All of the hikers I know have a quick draw holster on their hip for the bear spray. I think it's a cross draw, iirc.
They do practice with them, at least my wife's hiking group (all old people LOL) practice drawing their spray. Of course, with 7 of them in the group there might be time for one to get out the spray. Someone's gonna get it, but with that many noisy people, they're unlikely to be challenged by a bear.
I personally would not go where they go, without my 12 bore rifle, loaded with Challenger Gualandi DG slugs.