janesvillean omg, loved that picture and statement in the examiner. Kind of looks like those side by side walkers that expect a bike to travel by them on the grass, as is frequently the case. gave me a laugh, thanx.

barb, I speak for myself here- I respect that area, and know and understand that it is there. My issue is with those whom during the dates are NOT to have dogs else where on the trail, do. I have no quams with those areas and I do slow down when I see them/ both in that area and--where they are NOT to be. I do not wish harm on anything or anyone. I just want my excersize where it was taxpayer paid for/ and donations paid for. The signs posted were clear. " Its a picture of a...Bike?" And yes, it is posted for dog walking area(s) too. Dates of no pets allowed are posted too.
The issue is, mutual Respect for self and others. We should expect no less.

No worries BTDT, I understand your view, and respect it. That link was to a designated DAY, and actually I was in avoidance of a ride that day they walked. Obviously they are all over the trail in that picture. As you ignore the realities that pose a danger to all, and cop an aditude with my sediments, you must see the real issue at hand,or you'd not take such an offense.
All my point(s) was/were clearly stated. No higher or lower personal distinction. I did manage to also state, you'd not get-it.
I don't mind your walking a bike trail, which it is. I just desire those whom use it and not respect others to wake-up.(bikers, walkers and inline skaters alike.) I am sure that made sense to any user that clearly understands with out feeling superior to others.
This should have been included in the Janesville-Beloit column. LOL Societal Aditudes in Janesville/on the next Oprah!
I frankly like the trails. I ride in from the extream northern side (after 2 1/2 miles to get to the start)and ride the entire path to the water treatment facility south of Janesville. Then, after some water and self reflection turn around and head back. Count the miles, count the concentration. Count the dedication to ones excersize. I have seen deer, and many a varmits that spook yah from the side-lanes. (Cool actually). But, humans? Need to take it upon themselves to be alert, not just some, all. I was fair about my statements. There are Trail areas outside Janesville that disallow pedestrians period. I can imagine why that eventual circumstance, and rule was applied. Some just didn't Get-It.
The at hand issue is that bikers ride fast, as you know some turns and blind spots come swiftly to a 20mph traveler, and what seems like Our personal afront to walkers, is actual concern for safety. Don't get so buzzed, when we yell huffing and puffing 'Passing on the Left', my lord we are working-out; not galavanting. It is again a designated trail for Us to work out on. i.e. Gym for indoor gym sports. Track for out door T/F events and football/soccur. Bowling lanes for... Racket ball courts for... swiming pools for... shuffle board, skate parks, shall I continue the holier than though here or is this really just common sense? Its not holier than though. Not really.

Another thing about the American River Bike trail, which is the one that I use, is that it is wider than the trail in Janesville and has faily wide shoulders. Most walkers/joggers with any common sense stay off the paved trail as much as possible. Not only is running on the softer shoulder better on the knees, it sure beats getting run over by a bike!

I too have spent many hours of my life walking, running and biking on the bike trail. I personally think it is one of Janesville's greatest treasures and would love to see more people out using it everyday. Including the police - there are just too many locations where "bad" things can happen - headphones or not. I'm sure that some of you will not agree, but I'd rather my tax dollars went toward a person's safety while exercising vs. pay for their healthcare bill because they are obese. What cost more in the end?

It would be great if everyone followed the rules - but you can't expect that to happen all of the time and need to use common sense while out on the trail to avoid and protect yourself from these morons.

NeoBartly & janesvillean--Please remember that there is a section of bike trail (along Afton Road) that is also designated a pet exercise area where dogs are allowed to be walked off-leash. The trail is maked as such, yet many times I have been buzzed by bike riders roaring past me. I can only control my dog and keep her from veering into your path if I know you are coming up from behind us.

And Acer, I didn't doubt you were describing what people DO on Sacramento trails, but it does seem that it is actually recommended per this article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-20638-Sacramen...
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I can see the arguments for it, but personally I prefer pedestrians stay where they are and I pass them on the left. It seems more predictable to me, whereas if we're in the same lane approaching each other, I don't know if you're going to switch lanes or jump off the path or wave me past you (things that have happened to me when I've found myself facing pedestrians). I don't know that there is a solution that will satisfy all, but it would be nice to have a predictable standard everywhere.

