can't post this in the crazy drivers section as...

[MM_QFC!]

it's more about the deadly practice some cyclists have about silently passing others, it seems

Sharing this, as I saw it this morning and it's reverberating with me - as I just rode on the same trail earlier in the day.
I may be wrong but, based on the information here, as well as my own experience with riders who never call out before or when they are passing, I am assuming that the elderly woman had no idea that she should look around or not move across the trail.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...strian20m.html

"...The woman was walking east on the trail and two cyclists, also eastbound, came up behind her and off to her left side, Cline said in a news release. As the cyclists began to pass the woman, she stepped in front of them and was struck, Cline said..."

I had several single riders, as well as pairs silently pass me numerous times and I was out there for less than 1.5 hours! Twice, while I was at an intersection waiting for the light to change, riders silently passed close by me, just to move past those of us already lined up and waiting, to get in front...(wtf??), then took forever to clip in going across, so that those of us behind her had to soft pedal and wait...to me that's not only dangerous but dam* rude!
I feel so badly for the family of the woman who was killed, while out walking on a lovely, spring day - senseless and so sad!

[Tuckervill]

That's very sad. Maybe it will open a dialog about how to share the trails, that even the pedestrians can learn about.


Karen

[Biciclista]

good grief, people need to slow down on multiple use trails!

[NbyNW]

That's so sad.

I wonder if she stepped to the left thinking she was "yielding" the path to the cyclists? That's happened to me, where a pedestrian stepped towards the center of the path (and held out their arm in an "after you" gesture") so I wouldn't have to "steer around" them. I thought it was strange. But of course I was going so slow at that point that there was no danger of a collision.

The article is unclear whether the cyclists called out or rang . . . maybe they did and she got startled or confused? I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. I think people who pass silently are taking a risk that the person they are passing (whether on wheels or on foot) will hold their line.

It's really tragic this had to mean someone's life.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I just heard about this this morning as I was walking my dog on the trail, from another person also out walking their dog. This trail is a very big part of my life as I have a 1/4 mile dirt trail that leads directly from my house down to the trail. I'm usually either walking my dog on it, going to the dog park, riding my bike on it for an easy ride, or using it to get to a more strenuous ride. This is a very sad situation.

It's hard to say who made the error. I've only had maybe a handful of times in the last 3 years that I've been riding my bike on it, where someone passed me too dangerously close that I felt they should have said "on your left" but didn't. For the most part, the trail is big enough that you can be on one side, pedestrians on the other and there's really no need to say your passing because you're so far away from them. I think everyone on the trail has a responsibility to look before they move to the other side of the trail though, and that's something I practice when I'm acting as a pedestrian on it.

That being said...I've also had people wander out in front of me on my bike while I'm following all the rules of the trail (including slowing down, passing on the proper side, telling them I'm coming up). So, they could have said "on your left" and she could have either not heard them, or panicked like some people do and walked right into them.

Either way it's a devastating situation and I'm sure the cyclist feels awful that it ended up like this, just as the family feels sorrow for losing their loved one.

-Jessica

[MM_QFC!]

From the article/police account, both the pedestrian and the cyclists were heading in the same direction. If they didn't call out even a simple greeting to alert her, how would she even know that they were there or fast approaching to pass her?

On that same trail, and on that same day, I had multiple opportunities to call out my presence - both in passing walkers, skaters, people standing and talking with their leashed dogs blocking the path as well as those that were coming towards me from the opposite direction and were taking up most of the path...it's a safe and simple courtesy in sharing the trail, as I see it. I've always made a practice of calling out when I'm passing or to get someone's attention as I'm approaching and yes, I think it's rude and dangerous when others blow right by, as if they're entitled to every bit of space on the trail/road and too bad about anyone else.
No one should've been hurt here, and the loss of life is so senseless to me.

[MM_QFC!]

yeah, Jessica - from the sound of the location, I think it happened near the dog park, don't you?
Also, on Sunday, there were a bunch of little kids on trikes, bikes with training wheels all over the trail a bit further down. I think we all know how unpredictable little kids on bikes are...and I recall slowly moving through there...talking to the kid that I was passing the whole time, each and every time (as you never know if they understand 'passing on your left'), until I was safely past...nothing unexpected whenever it's a beautiful, sunny day on the trail, there will always be plenty of people all over it and no one can plan on going very hard/fast until you're on a clear stretch.

