Northeast - Are you kidding me?

Ok look... I've only begun doing laps in prospect park since the middle of March, but within that relative short period of time the peds there, are an unbelievable nuisance. Worst of all these people bring their 2-3 year old children to the park walk along the bike path, and just let them run around in circles not giving a damn that there are A. cyclists riding pretty fast sometimes and B. cars driving through the park. Yeah this seems to be overlooked. The other day I'm about a hundred yards before the hill over there and this little kid is in the middle of the road just walking slowly. I decide to pass him on his left but I couldn't go all the way to the left because people were walking along the bike path, not to mention cars were in the right lane. So I'm going about 18 miles per, as I pass him he just decides to jet back to the bike lane. He narrowly missed kissing my back wheel and knocking himself out. Had I been going 16 there would have been a huge problem, I'm guessing I'd be at fault. Sh*t is unreal. People please watch your kids!

PS-What's the deal with people walking their litespeeds up the hill?

Ok look... I've only begun doing laps in prospect park since the middle of March, but within that relative short period of time the peds there, are an unbelievable nuisance. Worst of all these people bring their 2-3 year old children to the park walk along the bike path, and just let them run around in circles not giving a damn that there are A. cyclists riding pretty fast sometimes and B. cars driving through the park. Yeah this seems to be overlooked. The other day I'm about a hundred yards before the hill over there and this little kid is in the middle of the road just walking slowly. I decide to pass him on his left but I couldn't go all the way to the left because people were walking along the bike path, not to mention cars were in the right lane. So I'm going about 18 miles per, as I pass him he just decides to jet back to the bike lane. He narrowly missed kissing my back wheel and knocking himself out. Had I been going 16 there would have been a huge problem, I'm guessing I'd be at fault. Sh*t is unreal. People please watch your kids!

PS-What's the deal with people walking their litespeeds up the hill?

Was the kid on a leash?

Dude, it's a public park, in a city that doesn't have a lot of big parks. Wait until there's a really sunny Saturday.

PP is basically a MUP, and you should treat it as such. Pedestrians, even ones doing things you might regard as stupid, have the right of way and it's your responsibility not to run them over.

If you want to hammer, then hie thee to 9W.

I know that it's my responsibility to be careful and I try to be at all times, but parents keeping their kids off the middle of the road during heavy traffic is not too much to ask.

It's not an ideal situation. Kids cross the road in the park at will, just as cyclists blow off just about every "red light" they hit. (Tell me you stop at Ninth Street when the light is red. Yeah, me too.;) ) Most parents are mindful, especially those who live near the park and use it regularly. To others who make P.P. a destination — man, once the kids are in the park, it's such a break from the traffic outside that they tend to run free. And it's hard to blame them. Bacciagalupe has it right. Treat it as a really wide MUP.
As for the Litespeed walkers — yeah, wtf?

Well, as the proud owner of 2 tasmanian devils (uh, children) I can tell you that they don't always operate in predictable patterns or listen to instruction. But as a city dweller, I know better than to let them loose on the MUP or Park Road without supervision.

I have noticed that tourists or people that visit the City Parks once a year tend to wander about the road, disinclined to notice the bikes whizzing past them. Just give them a wide berth.

Incidently, I was almost taken out on the West Side Greenway this week, when a 3 year came out of nowhere to cross the path ahead of me. I saw her just in time & swerved to avoid her. I stopped & looked. She was fine. Her parent? Looking out towards the Hudson, smoking a cigarette.

As a far as LiteSpeed owners walking their bikes up a 1/4 mile hill... That's really punishment in itself, isn't it? :D

Ok look... I've only begun doing laps in prospect park since the middle of March, but within that relative short period of time the peds there, are an unbelievable nuisance. Worst of all these people bring their 2-3 year old children to the park walk along the bike path, and just let them run around in circles not giving a damn that there are A. cyclists riding pretty fast sometimes and B. cars driving through the park. Yeah this seems to be overlooked. The other day I'm about a hundred yards before the hill over there and this little kid is in the middle of the road just walking slowly. I decide to pass him on his left but I couldn't go all the way to the left because people were walking along the bike path, not to mention cars were in the right lane. So I'm going about 18 miles per, as I pass him he just decides to jet back to the bike lane. He narrowly missed kissing my back wheel and knocking himself out. Had I been going 16 there would have been a huge problem, I'm guessing I'd be at fault. Sh*t is unreal. People please watch your kids!

PS-What's the deal with people walking their litespeeds up the hill?

Since we're the faster vehicles and it is a multi-use road after the park closes, it is our responsibility (to a certain extent) to avoid people or at least let them know we're closing in fast. I usually pass then point at them as I go by kind of like, telling them that next time, they should be over *there* instead of the middle of the road. If I see em again at the next lap, I say "move the hell over!"

You'll never find me walking my litespeed up the hill. If you can hold 18-20mph going up that hill, gimme a call, we gotta do some laps together. Or go up 9W to nyack.

somebody once pointed out that on the MUPs, we are the car. I try and keep that in mind.

Get the airzound. It is a small airhorn for your handlebars. That will get peoples attention.

http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=1

I did five laps this afternoon. During that time I saw three people get carted off in ambulances. The first was in 'the usual' spot at the bottom of the s turn near Lasker Rink. The other looked like a cycle vs pedestrian mishap near Columbus Circle. Whatever it was it required two ambulances.

