Where to walk on the rail trail

A good deal of ink has been spilled on the subject of which
side of the rail trail pedestrians should walk. MassBike and
some others say that pedestrians should walk on the left,
the same as for auto roads. A hair raising premise. Here is
my take on the controversy, in an email to a MassBike
representative.

"Consider the geometry and uses of the rail trails. The trails
are shared by walkers, bicyclists, roller bladers, but not
persons on motorized vehicles. The trails are not usually
wide enough for bicyclists to pass walkers without swerving
into the oncoming lane. Hence the time-honored protocol,
"passing on your left." Walkers and bicyclists share the right
side of a paved trail.

It is the bicyclist's responsibility to look ahead and make a
mental calculation as to whether or not it is safe to pass
walkers, who are usually two abreast. If not, he/she must
slow down, or even stop, until the way is clear. Walkers are
not obliged to step off the trail to let bicycles pass. They do
not see the bicyclist as they walk ahead. The verbal warning
is usually sufficient to keep them on a straight course.
This protocol has worked admirably, thus far.

Now you, and Mr. Trump, say that we should throw this out
and replace it with the protocol for two lane auto roads. On
these, autos own the road, and it is the pedestrian's
responsibility to stay clear, on a sidewalk, or grass, or
shoulder. You can only do this safely by walking on the left
side of the road facing traffic, and stepping out of the way,
if necessary. It is an entirely different situation. The
pedestrian makes the mental calculation to assure his own
safety. The professor who was killed on Old County Road in
West Dennis last summer was walking very early in the
morning with the traffic.

If you, and Mass Bike, attempt to replace the rail trail
protocol with that for auto roads, chaos will occur. First,
you will have to post signs up and down the trail warning
that walkers must stay to the left. The passing calculation
of the bicyclist is now immeasurably more difficult. Walkers
are now coming towards him/her in his lane. They have no
motivation to get out of the way; they own the trail, too.
Besides, they can't see traffic behind them, so they are not
aware of congestion which could cause problems. Facing
jam-up, the bicyclist will have to get off and move his bike
off the trail to the right, and let the oncoming walkers, and
bicyclist by, then mount up again. Not a likely scenario.
And through bikers would simply weave their way around
everyone at high speed."