From today's Boston Globe,, "Rage on the Bikeway".

[Jeronimo_]

What do you get when you put hundreds of chowderheads in a small space with different forms of transportation?

A joke like that bike path.

[Treker]

... it boils down to lack of ... civil decency, and courtesy. ...



Isn't that the truth. A proxy for society in general?

Let's all just get along.

[bike2math]

I agree with you about the Olentangy path, but not about path use in general. On nice spring, summer and fall afternoons I avoid the Olentangy path, but other than that, it's just fine during commuting hours. I never use the part of the path north of campus on nice weekends. Too many idiots.

I initially supported the new bridge to it, but then someone pointed out how overcrowded that part of the path already gets on nice days. That changed my mind. Even though I think the bridge was a mistake, it's not the end of the world.

The reason problems with the path are not that big of a deal is that I can (and usually do) use the streets to get to work when I'm in a hurry. My real concern is that the city will build bike lanes on my street route, and (as they've told me they will when and if they stripe lanes) engineer the lanes to be safe only up to 15 mph. Then you've cut fast riders off the path and the street. Where will we ride then?


That does suck about the bike lanes... My point with the paths though is that what I find useful about bike paths and MUP's, particularly in C-bus, is that they take me to places I need to go. If they had gaps in them I would end up just riding the road all the time. I prefer the paths, so I would rather have a congested path that goes places I need to go.

To top it off I have found that as long as one is flexible with their commute (which you have to be at this point in America anyway) that you can easily use the paths when they are mostly empty. My commute by path is an extra two miles and probably takes an extra 15-20 minutes, but it is so nice (and car free, on most parts I can't even hear cars) that I use it almost exclusively.

[dynaryder]

Nobody is doing 35 on a mup. Not possible. Clear exageration.
There was a similar complaint in an article in the Washington Post a few days ago in the weekend section (I looked, but their search function is horrible).

40

Aggressive Riders on the Trail

Sunday, July 15, 2007; B08



A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I decided to grab our new bikes and take a leisurely Sunday ride along the Mount Vernon Trail. This trail is one of the Washington area's most scenic, running parallel to the Potomac River across from the District in Arlington. It's a beautiful area, with fantastic views of our nation's capital, lots of water and greenery, and many families and friends out together enjoying the parkland views.

We started down the trail about 11 a.m., carefully passing numerous walkers, joggers, kids and leashed pets along the way. But soon we were besieged by swarms of other bikers who had decided the trail was their private racetrack.

I couldn't believe it when these packs of racers, all in their "cool" racing shirts, shorts and other gear, blew past us, at at least 40 mph. Not only were they unconcerned about our safety (we, at least, were on bikes), they didn't seem the least bit concerned about the children and pets on the trail either. They appeared disturbed that others were using their private racetrack and were very arrogant in their attitudes and clear belief that we should all get out of their way.

More amazing was that this wasn't an isolated event. We saw speeding bicyclists, alone and in groups, scream past us multiple times in less than 30 minutes while we were on the trail. I am amazed I didn't see bodies strewn in the wakes of these careless riders. They obviously don't know the rules of the road when it comes to sharing the trail.

In April The Post ran two letters about a walker hit by a speeding cyclist. Last August The Post ran a front-page story about aggressive riding and speeding on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. The story reported: "More bicyclists have died on the trail -- three -- in the past year than in its first 31 years." Apparently, the problem of dangerous cycling on area trails has not gone away.

The Web site of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association spells it out: "The trails that make up the [D.C. area trail network] . . . should be used in a manner consistent with the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all. We urge all users to be respectful of others and to use the trails safely." It also says that riders should obey "a reasonable speed" and "slow down when the trail is crowded." The Virginia Department of Transportation posts similar admonitions on its Web site.

We saw no police officers patrolling the trail. After our 30-minute ride, my wife and I decided to get off the trail and settle under a tree for a nice picnic. After three hours, there still was no sign of any law enforcement official.

I can't believe that this type of speed racing along a one-lane trail would be permitted. It's an incredible danger, and the police should take action to stop it so others can enjoy the trail without fearing for their lives.

These speed demons should grow up. The park doesn't belong to them, and one day they are going to injure or kill a small child. No one is impressed at how fast they can ride. I think we'd all be more impressed if these riders would show a little more concern for the rest of us on the path.


-- Brendan Hurley

Mt Vernon is the worst I think. When on the trail I tend to ride at a pretty good clip,but I'm always careful around peds. I'll drop out of warp and coast at a walking pace to wait for an opening to pass,but I'm often in the minority. Had a roadie once who couldn't wait a few seconds for a clear pass come into my lane and his drop bar missed my barend by an inch. If we'd've hooked bars it would've been painful.:(

[red house]

Yeah, this bike trail is runs right by where I work.. it is truly a victim of it's own success. A few weeks back I took my buddy out for a ride on it all the way to the end in Bedford. On our way back after sunset there were some hoardes of young teenage touts congregating along the path at every 50 or 100 yards or so. As my friend and I rode past this one group of them - this one white kid who was wearing a wife beater and walking with a swagger, insisted on staying in the middle of the path. As my friend and I rode to either side of him he lunged (really more of a flinch) in my direction - and said; ''what the **** you lookin at?'' as we rode by. This brought us both to a complete stop, -this kid was about to get a beat down. This punk ass kid then turns around and starts walking in our direction, and my buddy asked my out loud; ''yo' should we should beat his ass?'' When this kid heard him say that he started talking **** in a very bizarre way, he came up to me and said ''hey man, you want to fight me? Look at you, what are you like 20? Look at me I'm 14 year old, 'you want to fight me??'' :lol: -? At this point this kid's female friends were trying to talk him into backing down -because he was about to get ***** slapped. I told him he had to chill and use his brain, that you live longer that way.. and he lwas like ''cool brah'' - and then I broke his knees in.. (No, just kidding, I would have liked to though). :)

[vtjim]

I'll drop out of warp
:p Hey I use that phrase on the bike too.

My wife and I had a good one on Saturday. It was evening/dusk and we were riding home on the MUP. Some guy was walking dead in the middle of the path, with his back to us. Not unusual. I turned on my 13W halogen because that usually clues people in when they see their world lighting up, but not this guy.

So my wife dinged her bell first. No reaction. I dinged my bell, which is much louder. The guy turns around and looks at us, then turns back, throws his arms up like, "What do you want me to do?", and keeps walking down the center of the path.

My wife and I both simultaneously yelled, "MOVE TO THE RIGHT!"

He did. Some people just need to have some sense beaten into them, that's all.