Not only does spring bring gorgeous weather, it also brings everyone out in droves to the trails and paths. It’s wonderful that so many people want to be out there enjoying sunshine however I have seen some crazy and dangerous behavior on the trail between runners and cyclists. Because I enjoy both cycling and running, I can certainly see both perspectives. I know that we can all safely get along if we follow a few easy tips. I’ve written about this a few times before here but it’s always a great reminder. Safety first!
Runners & Cyclists Can Co-Exist Safely
Stay to the right
When running on a multi use trail, try to stay to the right so that cyclists can easily pass you. Please avoid running 3 and 4 abreast. When cycling in a group, on a trail, ride single file to share the road with runners and walkers.
Listen Up!
If you are running with headphones in, it is pretty hard to hear approaching bikers. Please make sure you can hear what is going on around you.
Heads Up!
Cyclists please give adequate warning when passing runners and walkers so that they can move right. Shout out something like, “bike passing on your left”. I also like to let runners know that “3 bikes are passing” so that they stay alert to all riders.
Little Ones and Dogs
Nothing scares me more as a cyclists than little people out there on their bikes or skates. Keeping children to the right of you on the trail keeps them safer and keeps other cyclists safer. I’ve noticed kids can get confused with left and right which has caused some near misses for me. I now shout out something like, “stay where you are I am passing you”.
Please keep leashed animals in control. Most trails have leash laws that are they for everyone’s safety. I have almost been knocked off of my bike by big dogs or pet owners not paying attention to oncoming cyclists.
Obey the laws
As a cyclist, you are expected to obey the traffic signs. That means stopping at stop signs and not assuming that cars will automatically stop for you. It’s definitely fun to ride super fast out there, but riding on a multi use trail means that sometimes you have to slow down or stop completely for pedestrians.
My friend Coco has some great tips on this subject as well here
Nothing annoys me more out there than aggressive and rude cyclists! What annoys you most out on the trail? Any tips to add here?
Linking up with
Fairytales & Fitness and Running on Happy
and Nicole
I haven’t run into too many issues with aggressive or rude cyclists, but I get super annoyed by people who walk 3 and 4 abreast on a small sidewalk or trail and then just look around confused when I try to give the heads up that I’m passing. These tips could apply to everyone who is out enjoying the trail.
Absolutely and thanks!
Such great tips. When I visited my friend in DC we ran the trails and I really noticed this issue. It was a little crazy and everyone needs to get on the same page!
Yes it can be a little crazy on the trails here. People just need to be a little more considerate.
I have actually never encountered a rude cyclist! I don’t think a ton of people cycle in my area, so that may be why! I have had rude motorist though. Beeping and purposefully not moving over a bit on the road (when they are able to) so they are not super close to me.
Yes cars can be so aggressive out there it’s scary sometimes.
As a cyclist myself (even though I haven’t ridden a while) I am very gracious to riders, whether I’m running or driving. I do get annoyed at the rude ones though. Some of them are even rude to other cyclists.
These are great tips for sharing the road. All it takes is some common sense and courtesy to share the roar.
I totally agree! I try to see it from both sides but you are right a little common sense and courtesy is needed
Great safety tips here! A lot of people don’t think about this stuff! Good for you to bringing it to our attention!
Thanks! People often don’t think of it and that is how accidents happen right?!
I have encountered a few rude cyclists on the trail I run. I think some think since they are bigger and faster then us runners they have the right away. But most do give enough respect and give us a heads up when they are behind and say, on your left!
Some cyclists are very nice (and I hope I am one of them) but some are awfully aggressive
Great tips! The park I run in often has a walking/running lane and a bike lane, which really helps – though not everyone follows those rules…
Oh that is great to have designated lanes!
Great tips! The roads I run on aren’t really used by cyclists but I always try to keep my eye out and make sure to share the road when I come across them!
We have some great trails along the river here, but it’s definitely important for runners and cyclist to share the space! Some of the spots are really narrow but luckily the cyclists are pretty good about looking out for the runners and communicating (like they’ll tell you how many people are behind them so you know who to look for!)
