Who has the right of way - hikers or mountain bikers?

Horses rule the world.....hikers come next, and mountain bikers or any other mechanized users are at the bottom of the heap. This is how it's *supposed* to work, but as we all know, people don't always care about the rules and sometimes don't give a damn about being friendly or courteous to their fellowmen. I'm sad to see that it seems like courtesy and friendliness are on a decline all over the board....trail users, road bikers/cars, just people in general. So it's natural that as that is less important in normal society, that you'll see it in other places as well. But by the same token you can compare places like Southern California with the Pacific Northwest and there's a VERY different atmosphere and interaction between trail users.

Focusing just on hikers/bikers (remember, horses rule the world....right after cougars and bears, that is!).....I think that there are other aspects to consider when you meet someone on the trail. Most people are really cool about figuring stuff out on a moment's notice and thankfully most people are reasonably friendly, too.

I'll disagree (on my own personal level and set of guidelines) with McG in that even if it's a biking-only trail, I'll still gladly yield to hikers. Some exceptions to that rule are downhill-specific trails where it's *dangerous* for hikers to be there at all (for both parties), and where other bikers are where they shouldn't be. You definitely don't want to cause an accident for a rider or be underneath his bike when he's bombing down a fast run, taking a drop, or can't safely slow/stop his bike in a dangerous technical section. Other than that, hey, I just appreciate seeing people out in the woods and since my brakes work, I don't mind slowing to their pace or stopping, and I always say hello, maybe chitchat for a second. It goes a long way toward people tolerating and supporting each others' recreation choices, and it just makes the world a nicer place. :o)

As a backpacker, hiker, AND mountain biker myself, I'll say that there are times when it's ok or simply safer to ignore the yield etiquette....as long as both people figure it out! As mentioned before, sometimes it isn't safe for a biker to stop or slow considerably...hikers need to understand this. A biker in that situation can easily apologize and give thanks as he passes a hiker that yields for him in this situation.

You also have the old rule that downhill yields to uphill.....but people work around that one all the time. Going uphill, sometimes it's nice to stop and take a rest as a hiker.....usually notsomuch for a biker, though. Hikers can yield to a biker going uphill.....but a biker should remember that a hiker with a full backpack isn't as quick to move, and it's a lot of strain sometimes, especially if the footing isn't great.....so yeah, I'd stop for a hiker certainly.

Some outdoor users don't want the interaction or chitchat, so in those cases, just do the etiquette thing, be polite if not friendly, and go on your way. Above all, we all just need to remember that A) other users in the outdoors are probably good people, even if they don't share each other's passion or are against it, B) many outdoor users participate in multiple hobbies and activities....so the biker or hiker you just cursed may actually be on your side, maybe just made a mistake or got caught by surprise, etc., and C) everyone has their right to be sharing the trail with us, the world is made up of all kinds of people going through different situations in their personal lives, and that's the bottom line.

It ain't hard to get along and be nice, really. :o)

Criminy....long answer, sorry. I just want everyone to get along and take time to understand one another! lol

Well, if common sense were more common you would not have to post a question like this. But please don't anyone say we need to close trails or prevent MTB riders from using trails because of bad etiquette. If that were the case then lets take everyone's car away from them too. Don't forget, us bikers have also had our share of rude hikers. There are a small percentage of A holes out there that just have no respect for others, weather there on a bike or in a car, or sitting in front of you at the movies. I know first hand that there are rude bikers out there, so I can sympathize. Most trails are to narrow for a bike and a hiker to pass each other without one or the other yielding. In my opinion common sense prevails. If a hiker sees a rider laboring away at a tough climb then step off the trail and let the bike pass. It's very difficult for us to resume climbing momentum. And vise versa, I love blazing down a hill, but if I see a hiker I slow and stop if need be. It will only take a few seconds to get back to speed. In most cases I think it's easier for the hiker to yield, mainly because it's easier for them. But other times the bike should yield. It just depends on the situation, and every situation is different. That why you need common sense. To bad the government couldn't put that in the water along with fluoride. Bikes don't own the trial and neither do hikers. They are for all of us to share.

Bikers yield to Hikers who in turn yield to horses. Where I live, on the Rails-To-Trails path like the North Central Trail in Maryland and other multiple use trails like the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Virginia, the right of way rules are posted clearly and often. I have had hikers step aside when I came up behind them, but that was a voluntary courtesy on their part. I've never asked a hiker to get out of my way. I'm in his way according to the rules.

HTH

Same with me. Mt. Bikes have ruined hiking on popular trails for me. I have often wondered what would happen if as a biker speeds by I just leaned out a bit and clip the guy and watch him careen off down through the forest or over into the river. (I would really never do this)

They know there is no enforcement of the laws out in the wild so they do what they want to do. To bad, because hiking is about enjoying the wilderness and biking is about running a trial.

I don't have much experience in doing a lot of trail riding (I'm a roadie, what can I say), so I won't comment on your experience except to say that I am sorry that you have had encounters with a few 'bad apples' that should've shown you more courtesy. But just to let you know that there are similar stories on the other side of the coin, so to speak.

As a cyclist that rides on the road I have to obey (for the most part) all the laws and rules just as I would if I were operating any other vehicle, motorized or otherwies. Things like only riding two abreast, always staying to the right and signaling or alerting drivers of your intentions. Beyond that it only makes common sense for a cyclist on the road -- or the trail for that matter -- to always be aware of your surroundings and always be courteous to other people in those surroundings as well.

With regards to pedestrians walking on bicycle paths these are things I rarely see practiced. It is very common to see pedestrians strolling 3, 4 or 5 abreast across an entire bike path, completely oblivious to people using the bicycle path for things not related to walking, such as bicycle riding or in-line skating. And even when I clearly state my intentions in a timely and courteous manner I am often cursed and looked upon rudely by pedestrians that feel offended that I have interrupted their casual stroll.

This is why even tough I thoroughly enjoy the beauty, serenity and peacefulness of bicycle paths I very rarely ride on them -- especially on weekends -- because I feel that the rules and courtesy I am obliged to follow on the road are very rarely afforded to me on a bicycle path.

Just thought you might like to know that discourteous people and bad behavior is not solely the realm of bicyclists.

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Pedestrians -- walkers, hikers, joggers -- always have the right of way, EXCEPT on bicycle specific trails. Both paved and unpaved. Those trails will be marked that bicycles have the right of way.

So if you are talking about bike paths like rails to trails -- Bikes have the right of way. Cyclists though should never be jerks and be considerate of those around them.

Hello,

Hikers have the right away.

One of these mountain bikers can be in serious trouble if they hurt a hiker.

I agree with you, I feel these bikers do not have any sense of right or wrong and I feel should not be allowed on our trails.

Bring a camera with you and take pics of these bikers who cause you grief and turn the pictures into the rangers. With of course a statement of whatever happened. This is a way for these bikers to be responsible for there actions.

Good luck! Enough complains of these bikers will shut the trails off to them, like it should be.

walkers have the right of way, but both walkers and riders share responsibility for looking out for each other......whenever i come up on hikers, ill always let you know before im close to you that im overtaking you and on what side of the trail ill pass....communication works wonders

Walkers ALWAYS have the right away. A bike is a vehicle!!