Five Golden Rules for The Trail
A Guide to Sharing Our Paths for a Safer, More Welcoming Outdoor Space for Everyone
It’s prime time on Ohio’s trails, and that means it’s time for my annual reminder about trail etiquette. Summer on the paths can feel like rush hour, buzzing with cyclists, walkers, scooter riders, strollers, dogs, birdwatchers, wandering toddlers, and anything powered by foot, pedal, or motor. This is when we Midwesterners soak up all the outdoor time we can before autumn sneaks up on us.
Just like driving, trail use comes with unspoken (and sometimes posted) rules. Think of it as trail traffic law: stay in your lane, signal before passing, don’t tailgate, and give a friendly nod when someone lets you in. These aren’t just courtesies. They’re the keys to arriving home safely and sanely.
Every trail has its unique rules and signs. Some are helpful, while some read like DMV manuals and are often ignored entirely. Allow me to offer you a shortlist of my Five Golden Trail Rules—a cheat sheet for being a safe, respectful, and delightful trail user. I’ll give Fido a pass, assuming he can’t read, but his human handler. Take notes.
1. Stay to the right. Pass on the left.
This might be the most fundamental rule of trail sharing. Yet it is ignored too often.
Know that driver going ten miles under the speed limit in the fast lane? Don’t be that person on the trail. Respect those who go slower, as well as those who move faster.
Then there’s the tailgater hovering so close they could tell you how much tread your tires have left. Not cool. Keep a safe distance, giving others their space.
Let’s not forget the wannabe Mario Andretti weaving in and out of trail traffic like it’s a racetrack. Stay in your lane and pass only on the left. Trust me, this alone will spare you countless dirty looks and some language that can’t be printed here.
Wheels yield to heels. Four important words that mean cyclists and scooters yield to walkers, runners, and even horses. If someone is coming in the opposite direction in the left lane, let them pass before you try to overtake them. This is good trail karma.
2. Announce yourself before passing.
Let’s throw it back to the early days of the automobile. When horseless carriages rolled onto the streets, they needed to alert everyone around them. The solution? A horn. Today, we have bells and our voices on the trail.
The phrase “On your left!” may be the most powerful three words on the trail. Without it, you’re the equivalent of a car sneaking into someone’s blind spot at 75 mph, where the best-case scenario is a jump scare. The worst-case scenario is that someone ends up in a bush.
Say it loud enough to be heard but not so loud it startles. Ring your bell if you’ve got one. Do it every time. Not everyone’s paying attention. Many are distracted by wearing earbuds, walking dogs, juggling kids, or watching wildlife.
Be smart and cautious. If it doesn’t feel safe to pass, it isn’t. Wait. Then go. It’s that simple.
3. Don’t speed like you’re in the Tour de France.
I’ll confess I have a bit of a lead foot behind the wheel. A few mph over the limit? Not a big deal. But on the trail, that mindset doesn’t work.
It’s easy to get carried away as a cyclist with a nice tailwind, fresh legs, and smooth pavement. The trail is not your time training course. It's a shared space, not a race for glory.
Trails are filled with people of all ages and speeds, toddlers on scooters, dogs on leashes that stretch across the path like tightropes, runners in the zone with earbuds blasting, and groups who just aren’t watching. Speed turns from fun to dangerous fast.
Most trails have posted speed limits, usually 15 to 20 mph, slower in congested areas. Respect those limits. It's not about rules for rules’ sake. It’s about people, their safety, and their comfort. They have a right to enjoy the trail. Share the trail at a respectable speed.
Want to chase the king of the hills and personal bests? The open road is calling you. Trails are for cruising, not competing.
4. Be predictable with no sudden stops or swerves.
If you’re weaving like a squirrel that just downed three shots of espresso or stopping mid-path for a selfie, you’re creating chaos. It’s the trail equivalent of a car slamming on the brakes in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Predictability is safety. Walk or ride straight. Hold your line. Keep a steady pace. Be aware of your surroundings.
If you need to stop for any reason—drink, take a photo, fix a flat tire or dropped chain, signal, pull to the side, and move off the trail. If you're not moving, you don't belong on the trail.
If unpredictability finds you with a mechanical issue or someone calling out for help, signal to those behind with a wave or a call so they know to go around. Likewise, if someone is acting unpredictably, slow down and give them space. Patience is always safer than impatience.
5. Smile, wave, and be human.
Trails are more than pavement and limestone paths. They’re public spaces for everyone. People come to the trail for many reasons: fitness, relaxation, reflection, connection, and healing.
What makes trails magical is how they bring together a mix of people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and motivations. Being a good trail user means being a good neighbor. Smile. Wave. Say hello. Offer directions. Share a park bench.
Small gestures go a long way. Pet a dog. Compliment a tired runner. Cheer on the kid learning to ride. Give a thumbs-up to the couple on e-bikes. These simple acts cost nothing. They make the trail a kinder, more connected place.
Why these rules matter.
These are my five golden rules for a trail visit. If you’re a seasoned visitor, some may be second nature. Some might surprise or challenge you. They aren’t just rules of etiquette. They are values to ensure trails remain safe, inclusive spaces where people grow, find freedom, and heal.
Here’s your cheat sheet for the Five Golden Trail Rules:
Stay right, pass left.
Announce before passing.
Don’t Speed.
Be predictable.
Be kind, be human.
So, walk, run, cycle, skate, or cruise however you like. Just remember that the trail is better because you are on it.