Dirt Road Etiquette

Jernik said:
Semi hi-jack: but I don't get the animosity between hikers, bikers (even mtn bike vs road bike). :confused: I suppose it comes down to basic respect for others - something that seems to be going the way of the Dodo bird. But is it really that much more of a hassle to share a trail with a bike than it is a person on foot, - or vice versa? Really?

Anyway, :focus:
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Actually this is a good point. There are a couple roads around here that are really popular with bikers and hikers- you know, the soccer mom type, with their flashy sneakers and hip belt water bottle holster- and they are just not friendly at all when you pass them. We always slow way down so we don't dust them, watch for dogs off leash, wave and say hi, and they almost always act like pompous asshats(the friendly ones are maybe 1 in 10). I passed one lady two weeks ago who refused to look up, didn't wave, didn't move off the trail at all. YOU ARE WALKING ON A 4x4 TRAIL. If you dont like it, move on over to a designated hiking or biking trail, we have PLENTY of those.
 
MtnT4R said:
Actually this is a good point. There are a couple roads around here that are really popular with bikers and hikers- you know, the soccer mom type, with their flashy sneakers and hip belt water bottle holster- and they are just not friendly at all when you pass them. We always slow way down so we don't dust them, watch for dogs off leash, wave and say hi, and they almost always act like pompous asshats(the friendly ones are maybe 1 in 10). I passed one lady two weeks ago who refused to look up, didn't wave, didn't move off the trail at all. YOU ARE WALKING ON A 4x4 TRAIL. If you dont like it, move on over to a designated hiking or biking trail, we have PLENTY of those.
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Exactly. We have a few hikers that are friendly to the bikers but overall the hikers act like it is their trail only and we shouldn't be there! In this specific case a bunch of us bike guys BUILT the 9 miles of trail! We have even had complaints from the hikers that some of the terrain is too tough to hike across and could we please make it smoother lol.
 
1engineer said:
Exactly. We have a few hikers that are friendly to the bikers but overall the hikers act like it is their trail only and we shouldn't be there! In this specific case a bunch of us bike guys BUILT the 9 miles of trail! We have even had complaints from the hikers that some of the terrain is too tough to hike across and could we please make it smoother lol.
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Tell them you'll make it smoother when they start being friendly towards bikers! :thumb:
 
Okay so how about those few out there that have no idea about tread lightly?
This one really bugs me, it goes right along with the pack out what you pack in. Brass is a big one, yes I like to go shooting in the woods. Sometimes at designated spots and sometimes at locations chosen by me. One thing I always do is to lay down a tarp where I will be shooting, thus when I'm done I fold all the edges up and trap all my brass. Also it makes for a easy place to dump all your targets as well.
People just seem to treat the great outdoors like it their own personal trash can, and they also feel the need to drive up over places where they don't belong. One way to close a trail for good is to have one idiot start driving over bushes, small trees and just plain destroying the beautiful wonder we all love to see when going to the out of doors.
 
02SE said:
Which brings me to my next rant: Bullet riddled signs that are no longer readable. Hey dumbasses, if you really want to shoot something that in your eyes is worthless, how about just shooting each other, and saving the rest of civilized society some aggravation. :hello:
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I just wanted to let you know this made my day haha

MtnT4R said:
Actually this is a good point. There are a couple roads around here that are really popular with bikers and hikers- you know, the soccer mom type, with their flashy sneakers and hip belt water bottle holster- and they are just not friendly at all when you pass them. We always slow way down so we don't dust them, watch for dogs off leash, wave and say hi, and they almost always act like pompous asshats(the friendly ones are maybe 1 in 10). I passed one lady two weeks ago who refused to look up, didn't wave, didn't move off the trail at all. YOU ARE WALKING ON A 4x4 TRAIL. If you dont like it, move on over to a designated hiking or biking trail, we have PLENTY of those.
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I haven't seen this here, but they sound like the same people that ride bicycles on major roads and complain about the way people drive around them, and then proceed to ignore every rule of the road themselves because they think they can.

I was headed out to go fishing the other evening and there's an intersection on one of the desolate roads going to the river. I don't have a stop sign and the road is 45 mph. I come over the hill and there's a group of bicyclists sitting at a stop sign waiting. After I crest the hill 3 of them pull away from the stop sign in a line in the slowest fashion they could just looking at me. I slammed on the brakes not to hit them and laid on the horn. I don't know how that seemed like a good idea to them. They're on a bicycle not yielding to me in my 2 ton SUV traveling 45mph. I hate the ones that think they own the road.

Sorry for the derail...
 
Didn't see it mentioned, but how about the helping other offroaders, like stuck, broke down, etc. I always have extra water, tow straps and such in case of emergencies for me or others. My 4runner has rescued quite a few rigs out there(mostly chevy uh uhm). But also approach with caution I might add. In our neck of the woods there have been some people whos trucks and atv etc were stolen.

