WABA Quick Release

I agree with what dcmay said about uphill/downhill right of way when passing. As a hiker, I was taught that on trails people going uphill have the right of way on a narrow 1-person wide trail and people going down should step off to let them pass. Going up is so much harder and those folks should at least have the choice of continuing on or resting. I believe that the same rule of thumb should apply with the CCT being that it's basically an 8 mile hill. Someone traveling toward Bethesda will have a much more difficult time passing a walker/jogger if they have to slow down first before speeding up again to pass. Of course it's hardly an enforceable rule. I just think that people should keep it in mind the next time they're coasting downhill to tap the brakes a little to let an uphill rider pass first. It may pay off when they're riding back up!

I'm a commuter on the CCT from Jones Bridge Road to the end on K St. I grew up sailing, not biking. On the water the faster, more nimble boats had to give right of way to sailboats. Sailboats had to give way to oreboats and tugs. The way I see it, it's the same on the trail. That doesn't mean we have to like it that walkers often are on the phone or have earphones (But I see bikers with those too) and don't listen or respond at all when we announce with a bell or "on your left". But, one other population that I hear a lot from is the elderly who are intimidated by bikers that speed by very quickly. As a nurse with a large elderly and disabled population, I implore bikers to be aware that this population may not be able to react or will react incorrectly. Slow down a bit when you are passing, sound your bell or announce yourself in plenty of time. Thanks.

Might be a good idea to offer tips for avoiding the type of collision that happened last week, bike and car. The trail crosses two streets as you near downtown Bethesda. Avoiding on-trail collisions takes everyone's cooperation. It's a great bike commuting and recreation route, but that's not its sole use. Good idea to get out there to raise awareness.

Might be good to offer safety guidelines for avoiding the type of collision that happened last week, between a bike and a car. The trail crosses two streets, one of them quite busy, as you approach Bethesda.

Does the cyclist who traveling up hill have the right of way? If not, they should. It is very hard to re-gain momentum. Plus you might have to down shift. A lot to do for the up-hill traveler. As oposed to the down hill traveler. They have gravity to help them re-gain momentum. Please excuse any spelling errors.

I'm so glad to hear the quality, non-judgmental requests to pedestrians to do the right thing, especially, "Be sufficiently aware of your surroundings to hear an audible warning." I sometimes get upset with my riding buddies when they don't shout out when passing. We totally need to police our own, and passing out bells in an excellent way to do this. But it doesn't do much good if pedestrians aren't listening. Thanks for reminding both sides they have more to do to improve safety.

I'm a cyclist that uses the trail for commuting to Friendship Heights from SW DC 3-4 days per week. Cyclists, being so much faster than pedestrians and therefore capable of inflicting the most damage, definitely need to be very mindful of providing audible warning, going an appropriate speed etc... But how come use of MP3 players by trail users isn't mentioned as a "no-no"? If you're going to put yourself at risk, as MP3 users on the trail do, you really shouldn't complain if you get hurt. But fact is, if you can't hear an audible warning because you've got music blaring from an MP3 player, you put the rest of us at risk as well - and that ain't right. This is compounded by the fact that the default assumption regarding liability for accidents between pedestrians / runners and cyclists seems to be that the cyclist is at fault. Given how much faster bicycles go, that is probably as it should be. But use of MP3 players stacks the deck, even against a cyclist who follows all the rules. And that ain't right either.