I have been to Bona Dea trails multiple times, and almost never had any problems there, but a recent visit, I cannot deny, has left me highly dissatisfied not with the park itself, but, moreover, with quite a few of its pedestrians contained. I always bike on the trails, staying to the right, yielding to pedestrians also on the right, notifying them when I pass them that I am "passing on the left" or something of the sort. No problem, right? WRONG. A middle-aged man was running down the DEAD CENTER of the trail, a trail designed for two pedestrians, two bicycles, or a pedestrian and a bicycle to pass each other with PLENTY of room to spare. I could not decide the best angle to pass this man, so I slowed my bicycle and prepared to pass partially in the grass on the right of the trail. I said "passing on your right" to the man, who did not respond. I slowed further, saying "passing on your right", and he looked behind him at me and veered towards my bicycle. I braked to a stop to avoid hitting him, and, seeming content that he controlled the trail and prevented me from passing him, smirked and kept running. I then stated, being a cyclist that has ridden throughout Arkansas and knows the rules of the trail, "Please decide which side of the trail you are running on, sir." With this, I attempted to pass the man again before he began to sped up his jog, and he turned around and charged my bike, causing me to brake to avoid hitting him and/or riding off the side of the trail into a swamp. His eyes burning with fury, he promptly expressed a "WELL, F* YOU" to my face, clenching a fist and speaking with a drawl barely understandable to educated Arkansans. He then lectured me, in his signature spit-slinging drawl, about how I should be watching out for him and other pedestrians running, and that I am evidently supposed to let him hog the center of the trail to where a bicycle cannot pass on either side. He also yelled at me for riding my bike too fast (this was my FIRST time seeing him on the trail, and I had slowed to a crawl during my first and second pass attempts) and bellyached that he was listening to music and could not hear me coming. He then proudly jogged forth, with me only offering the last suggestion of "maybe you shouldn't listen to music, sir"
There are, of course, solutions to this problem, such as pedestrians only wearing one earbud while walking/running (a gentleman I passed was wisely doing this) and especially staying to the right on the trails. The only matter preventing this, of course, is the fact that so, SO many of the citizens that I pass on Arkansas trails (not only at Bona Dea) seem shocked and BEWILDERED that someone else has the AUDACITY to be on the same trail that they are on. Spreading the word about trail etiquette is likely a reasonable idea, such as more sign posts at parks such as Bona Dea, but, as well, for the safety of park patrons, I suggest to Russellville PD, Pope County Sheriffs' Office, and Arkansas Tech Security that, given that these trails are relatively remote, and pedestrians on the trails on hotter days can be fewer and further between, that you all be aware that altercations CAN and WILL happen on these trails if people are not aware of trail rules. I also saw a man walk across a scaffolded bridge that told people to "KEEP OFF", on my cycling trip, so I understand that, even if signs are posted, the stupidity of some still shall remain, but, as a person that loves the city of Russellville, I SHALL NOT BE RETURNING TO BONA DEA TRAILS TO BIKE, AND POSSIBLY NOT RUSSELLVILLE CITY, UNTIL RULES OF BIKE INTERACTIONS WITH PEDESTRIANS, AND VICE VERSA, ARE FURTHER MADE PUBLIC TO YOUR CITIZENRY. I love that the city is very bike friendly, but maybe the small percentage of Bona Dea trail patrons that are not so already can learn from the city to become "BIKE...
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