Nobody wants to startle a horse in stride, and we all yield to hikers and runners as they peruse the mountainside flower selection, but what about other mountain bikers? What do you do when you see another rider coming your way on the same piece of bi-directional singletrack?
IMBA has upheld an edict since the 1970’s that has been rewritten a few times, and now looks like this: “Most of the trails we ride are multi-use. Mountain bikers yield to horses and foot traffic, and descending riders yield to climbing riders. This yield triangle has been formally adopted by land managers since the late 1970s and is a significant reason why we have the access we do.” One of the ideas behind why downhill riders should yield is that it takes them less effort to get going again.
On the flip side, this policy doesn’t make sense to everyone. Some riders feel that folks who are descending should have the right of way, as it is far easier for the slower moving climbing rider to simply put a foot down and lean to one side than it is for the faster descending rider to come to a complete stop. Additionally, the climbing rider can hear the noises emanating from the descending rider’s bike long before they see each other, and has more time to safely move aside and stop. The rider on the descent side of the equation cannot hear the other rider, and if they meet on a sharp corner the downhill rider will not know that the climbing rider is there until they can see one another — which is sometimes too late.
Still, another group of riders would argue that no one should have to stop, and instead prefer to have both riders turn to the right just before they pass, letting their tires remain on the trail (or not) while their handlebars snake around one another. This way no one has to spend the energy to stop and restart, though it does require some amount of trust in your fellow shredders’ ability to slant their bike sideways and continue riding in a mostly straight line. Some ecosystems are home to very fragile plants and soil types, and any mistake in this passing maneuver can lead to the widening of trails and sad plant life.
How does this all work out when you encounter someone on flat ground? Nobody knows.
Based on these arguments, and those you have shared over beers with your crew, who do you think should yield the trail?
68 Comments
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 28, 2019
Also, I've heard the argument " we are ruining the flow of the DH rider", has anyone ever thought that UH riders might have flow or be in a zone? If a DH rider can't control his speed they probably shouldn't be riding on a multi-use, up/ down trail in the first place.
On a ride last week, we have this singletrack trail which is pretty much up with very little in the way of down( unless you ride the other direction of course} I had around 15 riders that I came across, but only 3 that yielded. Out of the rest, 2 were on ebikes( which are not permitted on this trail) the others were mostly XC racers training for a upcoming race. I held my ground, but still had to either stop or alter my course. Yes, I let them know of the yielding rule.
Believe me, I like descending more than I like climbing, but I always yield coming down.
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 31, 2019
If it’s a tough climb and would be tough to lose mo and start again, the down hill rider should stop.
Common sense and courtesy dictates who yields.
May 26, 2019
Dec 6, 2021
I once had a descending rider skid right in front of me as I'm climbing a hill and yell out sarcastically, "Thanks for moving!" As i got my breath back I turned around to hear him cussing me out and flipping me off over his shoulder. F that guy.
May 31, 2019
May 27, 2019
That said, I'd love to see conversation related to right of way in same direction. My experience has been that very slow riders almost always stop and allow pass. My other experience is that; while clipping right along quite steadily and speedily, I've experienced those who are slightly faster demanding to pass on singletrack. Once yelling out 'Strava!'
May 26, 2019
May 28, 2019
What I absolutely HATE is the folks that won't yield but just ride out into the desert and create a NEW TRACK! That track will be there forever! Please do NOT ride off the trail (in the forests it's different but the desert is fragile). I will always yield if I think the other guy is about to go off trail.
Oct 23, 2019
”The rider on the descent side of the equation cannot hear the other rider, and if they meet on a sharp corner the downhill rider will not know that the climbing rider is there until they can see one another — which is sometimes too late.”
So what this tells me,
Is If a descending rider does not have the time to yield or stop on the trail, they are not in control of their bicycle.
The person around the corner could be a mid trail medical emergency, a family with children, a group of horse riders.
Therefore not having the ability to stop is incredibly dangerous.
We have bike parks for this purpose where everyone is free to ride as fast as their hearts content.
This is the sole reason why uphill climbers get the right of way. It’s not because we want climbers to have more fun then downhillers, it’s simply because if someone on the descent is unable to stop,
They are a danger to the other users on the trail.
So in essence, it’s a moot point. Ride your bike on a mixed use trail so that you can stop in time to avoid a collision. Regardless of the incline or decline.
Oct 23, 2019
May 26, 2019
If I'm climbing, I'll almost always get out of the way so I don't ruin the stoke for the downhiller. But not always. If I'm in the middle of an interesting techy climb then I'd prefer to be given the right of way.
If everyone is generally courteous to each other, it all works out imo. Nobody likes the guy that insists on taking up the whole 4' trail cause he's the climber.
Jun 1, 2021
May 26, 2019
In this case I tend to begrudgingly pull over but really anyone who rides here regularly should know and accept these trails are better done as a descent. However we still have people climbing happy to put themselves smack in the middle of a bermed corner and not even acknowledge you if and when you yield to them.
Our society is becoming so oblivious and self centered its surprising anyone yields in any situation any more.,
Jun 9, 2019
.... apply that same reasoning to running into a hiker or trail runner ore equestrian (who is going to be going about the same speed up a steep or techy climb). See where that gets you.
We must all be able to safely stop within line of sight or we're wrong, no matter who we run into.
You want carte blanche to bomb downhill without fear of liability, collision, or etiquette breach? Go to a bike park or designated downhill trail.
