The north section of the Rotary Trail which runs along the river. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOWstaff)

By Alison Sandstrom

On The Right Path

Quick tips for Rotary Trail etiquette

Oct 12, 2019 | 12:00 PM

P.A. resident Andrew Johnson walks his two dogs, a huskie and a mastiff, on the Rotary Trail every day. He said he’s never had a problem, until a recent experience left him confused.

“I was like ‘there’s Rotary Trail etiquette?’ I didn’t know,” he laughed as he recounted his story.

Johnson and his four-legged companions were walking along the path, when his dogs pulled him across the asphalt to smell a bush.

“You got to understand when someone’s walking 200 lbs of dog the moment they want to go, they go,” he said.

With the huskie and the mastiff engrossed in the foliage, a man approached, but rather than walk around Johnson on the of the trail, he walked directly in front of the dogs.

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“I was like ‘what are you doing bud?’ And he turns to me and goes, you’re walking on the wrong side of the Rotary Trail.”

The exchange wasn’t heated. That was the end of it. But it did start Johnson thinking – what was the path’s social contract?

Two people enjoy some fall sun on the Rotary Trail. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOWstaff)

At the official completion of the Rotary Trail on Thursday, Mayor Greg Dionne noted the circuit’s broad popularity.

“I remember when it was first starting to be built the question was, who’s going to use it?” said Dionne. “Well the question is now, who doesn’t use it?”

It’s that widespread use that necessitates an informal, and sometimes unspoken, code of best practices.

Dave Fischl, chairperson of the Rotary Trail committee, said a conscious decision was made not to divide the 23 km route with a centre line because it was felt it wasn’t needed. Still he advised it’s best to look at like a normal road: travel on the right and pass on the left. He noted that the 10 ft width of asphalt allows for plenty of space.

Still he offered some “common sense” tips for Rotary Trail use.

“Keep it clean, make sure that you pick up after yourself, don’t leave garbage out there. And use the same rules as you would on the street and I think everything would be fine,” he told paNOW.

Fischl also advised that cyclists should have a bell on their bike to alert fellow trail-users of their position.

For his part Johnson says he hopes people will continue to be patient and courteous to him and his pets on the route.

“We’re a good community out there on the Rotary Trail,” he said.

–

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom