Fifty Plus (50+) - I am Through Trying to Ride Fast on MUPs

A week ago last Saturday, I was smokin' along my local MUP, well on my way to a personal best time, when I overtook a doofus walking down the middle of the path, with his leashed dog at the right edge of the path. Another bike is coming the other way, so instead of passing on the left, I took to the grass to the right of the doofus. The other cyclist, for reasons unknown, decided to take the same evasive action and we head-on with a combined speed of well over 20 mph. I went over the bars, crunching my helmet (thankfully, not my head), and cracking a rib. We both rode away from the accident, but I haven't spent much time on the bike since then. I'll probably work back into the saddle this weekend, but to hell with MUPs! I will never again use them as anything but a way to get to the start of my workout.

Never too old to learn a valuable lesson - MUPs are for toodling, if you want to go fast, get on the road. ;)

The only bike crash I ever had that drew blood was on a MUP. I was trying to go around a group of joggers. I hit a water pipe, and flew over the handlebars. The joggers didn't take a second glance at me as they shuffled by.

Glad you're not seriously hurt, NAF. It's a good reminder for us all that fast doesn't work well on MUP's.

Yep. We have one here that's clearly marked "Bike Path" and yet you get the MUP heads who walk in one lane with their dog in the other and a leash running between them. OK, I'm a dog guy so it's hard to get too mad at these illiterate idiots but you get the couples walking along, too, evenly spaced so as to take up both directions. I mean, come ON, presumably you know each other... walk a little closer together.

I like to buzz right between them

Well, I think the jury's out as to who the doofus(es) are in this scenario.

But I agree with OP that MUP's aren't (generally) a way to get a good workout. Never too late to learn, although it seems like three culpable people in this one.

I resemble that remark! :lol:
But if the path is marked as a Bike Path and folks don't want to heed that, then...
I mean how can the pretend that a bike might not come along?

I like to buzz right between them

That sounds like a very responsible action. Three people risk being injured.

Never too old to learn a valuable lesson - MUPs are for toodling, if you want to go fast, get on the road. ;)

+1

I just holler HEY! MOVE OVER! and then slow down to see which way they jump. Actually not. But I feel like hollering some days. As much or more so at the dummies on bikes that are silent when they pass as at the dual lane pedestrians and the dog leash boston terrier stranglers.

MUPs are good for a lot of things. Riding fast and going for personal best times are not among them.
Hit the road, Jack.

Glad you were okay.

Riding on a MUP can be dangerous with all the walkers, skaters, dogs, kids, etc. Many of the trails in our area run from town to town and once you get a couple miles out of town you never see anything but bikes. I really prefer riding on the roads.

Did I read this correctly? You passed someone on the right, while the other bike crossed over the wrong lane?

Amen brother! Both of my crashes were on a MUP in the area. The first one was a single-bike wreck and my fault. I was whipping around a 180-degree turn on a concrete part of the MUP and went down hard. Bike survived OK, and I took all of the abuse. Second crash involved some guy coming up the wrong side of the MUP on a blind corner on some sort of bicycle/rowing machine contraption. Head on crash. Bent the front wheel and fork on my Specialized Hard Rock:mad:. I haven't frequented the local MUPs since, but I do miss the flora and especially some of the fauna:D;).

Last weekend, I was riding along an MUP (properly it's "a MUP," but that doesn't sound right) at a very slow speed because of the traffic ahead of me. I came up on one of those four person rental bikes, and slowed even more. I couldn't have been more careful unless I started walking my bike...which I should have. The four person bike ahead of me dropped a picnic basket off the back end, and I ran right over it and crashed.

Is it a bike path or a MUP. If the latter, then pedestrians have the right of way and bikers are cars. Personal bests simply have to wait for another day if there is risk of collision. All those peds have votes and far to many biking places have been lost already.

Remember. The world is run to the law of the lowest common denominator. :fight:

Did I read this correctly? You passed someone on the right, while the other bike crossed over the wrong lane?Yes. That's what happened. Had the other cyclist stayed on "his" side of the path, no one would have been hurt.

Yesterday, I used the trail system around a local reservoir in a nearby state park. Didn't see one pedestrian in the 14 mile loop. Generally around here, there are peds on certain portions of the 40 miles of local trails, and anyone who doesn't slow down when approaching a ped is out of their minds, IMHO. You've got to adjust to the circumstances.

