Recently GaLTT’s Facebook page got a comment asking cyclists to consider using bells more when approaching from behind, because the writer is hard of hearing and is unlikely to hear them coming. The use of bells is recommended by most sources, including on our Share the Trails page, but the comment got us thinking more generally about user groups encountering each other on trails, and the things that make meetings successes rather than disasters.
Trail user groups often move at different speeds, and even within user groups there is variability. Runners are faster than walkers—and some of us walkers don’t move as fast as we used to, and may make use of devices assisting with mobility.
When meeting others it’s helpful to recognize that responding appropriately to an encounter may take time—for example, giving a horse enough clearance may not be easy on all trails, dogs take time to return to owners that call them back, and even people without pups may need time to get off a trail safely to be out of the way.
Please, be generous and give people time to adjust when you meet or pass them on trails. Most people want to do the right thing.
When approaching someone from behind, call out or using a bell from a distance, not when you are almost on top of them—the best thing is to let them know you’re coming, not that you’re about to pass. Be mindful that many of us don’t hear as well as we used to, and if you don’t get a reaction, call out again.
Horses need even more warning than humans! They have blind spots, and spook easily in response to surprises. So when you see a horse, whether it’s approaching or you’re coming up behind it, call out to the rider as soon as you can. (Calling out is best, because some horses don’t respond well to bells.) If you are able, get off the trail to give them room to pass—but don’t step behind bushes if you do so, because someone who is “hiding” is almost sure to spook them. Make sure you’re clearly visible.
And finally, if you are using earbuds, leave one out so you can hear the calls/bells of those coming up from behind to pass you.
Our interests diverge in the ways in which we use trails, but we all share the same goal of enjoying and protecting them. Do what you can to respect others, and give them time to do the same.
(Giving people time may even work out to your benefit—for example, the default trail sharing “rules” are that bikes yield to walkers, but many walkers are happy to step aside to let bikers pass quickly if they have warning that they are coming.)
You can find lots of tips on trail etiquette, with details on how to most safely manage encounters with other user groups, on our Share the Trails page.
