules say bikes are to yeild to pedestrians but the physics say get outta da way!

What the hell is an Eppies?

[Bill Z]

The rules say bikes are to yeild to pedestrians but the physics say get outta da way!

What the hell is an Eppies?

Eppies Great Race

http://www.thegreatrace.org/