I don't know of any "bikepath only" trails around here. But if we did have any, my guess would be that most peds wouldn't truly understand that meaning, and would figure - "There's a path, I can walk on it."

Where I live there is an extensive MUP system, and cyclist routinely cruise it at 18 to 20 mph. There are park service vehicles that patrol large sections of the MUP and they are usually traveling between 10 to 15 mph. Almost all riders pass them. In fact, prior to the yearly race in Philadelphia that brings the pros in, many of the pro teams use the path as part of their training ride. So, you can get a very good workout on this MUP and most folks who use it have come to respect the fact that the primary users are cyclist moving at a pretty good clip. With that said, there seem to be very few accidents in large part because when someone is blocking the path folks slow down until they can pass safely.

MUPS are Ok if you pick the right time of day. I would not plan on riding fast at the time the dog walkers are out. Middle of the day during the week is generally pretty quiet and early mornings on weekends. But even then MUPs generally have visibility issues. Use to ride them fairly often, none in my neck of the woods now so I am always on the street.

We just spend a week cycling on Root River MUP's in MN. There are three paved trails from Lanesboro. (Total about 150 miles of trail) My routine was to do one of the trails at high speed with a Madone. There may be a very few walkers at 7:00 AM but most of the trail you can go all out with speed.
Afternoon We go on a Tandem. There were any number of people, kids, dogs, bikers, skaters around Lanesboro. So you need to bike under full control which means being able to stop in visible distance.
Away from Lanesboro by say 5 miles there was only an occasional biker, no walker, no kids or dogs.

All and all, we feel much safer on an MUP with our Tandem than on a Road. (Much safer)

A week ago last Saturday, I was smokin' along my local MUP, well on my way to a personal best time, when I overtook a doofus walking down the middle of the path, with his leashed dog at the right edge of the path. Another bike is coming the other way, so instead of passing on the left, I took to the grass to the right of the doofus. The other cyclist, for reasons unknown, decided to take the same evasive action and we head-on with a combined speed of well over 20 mph. I went over the bars, crunching my helmet (thankfully, not my head), and cracking a rib. We both rode away from the accident, but I haven't spent much time on the bike since then. I'll probably work back into the saddle this weekend, but to hell with MUPs! I will never again use them as anything but a way to get to the start of my workout.

Four mammals in this scenario; excluding the dog, we have three (presumptively) sentient beings to whom the attributive adjective 'doofus' could be applied. I would in fact exclude the pedestrian in this instance. Take "smokin' along" and "personal best" attempts on the road, where they belong.

When you are on the road in your automobile and you encounter "doofus" pedestrians what do you do? Do you slow down for them?

Or do you "smoke" by them?

Once, I encountered four teenage girls on a MUP walking four across so that they took up both sides of the path. Even though I said, "On your left" several times they did not hear me. They were too engrossed in their conversation. So, I just slowly came up behind them and said, "Do you mind if I cut through?" And, I am not making this up, they said in unison, "Oh my gawd! We didn't even hear you!!!" And then they all jumped in four different directions. I almost fell off my bike.

Sure pedestrians on a MUP can be irritating but they are the slowest on the path, so shouldn't they have the right of way? Especially, if you can see them and they don't see you.

Doesn't MUP stand for Multi-use Parkway? Give 'em a break. :)

This is why I'm going to buy one of those little bells for my bike. A ting! ting! in time saves 9 :-)
I've been on some shared ped/bike paths overseas where the ring of the bell is the last thing a ped hears before getting run over. And then cursed for being a fool. I've been on both sides and believe me, as a ped you learn to jump really fast the minute you hear a bell ring. It took me awhile to get up the nerve to "honk" at people when coming up on them, but it works to promote safety for everyone.

The worst shared path I've ever been on is the river trail in Brunswick, Maine. It's a single paved path with white line painted down the middle, 1/2 for peds, 1/2 for bikes. The problem is that people are continually confused about which side of their half of the path they should be on, particularly when everybody keeps changing sides due to the confusion. It's like trying to drive around a rotary on the opposite side of the road you're used to. A simple strip of grass between 2 clearly marked trails, 1 for peds, 1 for bikes, would have helped a lot. I've been on right side of the bike path, with someone else coming down the left side, with a group of peds in the middle absolutely refusing to yield, thinking they should stay to the right even though they are clearly on the right side of the bike side, not the ped side.