[Eden]

The cyclist may have coming towards the woman....

"Witnesses said the woman suddenly darted directly into the path of oncoming bikes."

The cyclist was also knocked unconscious - which tells me he was probably a relatively casual rider and may not have been wearing a helmet.

All the more reason to avoid MUPs like the plague - especially on nice days when everyone one is out there.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Yeah, I think one of the articles said it was right by the dog park. So sad, I'll probably always think of this situation every time I walk/ride by there now.

[zoom-zoom]

All the more reason to avoid MUPs like the plague - especially on nice days when everyone one is out there.

We have a path like this where I live. I LOVE it for running, but HATE it for biking. Too many erratic walkers, kids (walking and on bikes...no helmets, of course ), dogs on leashes stretching across the width of the path, slower cyclists weaving along. *shudder*

This story is sad, but from the few times I have biked on the public path (it's the only way to get across a river without being on the 4-lane business route) I've come up behind people and called out "on your left/right" many times and had them move into my path (or they yakking on the cell phone or have their iPod cranked and can't hear me at all). I don't know why it is, but people seem to become a little mentally slow when given warning and lose all common sense. I would not be the least bit surprised if this cyclist did call out a warning and instead of moving safely away from the cyclist's path she moved the opposite/wrong direction.

[MM_QFC!]

yep, you're right - the cyclist(s) very well could've called out, but she was 83 and may've had difficulty hearing or understanding; I'm tending to doubt that the elderly woman "darted" anywhere though...it's just a really awful accident and adding to that, it's gotten the cyclist-haters all riled up yet again too. Not really much of defense when an elderly woman dies as a result of being knocked over by a cyclist and it'll reflect on all of us too, I fear.

[PamNY]

This story is sad, but from the few times I have biked on the public path (it's the only way to get across a river without being on the 4-lane business route) I've come up behind people and called out "on your left/right" many times and had them move into my path (or they yakking on the cell phone or have their iPod cranked and can't hear me at all). I don't know why it is, but people seem to become a little mentally slow when given warning and lose all common sense. I would not be the least bit surprised if this cyclist did call out a warning and instead of moving safely away from the cyclist's path she moved the opposite/wrong direction.

This is precisely my experience in Manhattan. Saying "on your left" is the correct thing to do, but it's largely pointless. When you factor in language differences, the use of headphones, the consumption of alcohol and traffic noise, you have to assume no one hears you. I do use my bell in connection with "on your left", but I doubt it matters much.

Sometimes I wish stories like this would mention whether headphones were in use -- not because I want to malign the deceased or even assign blame, but because increased awareness of the problem might do some good.

Regardless, it's very sad.

[TsPoet]

Based on my experiences on MUTs, I bet the cyclist DID call out, and the woman miss-understood. That would explain the
"Witnesses said the woman suddenly darted directly into the path of oncoming bikes."

that has happened to me numerous times. I no longer say "on your left" because >75% of the walkers would then move left.
I now just say "good morning (afternoon...)" and that has worked very well for me. Over 95% of the pedestrians either look over their shoulder to see who spoke to them, or move right. Either one is fine.
Terribly sad, but reading it, it really sounds to me like something made her move into the cyclists path and therefore who knows who was at fault and at this point, who cares?

[TsPoet]

Sometimes I wish stories like this would mention whether headphones were in use -- not because I want to malign the deceased or even assign blame, but because increased awareness of the problem might do some good.

Regardless, it's very sad.

I hate headphones and grumble at people who wear them - but if I saw an 80+ year old exercising on the trail wearing them, I'd reverse myself and probably think "you go, girl!"

[Eden]

+1 to TsPoet. I avoid MUP's, but there are a few places (like its the only way to get across I-90) where it pretty much impossible. I have taken to simply saying "passing", because of people's tendency to move left when they hear left.