Since we are discussing Janesville, these are the etiquette recommendations from the city's official bike trail brochure (available at this link in two PDFs):
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

ALWAYS BE CONSIDERATE OF THE OTHER TRAIL USERS
• Ride single file and be predictable: travel in a straight line.
• Yield to the slower trail user (Example: Bicyclist yield to pedestrians).
• Move well off the trail when stopped.
• Use hand signals.
• Remove litter from the trail.

WHEN PASSING OTHER TRAIL USERS
• Slow down.
• Give an audible warning, “passing on your left.”
• Pass on the left.

SPECIAL NOTE
Pets are not allowed in the city parks or on the trails from May 15 - Sept. 15.

NeoBartly, I have just as much a right to walk the path as you have to ride your bike on it. Get off your holier than though attitude and check out this this photo: http://www.iceagetrail.org/Rock/index.ht.... Funny that not one person in this photo is on a bike. I am as courteous to the bikers as I am with other walkers and in the fall and spring when I'm allowed to have my dog with me, we let anyone moving faster than us pass and move out of their way.

I have to agree as an avid biker who put in well over 1,000 miles over the course of the year on the Janesville trails this year there are many users who have less than no clue. The 2-abreast walkers are annoying but nothing compared to those who let their dogs run loose. This summer I had a loose dog chase me from Palmer park to the I-90 underpass before it stopped. I also took issue with the user of the hoverround that drove me off the trail this spring who saluted me as she 'hovered' by and I was on the ground. I appreciate seeing all the bikers and walkers getting out so I have no problem shouting "Biker on your left" when out for a ride. The Janesville trails are some of the best in the area and we are lucky to have them.

Opps, to answer the Knox question: Its a White Knuckle Ride! We do what We can to keep all involved Safe.

I think the pathway is wonderful, open runs, level for all out heart-pounding. We keep it clean as can be expected by taking it upon ourselves (I assumed) to remove branches and trash that is astrewn on the path for safety.
I know others that also find it just-a-normal pause when we come to intersections. When the pathway crosses a more public area, parks and crosswalks, what impression would we be giving those others that share The Space, if we just roared on through with no concern for safety? How would these stories be told if We were as fragrant about our use as those whom muff-it-up for us? This is an Us and Them thingy. As frustrating as it is, we shrug it off and regain our heart rates when we can. And in any other sport activity/ excersize routeen/ this would not be tollerated at all.
This is a serious matter, excuses are actually mute. The City Counsel that has determined that E Mil. St. bares no hazards; is just simply ignorant about the sport. What would they think about Ice fishing in front of the Zambonie in their pride and joy of an ice areana? (case and point factual view)
I am sorry, The author has a good point/ about out of season yet, a good point.
Its a no brainer for serious minded participants.

Some Folks. I can answer this delema with a simple answer; Its physically marked *Bike-Path*. Not walkers path, not take your dog unleashed-path, not short cut for walkers path, Not I am so much greater than rules path, not allow kids to run rampid path while I talk and ignore the safety of all path. Acer-(a thinker) I am surprised that no-one said anything yet, against bike trafic would work IF bikes were not going BOTH directions on a 7 foot wide pathway. Nuff said there. SwissChick- (agreed)Maintaining speed/cardio IS the point of a bike-path. It is set aside for Bikers, or why lable it a bike path? Anyone serious about this type of excersize understands this point. May I add, how many tennis players would have a group of basketball players going 3 on three on the courts? How many golfers would have soccur-players on the fairways? How many dog excersize park patrons would enjoy skeet shooters busting clay pigeons there?
A Bike Path is a bike path; simply put. Anyone using the path for OTHER than what it was designated to be, should respect the fact we are one group that has to tollerate this infringment upon our sport-teritory with no higher governing rule or contact to have them removed.
Passing on the left,(hannah) is a universal term/and used, and respected in 99.9% of the bike pathways as a curtious term for slower Bikers/ and here, unfortunately those whom utilize Our pathways for other purposes. If I may be as so bold, folks,(janesvillean) when your traveling at the speed of 15-20+, and are timming your ride/ maintaining a heart rate of 150bpm; You dont have a desire to drop down every 10 minutes to spoil the true advantages you gain, because of others miss-use,uncourtiousness, and or disrespectfulness.
A Bike path was created for those whom desire to RIDE unhindered by unexspected obsticles. Thats why it is called a Bike path.
What part of *No enforcement* am I missing here? ( Oh wait, others are missing the true point.) This issue will take care of itself as soon as more folks are run-over and hospitalized for their lack of understanding that a Bike Path is...a bike path.(fit2tri)- I have zero nice words for those whom walk side by side,or wearing ear-buds, common-sense gone bye-bye on this one. All I can hear at the speed a Bike-Path was made for is wind noise, gears grinding, an heck no I wouldn't wear ear buds as I ride!?!? I have no death-wish. We are the only ones expected to be curtious and awear.