The dog walkers are another story. We've managed to walk 5 large dogs without endangering the public. All you need is short leashes and leash couplers + training and common sense. There's no excuse for the folks who let their dogs wander all over, never mind the groups of people who refuse to separate to allow anyone else to pass (a la mall walkers). Maybe what we need is safety courses for pedestrians as well as cyclists. :D

The most confusing has to Cook County in Illinois. Contrary to everywhere I've ridden the county forest preserve paths all have signs indicating that peds are on the right and bikes are on the left. It confuses everyone and most just ignore and stay right.

torgrot

When you are on the road in your automobile and you encounter "doofus" pedestrians what do you do? Do you slow down for them?

Or do you "smoke" by them?

Once, I encountered four teenage girls on a MUP walking four across so that they took up both sides of the path. Even though I said, "On your left" several times they did not hear me. They were too engrossed in their conversation. So, I just slowly came up behind them and said, "Do you mind if I cut through?" And, I am not making this up, they said in unison, "Oh my gawd! We didn't even hear you!!!" And then they all jumped in four different directions. I almost fell off my bike.

Sure pedestrians on a MUP can be irritating but they are the slowest on the path, so shouldn't they have the right of way? Especially, if you can see them and they don't see you.

Doesn't MUP stand for Multi-use Parkway? Give 'em a break. :)I ALWAYS yield the path to peds, even if it means taking to the grass. My beef with the ped was that he was taking up so much of the trail that the other cyclist felt he had to go to the grass on "my" side of the trail.

The trail I was using (Tulsa Riverpark East) is simply not adequate for the traffic it carries. I'm done with it. I'm also done supporting funding for "maintenance", park "improvements", etc. Let the jungle reclaim it. I don't care anymore. I WILL be riding on the road, from now on.

A week ago last Saturday, I was smokin' along my local MUP, well on my way to a personal best time, when I overtook a doofus walking down the middle of the path, with his leashed dog at the right edge of the path. Another bike is coming the other way, so instead of passing on the left, I took to the grass to the right of the doofus. The other cyclist, for reasons unknown, decided to take the same evasive action and we head-on with a combined speed of well over 20 mph. I went over the bars, crunching my helmet (thankfully, not my head), and cracking a rib. We both rode away from the accident, but I haven't spent much time on the bike since then. I'll probably work back into the saddle this weekend, but to hell with MUPs! I will never again use them as anything but a way to get to the start of my workout.

Wow. This just happened to someone else and they both ended up in the hospital!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=4994350#post4994350

Once, I encountered four teenage girls on a MUP walking four across so that they took up both sides of the path. Even though I said, "On your left" several times they did not hear me. They were too engrossed in their conversation. So, I just slowly came up behind them and said, "Do you mind if I cut through?" And, I am not making this up, they said in unison, "Oh my gawd! We didn't even hear you!!!" And then they all jumped in four different directions. I almost fell off my bike.


Only cyclists know what "on your left" means so don’t even say it to anyone else. When approaching walkers taking up the entire path I simply ease up behind them and match their speed. I enjoy their reaction when they "discover" me. Most do what happened with you. Scared and moving in all different directions. I just say, "excuse me" and move on with a big grin.
On another note I've found playing a cheap transistor radio tuned to my favorite radio station with the audio at a moderately loud level to be very effective for moving Ped's out of the way. None of them are startled and always turn to see where the radio noise is coming from. Consequently they move out of the way safely.

I have tried everything to move walkers-joggers-and even other bikers out of the way on the Mups. The best is a bell. Carry it in your pocket and throw it at them.

Tonight I found a perfect way that works. Just about to call out to a walker that I was coming up behind him and I swallowed a Fly. Big Coughing fit and at the first cough- He jumped out of the way- and looked behind. Tried it again later on other walkers and it works. Fortunately- without swallowing a fly on the subsequent warning coughs.

If you have the right voice, you can say...

This is God speaking. You can either move over or join me for a review of your life. Your choice!

If you have the right voice, you can say...

This is God speaking. You can either move over or join me for a review of your life. Your choice!

Considering the Bikini Babes you meet on your rides- I am surprised you can even think- let alone say anything to get them to move.