It’s that time of year and it can be really stressful out there when I’m running and trying to dodge cyclists. In Philly, it’s rare for people to call, and I never know if there are multiple cyclists passing. Great tips for runners and cyclists!
Really? Cyclists do not announce when they pass you? Kind of scary
Thanks for sharing. We don’t have issues around our house but there are some places we have big issues and it’s just as bad or worse than all these drivers that I question if they went through drivers ed. Most of it is just common sense and being respectful.
Yes I totally agree!
Love this! I think the same
About cars and cyclists!
Thanks!
Nude cyclist? Shut the door! Yes, bikes are everywhere and they are not always following the rules. The little ones are the toughest- just like with some of the local 5K’s. They don’t know left from right and just stop for the damnedest reasons!
Yes it can be tricky out there for sure!
I run and bike like you do. What frustrates me most as a runner is cyclists who don’t signal What frustrates me most as a cyclist is groups of runners who take up the whole “lane”. When I’m biking, I approach and pass kids very slowly, ready to stop if I need to.
Yes it is certainly frustrating on both sides. The kids scare me the most.
I love it when I’m on trails and they tell me how many they have in their group so I don’t get run over by someone lagging behind!
Exactly! It really is safer to announce that way
Yes! There’s room for everyone on the trail, but these tips are key 🙂
Thanks yes have to be careful out there!
Even us walkers have issues with cyclists only saying that they’re behind you not which side.
Yes I agree cyclists should always pass on the left.
Perfectly timed post! It would be great if cyclists and runners would acknowledge each other on the trails too.
That too! I know we can all get along safely
These are awesome tips! It’s so important for runners and cyclists to realise that they need to look out for eachother!
exactly! Thanks
Great tips!! We don’t have much for trails in my town (except for one that heads out of town), and that gets used more by cyclists than anyone else. We do have issues with drivers, though, who do not seem to be aware of runners or cyclists on “their” road. Frustrating!!
Yes cars can be so frustrating too! They are so aggressive sometimes I’ve had a few near misses.
We do have to pay attention to each other for sure. Kids when I’m on my bike scare the pants off of me–I love your warning to them. I am definitely going to try that next time.
Kids are so unpredictable they really scare me the most. Hope it works for you
i have shared lanes with cyclist on my walk/runs and most of the time, it works out well if i stick to the right and they just pass me..sometimes i find it funny when intense cyclists in spite of a lot of space will yell out – on your left..is that a cyclist thing to do?
Yes cyclists are supposed to say that they are passing on the left (as a car would do) so that you stay to the right out of their way. Sometimes they are just a little too aggressive.
Also, stay in your respective lanes! And that goes for EVERYONE!
Yes to that too!
It’s definitely so much more enjoyable for everyone when people observe the rules and are considerate. It can be scary when cyclists are going super fast!
It sure can and I am one of them!
Great tips! I always keep the volume low on my ipod so I can hear what is going on around me while running. I am a cyclist as well, so my tendency is to get right out of the way for them!! My ultimate pet peeve…when cyclists have headphones on, SO Dangerous!!!
OH yea so dangerous!
There are a few local trails that you would never know we can co-exist. With a little consideration there’s plenty of room for everyone on the trail.
I agree completely! Stay safe out there
I’ve definitely experienced rude cyclists, do its nice to see we can Co exist!
We can for sure!
Great post! I have had my run in with cyclists on quite a few occasions and I wish we could all follow your tips so that we can co-exist.
Me too!
A little bit more precaution on everybody’s part can definitely go a long way.
Yes for sure!
These are great tips and reminders. I don’t run on trails but even on sidewalks it bothers me when runners are in groups that take up the whole space!
Agreed! We all could just be a little more aware
Everyone needs to use their manners! I don’t see many cyclists out when I run except on the weekends when I head out to run the bridge. Then it is the homeless people on their bikes I see- they are actually very polite. We have a lot of bike lanes here so if the bikes stay in the bike lanes and I stay on the sidewalk we are good to go!
Having a lot of bike lines definitely helps!