I wonder if anyone tracks the number and type of accidents that happen in the park. Everytime I'm there it seems someone gets carted away.

I did five laps this afternoon. During that time I saw three people get carted off in ambulances. The first was in 'the usual' spot at the bottom of the s turn near Lasker Rink. The other looked like a cycle vs pedestrian mishap near Columbus Circle. Whatever it was it required two ambulances.

I wonder if anyone tracks the number and type of accidents that happen in the park. Everytime I'm there it seems someone gets carted away.

That must be that OTHER park. I won't ride CP anymore. PP at least you have a chance to get moving and there's enough room to avoid most obstacles. The 2 toughest places are by the Park Circle/CIA/Ocean Pkwy exit where it narrows and then goes over the bump and sometimes there's water, and the other is by the entrance to the parking lot. Anywhere else it is wide enough for everybody IMO.

It's a circus out there; literally :(

I did five laps this afternoon. During that time I saw three people get carted off in ambulances. The first was in 'the usual' spot at the bottom of the s turn near Lasker Rink. The other looked like a cycle vs pedestrian mishap near Columbus Circle. Whatever it was it required two ambulances.

I wonder if anyone tracks the number and type of accidents that happen in the park. Everytime I'm there it seems someone gets carted away.


I can imagine. I only ride Central Park later at night or rarely, very early in the morning. There are just too many walkers, rollerbladers, kids, dogs, runners, wanderers & random cars before 8pm.

For both parks, you're best off riding when it's 'off hours'. That means almost never on weekends after about 10:30, especially Prospect. Unless, of course, you're going out for a fun, slow ride.

Yeah, and what gives with those triple wide baby strollers with the mother or nanny oblivious on their cell phone?

;) Versailles-
I have to agree with Baccia on this one. There will always be ignorant, selfish people with and without children (just like there will always be ignorant, selfish skaters and bikers). The point is, the law is with the pedestrian, so you as a biker need to be aware of your surroundings and take proper precautions.

If you want to enjoy the public park along with others, ride responsibly. You need to accept the fact that just because you put on racing gear, you're not Lance Armstrong and this is not the Autobahn. Dude, it's a public park full of children.

It's unfortunate that NYC doesn't have a true bikes only area to ride up to potential. But seeing how it's also #8 in walking cities....

Best bets are going on off hours. Personally I love those times, I feel like I 'own' wherever I'm riding. Rode over the Brooklyn Bridge Thursday night/Friday morning at 5 AM, didn't pass another cyclist for most of it and only two pedestrians. 3 hours later though...

Yeah, and what gives with those triple wide baby strollers with the mother or nanny oblivious on their cell phone?

*sigh*

It's unfortunate that NYC doesn't have a true bikes only area to ride up to potential.


We do: It's called the Kissena Velodrome. http://www.bikecult.com/works/kissenatrack.html

Good point :)

Damn it, all this time I knew I couldn't keep up with slvoid, and now I know for sure :)

+1 to taking to the park on less popular days/times. Go after dark, get some lights on the bike and enjoy the emptiness.

One thing to be aware of, and I know this in part because I'm acquainted with the person who runs the stables... you don't have the right of way when encountering horses in the park or on the roads outside of it. They usually try to show some deference, but they aren't required to.

The pedestrians drive me completely nuts as well, but with a little planning you can usually deal with them. I almost had a wreck the other day when a kid came running across the path (at a point where there are still cars in the main part of the Park Drive,) to retrieve a soccer ball, so there was nowhere to divert other than into the car lanes... I came pretty much completely to a stop before he even realized I was there. Told him to watch out and kept going. Just the nature of the beast.

I got in four loops on Sunday then gave up too many folks. I just cruised down Ocean Parkway and out Shore Road over the bridge and to the Rockaways. Good ride.

Ocean Parkway runs right by my front door, and other than the rotten pavement in places also has it's own share of strolling idiots on the bike path. Once you get off of it, and down to the Shore Parkway things ease up quite a lot. The only caution is in the summertime where folks are coming off the beach to their cars, and the sand that builds up along the beach parking areas near Sheepshead Bay etc.

Someone said recently (don't know whether this is still the case) that the pathway is interrupted around Erskine Avenue, so you can't complete the loop from the Rockaways back over Cross Bay Blvd. and back to the Shore Parkway, but it is apparently being repaired.

Someone said recently (don't know whether this is still the case) that the pathway is interrupted around Erskine Avenue, so you can't complete the loop from the Rockaways back over Cross Bay Blvd. and back to the Shore Parkway, but it is apparently being repaired.

Yeah, as of a week or so ago there is a section of the path that is still under repair. I talked with one of the construction guys, who said it would probably be closed for about a month (which probably means more,) and that when that section was finished they would be moving to the next section to the east (toward Corss Bay Blvd.) and repairing that. Ultimately that's a good thing, since part of that next section is currently just gravel, but in the meantime be prepared to detour around. If you're headed west on the path, turn off it at Erskine and take the surface streets on the other side of the Belt, I think you can get back on the path at the next street which crosses over the Belt.

Its good to hear they are finally fixing that section. Many years ago you could ride a fully paved path all the way to Cross Bay. After they closed the dump that section was no longer maintained and I believe was completely closed and the toxic mud just took over. I think it was only cleared, and not very well at that, after they opened the Erskine entrance for the stores.