I hate people who drive too slow, please pull over and allow me to pass and then you can search for snails or whatever it is. Also hate when dirtbikes pass you and haul butt kicking rocks etc up at you. Have you no manners.
 
ddnww said:
Didn't see it mentioned, but how about the helping other offroaders, like stuck, broke down, etc.
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I didn't mention it, because I thought it was just common sense.

On the other hand, considering all the trash I see strewn wherever on trails, common sense is clearly lacking in lots of people.
 
02SE said:
I didn't mention it, because I thought it was just common sense.

On the other hand, considering all the trash I see strewn wherever on trails, common sense is clearly lacking in lots of people.
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Yeah, common sense is not so common these days...
 
Jernik said:
One to add: Be careful at intersections. {snip}..
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Just want to add:
Be careful where feeder/foot trails intersect with jeep/logging trails. If you're on a feeder trail -STOP- and look before you cross the jeep trail (it only takes a second).

-I nearly squashed a dirt biker last year who crossed in front of me from a small foot trail. He appeared out of nowhere, doing 30 or 40mph, never stopped, just blasted across the logging trail I was driving on. I nearly had a heart attack. I don't think he realizes how very close he came to expiring that day.
 
Unner said:
I haven't seen this here, but they sound like the same people that ride bicycles on major roads and complain about the way people drive around them, and then proceed to ignore every rule of the road themselves because they think they can.

I was headed out to go fishing the other evening and there's an intersection on one of the desolate roads going to the river. I don't have a stop sign and the road is 45 mph. I come over the hill and there's a group of bicyclists sitting at a stop sign waiting. After I crest the hill 3 of them pull away from the stop sign in a line in the slowest fashion they could just looking at me. I slammed on the brakes not to hit them and laid on the horn. I don't know how that seemed like a good idea to them. They're on a bicycle not yielding to me in my 2 ton SUV traveling 45mph. I hate the ones that think they own the road.

Sorry for the derail...
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"As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists."

ddnww said:
I hate people who drive too slow, please pull over and allow me to pass and then you can search for snails or whatever it is. Also hate when dirtbikes pass you and haul butt kicking rocks etc up at you. Have you no manners.
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That's a valid point on it's own. I know some people mentioned being courteous when you pass, but keep this in consideration, as well as when pulling back onto a main road. I've seen several times when someone pulls onto a paved road after being on gravel that a rock stuck between the treads will chip someone's windshield once they get up to speed.
 
Our gravel/dirt roads are a little different here in Oklahoma (very straight and loooooong), so it's not uncommon to travel 55 mph down a gravel road. The tendency is that everyone travels right down the center of the road as it keeps you on the well traveled channels that are well compacted down the center of the road, making higher speeds more safe to achieve.

Here is the problem, though. When people with most experience being in urban areas travel out on these roads, they don't realize that at EVERY hill, you need to move to the right side. Too many times I've been pushed off towards the ditch because people crest the hill in the dead center of the road. No bueno. Even if you don't see a dust cloud coming your way, get on the right side and always shift far to the right side of the road when cresting every hill.
 
MyHigh said:
Well, one thing I appreciate is when people let you know how many is in your party. Like dirt bikes, when riding past in either direction hold up three or four fingers for example, to let you know more are coming so please be cautious. Yeah I know it's hard for larger parties but usually as the party passes the last will wave all clear or still provide info that more are behind them.
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You beat me to it. This is great trail etiquette. Some times you just cant see everyone in their group especially on a bend. Its good to know how long to wait off to the side before you drive off, this way you avoid head first collisions with a straggler who's fallen behind. Just gets weird when theres only two ppl beind you, then it looks like youre throwing the peace sign :hippie:
 
I was driving down a dirt road here in LA (lower Alabama) and there was an older GM C/K parked and blocking the road, with the driver off pissing in the bushes...

:/
 
People who don't know how to drive in the mountains or on dirt roads should just stay in the city. Such a pain in the ass every night when I drive home there's always the one tourist or idiot who doesn't know how to take a corner and drives at 30mph, or gets to the dirt section of the road (happened yesterday) and won't pull over and is doing 15mph. I guess most people lack common courtesy since if anyone is going faster than me I always pull over so I'm not being a jack ass.
 
snivilous said:
People who don't know how to drive in the mountains or on dirt roads should just stay in the city. Such a pain in the ass every night when I drive home there's always the one tourist or idiot who doesn't know how to take a corner and drives at 30mph, or gets to the dirt section of the road (happened yesterday) and won't pull over and is doing 15mph. I guess most people lack common courtesy since if anyone is going faster than me I always pull over so I'm not being a jack ass.
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I used to live in Teller co. and had to commute to and from Woodland Park.

No dirt roads, but that winding ass road quickly turned to hell when people wouldn't pull over.
 
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