| Trail Etiquette |
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| Passing Oncoming Riders |
Pass with care. Announce yourself. The uphill rider, even though they are going slower, always has the right of way (though they often yield it to a fast downhiller.) The group with children has right of way. |
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| Passing Horses |
Dismount within about
50 feet of a horse, between your bike and the horse, downhill from the
horse. Take off your helmet and try to look human. Really! Talk to the rider, and talk to the horse (ask it's name.) Get out of shadows so the horse can see you. One rider we met asked us if we would feed the horse for him, and he gave us some carrots. He said he was training the horse not to be afraid of bikers. We did. This is coexistence at it's finest. Most horse people will thank you for dismounting, and they all will appreciate it. Some will tell you you can come on. But some are riding new horses, or are new riders themselves, and are hanging on for dear life. Give 'em a break. If you possibly can, go out and ride a horse once in a while! You'll understand much better. |
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| Passing Riders in Your Group | It is your responsibility,
when riding behind someone, to make sure they feel that they will NEVER
have to worry that you will run into them if they stop, no matter how suddenly
and unexpectedly. Do not pass unexpectedly, and do not pass on the right (on the left in Britian, I presume). If you pull alongside, announce yourself by saying "On your right!" or "On your left!" |
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| Passing Hikers |
Face it. These people
were here first and these trails wouldn't exist without their support.
Don't pass at excessive speed, and don't surprise them. Be sure to announce your coming with a kind greeting or a bell. Their ring is a familiar and unmistakable sound, but sometimes I like to use a subtle noise like a gear shift or foot scrape. When they look up at you, they've seen you. Until they look at you, they haven't seen you. Sooner or later, you're going to have to get their attention before you can pass faster than a walk. Always thank anyone who yields their right-of-way to you, or holds pets or young children as you pass. |
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| The Environment |
Seems kind of obvious,
but anyway: Don't leave energy bar wrappers (or anything else) on the trail! The wrappers are usually made of just about the least biodegradable stuff on earth and everyone knows exactly what kind of trail user dropped them! Don't leave bike parts, gel tube tops, patch kits or anything on the trail. It's the second easiest way to get banned, after crashing into people. |
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