Sure, the behaviors that can cause tension between individuals and fitness groups sharing public parks and trails are discouraged in user guides and buried in government code.
For the most part, though, park etiquette is an honor system. There are no park police directing endurance cyclists on crowded trails or telling a morning exercise class that its pounding soundtrack is making it impossible for the folks doing yoga across the way to find their zen.
The responses to our informal survey for Block Talk, Patch's exclusive neighborhood etiquette column, largely came down to one rule: Public parks work only when people pay attention to how their activity affects everyone else.
We asked: How should people share the park when exercise groups, runners, dog walkers, families and pickup games all want the same space?
Several readers responded with comments centered around experiences in their local parks, and many of them offered solutions such as requiring organized groups to limit both the size and the length of their activities during busy hours. Others suggested a paid permitting process and more enforcement.
Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader Kristi wants park police.
"Runners and bikers should be prepared to change their path if necessary rather than charging at people. Dogs should always be on a leash. Someone should be enforcing that for safety. It is all common sense, but sadly it seems like Concord residents are really lacking in that department," she said.
"The parks are plenty big enough for people to congregate respectfully," Kristi continued. "Watch your surroundings. Make sure you are leaving room for others."
Readers repeatedly objected to blocked paths, loud music, large groups taking over green spaces, cyclists speeding past pedestrians, unsupervised children and dogs running off leash.
Morristown (New Jersey) Patch reader Gretchen avoids local parks because they're so congested and drives an hour to find one that is more peaceful.
"Sadly, everyone here just does what they want anyway without consideration of others. Loud music, barking dogs, kids who are allowed to just scream that blood-curdling scream," Gretchen said, adding, "There is a difference between that and just fun."
"Be considerate and aware of others using the park at the same time. Consider how noise pollution or space could impact others you see there," said Marple Newtown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Sonia.
Sonia draws the line at early-morning or late-evening noise and gatherings that spread far beyond their corner of the park. Groups expecting a crowd should find a spot that can hold it and give regular park users a heads-up with signs or a social media post, she said.
"I think it'd be beneficial if people were more aware of how close residents are to their exercise groups held in parks and just be considerate of music and timers used at high volumes," she said.
Gigi, a Newtown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, visits local parks a few times a week. She said that "most people are considerate" and observe basic etiquette — people who are part of an exercise group yield to solo walkers, dogs are leashed and dog owners clean up after them.
Gigi said her only issues have been at Helen Randle Park during softball tournaments.
"People set up chairs on the paths, and kids are often riding bikes recklessly and unsupervised," she said.
Bicycle and e-bike safety was another concern, particularly for older walkers who said riders should slow down, give warning before passing and stay off pedestrian-only paths.
Lis, an Upper East Side (New York) Patch reader, understands that Central Park is used by a variety of people seeking a variety of experiences.
"Overall, I don't care," she said. "But the most recent tale of a runner being knocked unconscious is horrifying."
A 43-year-old female jogger was placed in a medically induced coma with severe traumatic brain injuries after being struck from behind by an e-bike rider in Central Park on the afternoon of July 7.
Lis runs there. She sees the danger when cyclists, especially e-bike riders, share space with walkers and runners and also the conundrum.
"Central Park was originally designed for cars, so cyclists fly, and there is danger. How in the dickens do you enforce that?" she said, adding, "We all know how many people are injured year after year by bikes."
Shared bike and pedestrian paths are not appropriate for throttle-powered e-bikes, scooters and similar devices that can accelerate quickly, an Across America Patch reader said. Unlike a cyclist pedaling hard, their speed may give pedestrians little warning and less time to avoid a collision, the reader said.
Princeton (New Jersey) Patch reader KK has had some near misses with bicyclists at a local park.
"I take my dog, Domino, for a daily walk on the path around Community Park South," KK said. "I am a senior citizen and worry about my safety as well as my dog's. I have no problem sharing, but several times I've had close calls with bicyclists coming up behind me and nearly colliding with me."
KK continued: "What happened to the bicycle bell? Or a simple 'I'm behind you'? It's like a car without a horn. Who is responsible if a bicyclist hits a pedestrian from behind on this path? Who is paying for the injuries? Does the rule that pedestrians have the right of way still apply here?"
Bicycle bells are not universally required in the United States, although some states and municipalities mandate an audible warning device. Bells are more commonly required in many European countries.
"What I propose is that an agency of the township sponsor a program and give the bells away for free, along with a program that explains rules, regulations and the etiquette of operating a bike in a public park, and also offer to install these bells on bikes," KK said, issuing a challenge to neighbors and local officials:
"I am sure we could get volunteers to help with this. A campaign on bike safety in our public parks. Would the parks department be interested in sponsoring this, or do we need to have a terrible incident of a bicyclist hitting a pedestrian and/or a dog from behind on one of these paths in our parks to make this happen?"