Great post. Sometimes I think that the people who really NEED to know this will never read this or bother to 🙁
Here in Philly, we have a 8.5 mile loop near the Art Museum where everyone exercises. Usually, people follow the rules, as you wrote, but some cyclists just jerks fly through with no warning which is so dangerous. I’m overly sensitive because I am literally deaf in one ear and can’t always hear someone approaching. So I really appreciate when a cyclist shouts out “On your left!”
You are right that people who might benefit from reading this probably will not 🙂
Great tips! Now if people will just listen.
Well there in lies the challenge!
Oh God, don’t even get me started on the parents & dog owners not paying attention (or the dog owners who don’t pick up after their dogs).
I am beginning to think the dog owners are the lest respectful out there
Great post!! I see this from both sides since I’m a runner and my husband is a cyclist. Where we are in California, runners and cyclists co-exist almost seamlessly but when we lived in DC, it wasn’t so seamless. We would have incidents with cyclists almost every time we ran. Some cyclists don’t quite get the idea that “share the road” means they have to share too 🙂
Yes I totally agree there are some crazy cyclists around DC.
These are all great tips. I don’t encounter too many cyclists where I run, but it’s always good to know the “rules of the road”
That’s good that you have a clear path to run
Great reminders as the warm weather is upon us. I’m most annoyed by the people who have no concept of sharing trails, the casual strollers out in groups of 6 or 8 who spread themselves out across the entire width of the trail, and especially people who just stop and talk in the middle of the trail. Off to the side, people!
I know it’s crazy out there sometimes
I don’t have anything to add but I almost got run over yesterday by a jerk, I mean cyclist who didn’t feel the need to warn me that he was coming up behind me. My experience is that cyclists are not courteous to runners. Having experienced this, I try extra hard when I’m riding my bike and I come up behind runners and walkers.
I try to be extra courteous when on my bike as well. This certainly does not need to happen.
LOVE all of these tips! I think that people just need to get over their egos and share the road, and be smart about the laws and proper/smart etiquette. Great post and have a great weekend!
Thanks and yes I agree and you too have a great weekend
A few of the mountain trails around here allow dirt bikes on certain days of the week – I’ve never encountered one who was intentionally rude, but they always scare me just because they are so much louder and faster than everything else on the trails!
Yes it can be scary when you don’t hear them coming up behind you
The cyclists on trails are alert and give warning. Is the non-training cyclists that scare me. I’ve had to adapt driving in Boulder, but even before then, I would see cyclists run through reds or do other stupid stuff on the roads. If I can’t react in time, I could kill them.
Yes it’s scary as a driver as well when people don’t know the rules
I agree….we all need to be respectful of each other and share the road;-)
Yes now to just get everyone else to play along 🙂
Great post for everyone!
Thanks so much
Drivers who come up too close to runners on the road and even dog owners who let their dogs run up to runners. It’s not easy being a runner sometimes…
So true!
Shouting “stay where you are I am passing you” is so much better than shouting a direction!
It seems to work well with the younger folks for sure
Why are some cyclists aggressive and rude?? I like to get my run on the paths done before the crazy cyclists come out.
I try to stick to the trail during the week bc the weekends are just crazy out there
These are great tips! I hate to be “that girl” but kids and dogs are the worst when you’re running (or biking). People have no spacial awareness….
I know! It’s great that kids are out biking but i feel like it’s so dangerous for them too. The dog walkers are the worst!
Great reminders! It can get a little hairy out there sometimes!
For sure yes!
I like when bikers give you a heads up they are passing. I am usually listening to my ipod but I can always hear a shout out.
Yes it’s important to stay alert out there
They shout “on your left” here. We don’t have problems much, people are really polite here. It’s an Idaho thing I think 😉
Oh good that’s great to hear
Such a great post! So important for people’s safety!!!
One thing that also drives me bonkers is when I see riders with no helmet!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes why would someone not wear a helmet? It’s like not wearing a seat belt?!
These are such good tips! There’s no reason we can’t all share the space 🙂
definitely! Thanks
Love these tips. Just be courteous and be aware people!
yes that would help all of us
I think you covered this pretty well! The stories we both could tell…
I know it can be crazy out there