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

[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.

[Susan126]

Have you read the comments? The hatred for cyclist people are strongly speaking their voices. Have you read some of them? Scary!

[Aggie_Ama]

When I mountain bike I use a loud bell and say "Bike Rider". People understand, sometimes are startled but usually we are both able to use the trail. I signal the bell when I first see them, not when I am right behind them. Also even if it is fun to go fast, I am mindful of my speed so I can stop quickly or control my bike. My favorite trail is open leash so there is another user that might not know what to do - a dog. When I run on MUTs I don't use noise cancelling headphones and keep my music down very low. I can hear bikes coming. Not to assign blame but we can all be more responsible users when one public trails. This is a very sad incident for the cyclist as well.

[OakLeaf]

Very sad. And impossible to know what really happened, but the witness account jibes with a lot of what happens to me. I can be going ten miles an hour hollering at the top of my voice (without exaggeration, on either count) and squeezing the horn on my hybrid, and they will step right in front of me at the last possible second. Forget parents not controlling their children and dog walkers not controlling their dogs, able-bodied adults don't even bother to control their own bodies.

I have enough experience with MUTs to know that I just have to cover my brakes and be able to come to an IMMEDIATE stop, at any time, for no apparent reason, due to a pedestrian's bizarre behavior. This rider may not have had that much experience. Or, they may just have not been paying attention.

Ultimately it's always the responsibility of the person overtaking, which in this case was apparently the cyclist. I just hope this doesn't turn into the kind of thing it always does when a cyclist gets hit by a car.

[LilBolt]

According to a coworker of mine who is part of the same volunteer organization as the woman; she was a very healthy & alert person. Accidents do happen, and I really hope the cyclist was riding responsibly.

The nicer the weather, the further away from the trails I stay. DH & I wanted a mellow ride on Sunday and picked up the local trail. After little more than 5 miles of the usual suspects (feral kids, dogs on super-long leashes, iPod wearing rollerbladers, idiots riding on their aerobars @ >20mph! ) we bailed off the trail. Decided it was safer to share the roads with people out for Sunday wine tasting.

On the other hand, I am grateful for the trails. Seeing so many families out doing something healthy together is fantastic. Hopefully the loss of this wonderful woman will wake people up to ride, run, & walk defensively & never lose situational awareness.

[XMcShiftersonX]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...tories_section

Here's an article update about the lady that died. She sounds like she was a wonderful person.

[salsabike]

She does indeed sound very wonderful, as does her family.

[MM_QFC!]

The mayor goes to trail to pay his respects and gets hit by a cyclist too

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...nicole30m.html

[Biciclista]

Something tells me that people will be slowing WAY down on that trail, whether they want to or not....