"I've been buzzed by a bicyclist and am super annoyed with the loud music while trying to enjoy the quiet and birds and nature. I don't want to hear your bass beat and don't know you've got control of your bike when you brush past me," said Stonington-Mystic (Connecticut) Patch reader CB.
CB also had this to say: "I know you love your dog (he won't hurt you; his name is Satan), but I don't love your dog and don't want him jumping on me because he wants to play (or eat me?)."
Dogs were a persistent complaint. Readers called for leashes outside designated dog runs, better cleanup and stronger enforcement.
"My local park has a big clash between dog owners and people who don't want dogs on the grass at all, leashed or not," said Jay, a Bed-Stuy (New York) Patch reader.
Jay's neighborhood park has a poorly maintained dog run that often floods, leaving standing water for days or even weeks.
"Even so, when dogs can't use the flooded dog run, neighbors yell at dog owners for letting their dogs play on the grass, even in smaller areas where there are no people, even in early morning hours," Jay said, calling it a "frustrating" situation.
To solve the problem, Jay favors off-leash hours in city parks during off-peak hours.
"Please keep your pet on a leash," said Peachy, a Wallingford (Connecticut) Patch reader. "We walk our dog at the park quite often, and the number of dogs off leash is incredible."
Also, Peachy added, "Clean up after yourselves. Use provided garbage cans."
Morris Township-Morris Plains (New Jersey) Patch reader Lori lives near Loantaka Brook Reservation, a county park in Morristown, but avoids it, "mostly because of all the dog walkers and bikes."
"Keeping dogs leashed and picking up after them is the No. 1 rule, but it's not enforced enough. Loud music with groups taking over and litter can be problems, but it's hard to police these events," Lori said. "Maybe offenders can be fined, but how?"
Brooklyn (New York) Patch reader ShihTzuMama said dogs on longer leashes are dangerous, especially for older people who are trying to share the walking path.
In general, park etiquette comes down to the Golden Rule, she said.
"May people treat others as they wish to be treated, and may younger people who all learned it as kids teach their kids! Amen!" ShihTzuMama said.
When it comes to park use by groups, the "first come, first served" policy works well as long as they observe reasonable time limits, said Park Slope (New York) Patch reader PJ.
"Respect is of utmost importance," PJ said. "Contain your group and don't hog your space over a long period of time — one or two hours should be the max."
Atlanta Patch reader OK thinks groups using public amenities should be required to apply for permits.
"Groups should have to pay," OK said. "Use the restaurant rule — groups of six or more are automatically charged. It should be the same for parks."
Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader Pam is all for requiring groups to obtain permits, too.
"People need to be mindful of others. It ticks me off when I'm trying to walk a path and a group of three or more people take up the width of the path," Pam said. "Then when you ask nicely to let you pass by, you get a dirty look like it's their path and not yours."
Batavia (Illinois) Patch reader G. pointed out another issue with groups that use public spaces.
"If someone is running a paid class, they are running a business using a public park, which is not fair to the rest of us," G. said. "They feel entitled to the space."
Amalfi, a Washington Heights-Inwood (New York) Patch reader, thinks group activities should be limited to a specific time slot — say from noon to 1:30 p.m. — so others can enjoy the park.
But there are limits on what's considered "normal park behavior," Amalfi said.
"People should keep moving rather than camping out in groups for hours on end with blankets, portable lawn furniture, pets, and coolers," the reader said. "No homemaking in the public parks, just visiting."
Deacon, a Boston Patch reader, doesn't see the problem.
"Live and let live," Deacon said, repeating, "Live and let live."
Dariv, an Upper West Side (New York) Patch reader, thinks people who want to listen to music in the park should always use headphones. Exposing others to "loud, in-your-face" music disregards "others' wish for a tryst with nature," Dariv said, adding, "Most people go to a park to get away from noise and enjoy nature."
"Good manners don't cost anything," said Ashley, a Snellville (Georgia) Patch reader. "Mind people's personal space. Live the COVID lifestyle and maintain your 6 feet. Stick to the right side of the trail unless passing someone. Don't put other people through something you wouldn't like if it was you in the situation.
"Let's make common sense common again," she said.
Jean, a West Chester (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, said park officials should prescribe when certain activities can take place, noting that "some things are not compatible."
"Look around to see what the people around you are doing. Reading? Eating a picnic? Playing frisbee?" Jean said. "If your activity doesn't fit in, move to another spot or go back at another time."
Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with Block Talk as the subject line.
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