Go early and I have a fairly loud "freddy" bell that I use freely calling out "passing on you left, etc." i notice a lot of fast bikers on MUP's don't have bells or any means of warning people. Maybe too nerdy or Fredlike, but until they make exclusive bike paths I'll sure have one and use it. Doesn't always work when people have their MP3's or cell phones epoxy'd to their ears, but pretty good most times.

Only cyclists know what "on your left" means so don’t even say it to anyone else.

I remember the first time I heard someone say that before I started cycling and my first reaction was to stop and turn around instead of moving over. I like the idea of a radio. There's a guy who regularly rides a MUP here who carries a large boom box in a BOB while riding. Everyone knows he's around because you can hear him about an eigth of a mile away.

Just say "passing." At least in the US of A, almost all passing is done on the left, and they automatically move right.

"On your left" requires several mental processes for someone to understand

1. Which side is left, particularly for someone dyslexic,

2. OK, I now know which side is left, but what am I supposed to do? and

3. Maybe I should move right - oops, too late, the bicycle already passed me,

and could also legitimately be thought of as a request to move left by an unknowing pedestrian or neophyte bicyclist. - That once happend to a bicyclist in front of me .

add what DnvrFox said. Most of ours are multi-use. Only ones I can think of are downtown on the Cherry Creek Bike Path just before you get to Confluence Park where the pedestrian path is on one side of the creek and the bike path on the other. Still you will find pedestrians on the bike side who are new to the area or simply oblivious to the clear marking on the path. In the metro area there are hundreds of miles of trails but they are clearly multi-use and state that peds have right of way and caution bikes to go slowly so you speed at your own risk. Take it on the road for personal best stuff.

OK, nobody else asked, but I will.

"we head-on with a combined speed of well over 20 mph"

Does that mean each of you were going well over 10 mph? Just exactly what constitutes high speed?

Just say "passing." At least in the US of A, almost all passing is done on the left, and they automatically move right.

"On your left" requires several mental processes for someone to understand

1. Which side is left, particularly for someone dyslexic,

2. OK, I now know which side is left, but what am I supposed to do? and

3. Maybe I should move right - oops, too late, the bicycle already passed me,

and could also legitimately be thought of as a request to move left by an unknowing pedestrian or neophyte bicyclist. - That once happend to a bicyclist in front of me .

+1

I also just yell out "PASSING" as I'm approaching because nobody either hears or understands "on your left". And like you, almost without exception, the pedestrians turn to look, figure out what they should do, and then fairly randomly, move either right or left. If there is more than one, I will bet every time that they will go to both sides and will win a majority of those bets. I therefore slow to just about their speed before I get to them, then yell, then wait until they clear the path before pedaling very cautiously past. I always say thank you.

MUPs are open to everyone and we shouldn't expect pedestrians and slow poke riders to do their thing in a regimented way. If they're out for a liesurely walk, of course they're going to be walking abreast. If they're walking their dog, of course the dog will be taking up some of the trail. Who wants to walk their dog at perfect heel all the time? If it's a family with kids, of course the kids will be all over the place - they're kids! What fun would it be for the family if the parents were constantly keeping their kids totally in line.

We have to accept this and just deal with it.

Anyone who doesn't ride at a speed that is safe to do this sort of passing on an MUP is an idiot and is asking for trouble of their own making imho.

OK, nobody else asked, but I will.

"we head-on with a combined speed of well over 20 mph"

Does that mean each of you were going well over 10 mph? Just exactly what constitutes high speed?I don't know how fast he was going. Even with last second panic braking on my part, I'm pretty sure I was going about 15 mph. I don't think he was going that fast. Combined speed was probably in the mid to high 20s, but less than 30.

+1

MUPs are open to everyone and we shouldn't expect pedestrians and slow poke riders to do their thing in a regimented way. If they're out for a liesurely walk, of course they're going to be walking abreast. If they're walking their dog, of course the dog will be taking up some of the trail. Who wants to walk their dog at perfect heel all the time? If it's a family with kids, of course the kids will be all over the place - they're kids! What fun would it be for the family if the parents were constantly keeping their kids totally in line.

We have to accept this and just deal with it.

Anyone who doesn't ride at a speed that is safe to do this sort of passing on an MUP is an idiot and is asking for trouble of their own making imho.It's not the slow poke riders that bother me. Most of them have their heads at least partially out of their @$$es. It's the idiot peds, particularly those with dogs. The dog walking peds should be at the edge of the path, and their dogs should be OFF of the path. I don't care how much leash the owner uses, as long as none of the leash blocks the path.

