I never assume that walking up a road or trail that I"ll be the only one there, to me thats not even close to happening these days. If I want to avoid someone, I simply go until there is no road left at all and then go in or cut off the side of a road in nowhere land and foot it on in.
If you are anywhere around a trail or road I assume either someone is in front of me or will pass me.
Just the way it is on public land about anywhere these days.