janesvillean - I've heard of this standard mentioned by acer. Just because rules are one particular way in great lake states doesn't mean the rest of the world is that way! Living here now for going on three years I've also noticed how many locals here assume everywhere is just like Wisconsin...Well it isn't! Many different things about all locations and all have pros and cons but some local arrogant folks would have you believe otherwise. That is when you know it is time to close your ears and move on! Not everyone thinks like Janesville traffic light coordinator does.

Walkers, joggers, pets, strollers, bladers, trikes, wagons and more. I'll take my chances on the street while riding my bike.

I wasn't the one asking. I already know about bike/walk paths.

Acer, I've never heard of such a standard. People are supposed to face traffic when walking in the street (and ride with traffic when biking), but these standards are widely ignored nowadays, even reversed (which I consider in both cases highly dangerous). Although there are generally no laws about bike paths, it is customary to observe the "slower traffic keep right" rule of highway driving, which means that bikes should pass on the left when clear.
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When I lived in Chicago and biked the lakefront path and other trails I got very used to the "on your left" shout, and most pedestrians understood it. Here few of them are used to that courtesy and calling out confuses them as often as not.
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I do think pedestrians everywhere, especially older folks, seem to think bicycles just go too fast. If you're a biker, though, you need to maintain an optimum pace. A sedate "stroll" through the park does little for fitness. Any serious biker is going to want to maintain speed at 15-20 mph, and that's just the consequence of a human-powered machine. Sorry about that, but I am going to maintain situational awareness and my greater speed means I can pass you intelligently at a time of choice, so just respect that please!

I have a question regarding trail use in Janesville: Are both pedestrians and bikes supposed to travel in the same direction? Out here on the left coast (at least in Sacramento), pedestrains are supposed to stay to the left facing bicycle traffic, just like when walking down a road with no sidewalk. It works well. I'm able to see a bike coming and move off the trail to give them the right of way. Just wondering for the next time I visit, so's I don't break the law!

A highway and a bike/walk path are not the same thing. For one thing, most on the highway are capable of going posted speed limits. On a bike/walk path, . . . . never mind.

A quart low on etiquette on the trail. People don't know how to use it, with and without headphones. They don't understand that walking 2 abreast means watching out for traffic from behind. They also don't realize that announcing "passing on the left" does not mean they should jump to the left. Surely, any regular on the trail has witnessed this.

On the other hand, I often do not hear traffic from behind over my own breathing and tire noise. This results in being frequently startled. Some of us are just sensitive that way; if you are you already know that. Another reason to not block the trail and keep to the right.

Perhaps the DNR should consider posting basic guidelines at trail stations to assist the safety of traffic flow. Seems silly to say, but some areas of trail are so rural and at times so quiet it seems one would never have to worry about walking two abreast. Not everyone will jump on board and follow the rules. But most people don't head out on the trail to antagonize; and would welcome a bit of guidance.

While biking or walking, I say "passing on your left." I-pod or no, those words have to be less surprizing than just passing. (My sensitive nature toward others prohibits me from using a horn or bell.)

Then as I pass, so as to soften the shock of my previous words, I say "thank you" quickly enough to forestall any move by him or her to reach for his or her snub nose .38.

"I was looking out for you; however, you weren’t looking out for yourselves."

Welcome to 21st century America.