May 27, 2019
May 30, 2019
May 27, 2019
The biggest issue I have is more about communication. I can't understand why many people don't offer a simple "thanks" to the yielder. I ALWAYS thank someone for yielding (biker, hiker, runner, etc.) even if I think I have the right of way. It goes a long way especially with other trail users... many of whom see us as a bunch of ill-mannered cyclists barreling down the trail at the risk of their safety. And if it's other bikers I typically ask if there's anyone behind them. (Better to stop once then start/stop multiple times for a group).
May 28, 2019
May 26, 2019
With experienced riders there's rarely a problem.
The problem is always with the less experienced or fool hardy on bidirectional trails.
Inevitably, these riders are going too fast conditions and their eyes are staring 3 feet in front of their front tires.
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
With experienced riders there's rarely a problem.
The problem is always with the less experienced or fool hardy on bidirectional trails.
Inevitably, these risers are going too fast conditions and their eyes are staring 3 feet in front of their front tires.
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 30, 2019
Jun 1, 2019
May 30, 2019
May 30, 2019
This thread has been extremely helpful for me. I always thought the uphill rider had the right of way, but it's obvious now that there are nuances involved. I've been mountain biking for 30 years and at 65 years old it's good to know that there are still good things to learn, besides bike handling skills.
Jun 13, 2019
May 30, 2019
The e-bike nuance might make me change my philosophy when I encounter one that refuses to yield either direction though. I haven't encountered (or noticed) one on the trails I ride yet though, but it's just a matter of time.
May 26, 2019
It is nice to have a consistent expectation if you are riding a new place, similar to driving on the same side of the road. But I respect the local trail managers setting up what’s best for their trail network. If the expectation is well marked
May 30, 2019
May 31, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 29, 2019
Dec 6, 2021
I get sense that most of the riders are either arrogant racers training or newbies who don't know the etiquette of passing on single track.
I follow IMBA guidelines and etiquette and call-out in advance when iI pass others with a polite "coming up behind you" or "mind if I pass you when you are ready?" The other person says thank you usually but I practically never get the same courtesy in kind... What gives?
May 26, 2019
Some bikers don't seem to look very far ahead from what I've experienced. Two different times I've pulled over and been completely stopped when the approaching rider didn't notice anyone was on the trail until the last second and then panicked, grabbed a handful of front brake, and OTB they go. This is why I always yeild 1st and don't expect the other rider to know and adhere to a set of standards they may not even be aware of.
May 30, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 30, 2019
On heavily trafficked multi-use trails, downhill riders need to be less balls to the walls and have caution as there can be someone around the corner and no place to ‘go around’.
Use common sense, be polite to others. The golden rule goes a long way.
May 30, 2019
May 27, 2019
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Jun 3, 2019
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May 30, 2019
May 27, 2019
Apr 2, 2023
May 29, 2019
As far as up vs down hill, the person who should yield is the person who has the best access to a spot to go off trail. Also, the person who doesn't have a cliff to the right of them (or left, if you're in the UK).
All this said, I don't really ever run into issues with pushy/angry/self-righteous people on trails...probably because I don't live in a CA (self-absorbed, entitled) or the east coast (generally mean-spirited and nasty).
Jun 2, 2019
how you can think the other way around is beyond me.
May 28, 2019
May 26, 2019
That said... Any licensed driver should know this:
Uphill should always yield to downhill, for one simple & unavoidable reason; Regardless of the rider's attention, their skill, or the trail conditions, there is NEVER a guarantee that any descending vehicle (or even pedestrian) CAN stop. It may be impossible, or unsafe to even attempt stopping fully during a descent.
This is not entirely dependent on the riders involved, or their equipment or the trails; This is a matter of physics.
Regardless of regulations or wishful thinking, reality dictates that downhill traffic MAY NOT BE ABLE to stop in time to prevent a collision. Uphill MUST yield to downhill as the default behavior, because the reverse is not reliably possible.
All road regulations anywhere I've ever been follow this simple safety-derived logic. Any other reasoning ("It's harder to get started again going uphill", etc) is either desire based or fallacious, not founded in well established & frankly obvious fact.
In practice, never assume you have the right of way. In policy, uphill must yield to downhill because downhill is not reliably capable of stopping. Gravity wins.
May 29, 2019
May 27, 2019
Uphill should always yield to downhill,..."
Except that's not the standard etiquette there either.
"When two vehicles meet on a steep hill, the vehicle traveling up the hill has the right of way. This is because the vehicle traveling uphill may need to maintain momentum, and because it is more difficult and dangerous to back down a steep narrow trail."
https://www.drivingline.com/articles/off-road-basics-trail-etiquette/
Standard off-road practice for as long as I can remember.
Overall, common sense should prevail, and it usually does. It's usually obvious who can execute the yield easiest, and that's not necessarily tied to either up or down, it can be either way.
I also generally tend to yield either way. The one exception for which I am hard over is when executing a challenging technical climb. Breaking momentum in the midst of an uphill rock garden is a non-starter, so at that time, I stick solidly with the generally accepted etiquette of the uphill rider having the right of way. While I'm also not one to disturb a downhiller's stoke, in that particular case, being able to maintain mo&flow uphill s a greater concern. After all, the downhill rider has gravity to help him get started again if he has to yield.
May 27, 2019
May 27, 2019
May 27, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
If you want to admire skills, it generally takes greater skills to execute a technical climb than it does the same stretch downhill. In the tech in particular, the uphill rider definitely should have the ROW.
If it's smooth, that's where the downhiller is really flyin', so then it's best to get out of his way.
Jun 1, 2021
May 27, 2019
May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
That being said & other variables being neutral, I’d say I yield to the DH rider about 80% of the time...Not because they have the right of way, but because the situation dictates it.
May 26, 2019