The "Right of Way" Issue

Traffic of all types are encountered on almost any trail ride. The questions of safety, who has the "right of way", and what that means is a topic that will never die.

The Worst Idea Ever!

Two statements that you will hear over and over again are: "The uphill rider has the right of way" and "Yeild to the uphill rider"

While this is a nice little quip, but it can lead to disasterous results, typically caused by inappropriate behaviour by the uphill rider.

Who does a trail rider HAVE to yeild to?

Anyone and anything:

• Hikers
• Horses
• Livestock
• Wild Animals
• AND all other bike riders (no matter the direction)

What does 'Right of Way' mean?

As per Merriam-Webster:

Right-Of-Way

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural rights-of-way also right-of-ways

1 : a legal right of passage over another person's ground

2 a : the area over which a right-of-way exists b : the strip of land over which is built a public road c : the land occupied by a railroad especially for its main line d : the land used by a public utility (as for a transmission line)

3 a : a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle over another by custom, decision, or statute b : the right of traffic to take precedence c : the right to take precedence over others <gave the bill the right-of-way in the Senate>

What does 'Yeild' Mean?

As per Merriam-Webster:

Yield

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gieldan; akin to Old High German geltan to pay

transitive verb

1 archaic : RECOMPENSE, REWARD

2 : to give or render as fitting, rightfully owed, or required

3 : to give up possession of on claim or demand: as a : to give up (as one's breath) and so die b : to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another : hand over possession of c : to surrender or submit (oneself) to another d : to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit e : to relinquish one's possession of (as a position of advantage or point of superiority) <yield precedence>

4 a : to bear or bring forth as a natural product especially as a result of cultivation <the tree always yields good fruit> b : to produce or furnish as return <this soil should yield good crops> c (1) : to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest <a bond that yields 12 percent> (2) : to produce as revenue : BRING IN <the tax is expected to yield millions>

5 : to give up (as a hit or run) in baseball <yielded two runs in the third inning>

intransitive verb

1 : to be fruitful or productive : BEAR, PRODUCE

2 : to give up and cease resistance or contention : SUBMIT, SUCCUMB <facing an enemy who would not yield> <yielding to temptation>

3 : to give way to pressure or influence : submit to urging, persuasion, or entreaty

4 : to give way under physical force (as bending, stretching, or breaking)

5 a : to give place or precedence : acknowledge the superiority of someone else b : to be inferior <our dictionary yields to none> c : to give way to or become succeeded by someone or something else

6 : to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly