Bike Left, Walk Right

There seems to be a common perception that cars, cyclists and pedestrians must all walk/ride on the left-hand side of a shared path.

What nonsense.

Traditionally, on a road with no footpath, cars drive on the left -- and pedestrians walk on the right. Why?

The pedestrians walking on the *right* of the road will be directly facing the cars coming *towards* them. Ditto, car drivers will be directly facing pedestrians who are on the same side of the road as the car.

Car drivers and pedestrians who are on a collission course will be staring at each other... they will see the imminent collision... they will have time and warning enough to avoid that collision.

If both car and pedestrian are on the same side of the road -- that is, both on their left of the road -- the car will be racing up from behind the pedestrian. The pedestrian will not see the car coming from behind. If the driver does not see the pedestrian... Thump! If the pedestrain hears the car, turns, see the onrushing vehicle and pauses... or jumps the wrong way... Thump!

That's why cars drive on the left -- and pedestrians walk on the right.

It's the same situation on a shared cycleway, a path that is shared by bike riders and pedestrians: bikes stay on the left, pedestrians walk on the right...

When a bike is coming head on at a pedestrian, both walker and rider have plenty of time to see, and to take action to avoid. When the bike is overtaking from behind the pedestrian -- from the blind space behind the pedestrian -- the bike and the pedestrian are already on opposite sides of the path. Rider on the left, walker on the right. Already well clear of each other.

If both rider and walker are on the same side of the path -- that is, both are on the left of the shared path -- the bike will be quietly racing up from behind the pedestrian. On a direct collision course. If the rider is negligent -- or if the pedestrian wanders towards the middle of the track... Thump!

On a shared bike/pedestrian path, bikes must ride on the left, pedestrians must walk on the right. Heading towards each other, both walker and rider have maximum chance to see and avoid. Silently overtaking from behind, they will be well clear, on opposite sides of the path.

That is the safe way to share: bikes keep to the left; pedestrians keep to the right.

Sharing the path with maximum safety.

====
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"If you're not part of the solution, you're in government." … per Ginger Meggs