Leave room for others: This may seem like an obvious concept, but it's the one that walkers break the most. You need to give enough space for people coming from the opposite direction, as well as a passing space for the people behind you who are going faster than you (which is just about everyone else). I have a paved trail near me that is approximately eight feet wide. Many times I have seen three people walking abreast and subsequently causing accidents, as people can't get around them.

Notice what is going on around you: Cyclists will usually shout "on your left" when they are passing on the left-hand side. Runners will usually say, "excuse me" if they are trying to pass. If you are listening to headphones or are talking so much that you don't notice others, they will probably get upset and do something ruder just to get by. Remember that this is not only your path!

Track use: For most tracks, the fastest people go on the inside lanes, and the slower people go on the outside. For most walkers, that means you should probably be in lanes 4, 5 and 6 (or more if you have a big track). If there's enough room, you can walk side by side, but don't take up four lanes walking like a battle line march.

If you are doing sprints, then you can go on Lane 1, but it should be for only the time you are sprinting. Get over to the outside lanes when you are cooling down between sprints. If someone needs to pass you while you are sprinting, stay on the inside of Lane 1, and they will pass you on the outside. If you think, "This person is going faster than me. I should move out to Lane 2." You may cause a crash, as the faster person will always pass you on the outside. And again, don't walk two abreast on the inside lanes.

Follow these rules, and everyone will have a nice, safe time on their journeys.

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