As far as "accepting" the state of affairs on MUPs, I don't accept it. It's not acceptable. I ride for recreation (that's fun, for those of you in Rio Linda). The style of riding you describe (which I agree is necessary on MUPs) is not fun. I'm riding elsewhere, from now on. The parks dept. can let the MUPs rot, as far as I'm concerned.

If you are going to ride MUPs just get use to the fact that the peds believe that paths are solely for them and don't really even think about the cyclist. Getting a bell is required (or an air horn) but even then you have be careful I have seen people move to the left, move to the right and split down the middle. I also at times think the best solution is just to go by them with no notice since the reaction will occur after you pass but that scares people and they get a bit mad about it. People need to be trained that a MUP is like riding on any road stay to the right to allow faster traffic to pass. Won't happen though

People need to be trained that a MUP is like riding on any road stay to the right to allow faster traffic to pass. Won't happen though

It happens around here. Truly, we have regular weekday walkers that are excellently trained. And, I almost always get a "thank you" after using my bell. Weekends are a bit different, as you also get the non-regular folks out on the MUPs.

And when I walk, I greatly appreciate bicyclists letting me know of their approach. The bicycle is the original stealth weapon, and having one whiz by with no warning makes my heart rate jump up real fast.

It happens around here. Truly, we have regular weekday walkers that are excellently trained. And, I almost always get a "thank you" after using my bell. Weekends are a bit different, as you also get the non-regular folks out on the MUPs.

And when I walk, I greatly appreciate bicyclists letting me know of their approach. The bicycle is the original stealth weapon, and having one whiz by with no warning makes my heart rate jump up real fast.We do, too. If all our peds obeyed the "rules", there wouldn't be a problem. It's the noobs and the just plain jerks that ruin it for me. Heck, I could live with the ignorant noobs (ignorance is correctable), but the jerks can have my MUPs. They've taken the fun out of them.

These kinds of stories about life on the MUPs reinforce my insistence that as we (the advocacy groups I am involved in) work for facilities like paths and trails for walkers and casual cycling, we must also push for better accomodations for cyclists on the roads with the cars.

Good point Denver. From now on I'll just yell "passing" and a "thanks" when they move over and smile! And adjust your speed to the amount of other traffic and time of day.

The path I've ridden a lot runs around a lake in a city park. There's a line painted down the middle of the path and many signs saying that wheels (bikes and skates) are to use the outer half, and go counterclockwise around the lake, and feet are to use the inner half and can go either direction. The wheel people generally follow the rules (there seems to be a correlation between following the rules and wearing helmets)...but the walkers are everywhere!

It's not the slow poke riders that bother me. Most of them have their heads at least partially out of their @$$es. It's the idiot peds, particularly those with dogs. The dog walking peds should be at the edge of the path, and their dogs should be OFF of the path. I don't care how much leash the owner uses, as long as none of the leash blocks the path.

As far as "accepting" the state of affairs on MUPs, I don't accept it. It's not acceptable. I ride for recreation (that's fun, for those of you in Rio Linda). The style of riding you describe (which I agree is necessary on MUPs) is not fun. I'm riding elsewhere, from now on. The parks dept. can let the MUPs rot, as far as I'm concerned.

Gheeeesh! Get over it; you're right, of course, re. people walking dogs, etc. etc. etc. but WHAT do you expect on a(n) MUP???? As I said above, if you (really are) "smokin' along" and setting "personal bests" blah, blah, take it on the ROAD (as in, 'road bike', (wanabee) 'roadie', etc.).

Personal best accident on a MUP!?
If you want to do a personal best, get on the road!

The OP is obviously clueless.

I don't know how fast he was going. Even with last second panic braking on my part, I'm pretty sure I was going about 15 mph. I don't think he was going that fast. Combined speed was probably in the mid to high 20s, but less than 30.

If you were going that fast AFTER SEEING THE PEDESTRIAN, you made a very dumb decision. You need to slow down to a safe speed when you encounter pedestrians, no matter how much you wish it weren't so.

But you've learned your lesson, so 'nuff said.

Personal best accident on a MUP!?
If you want to do a personal best, get on the road!Had you bothered to read my OP, or even the thread title, you would have known that I plan to do exactly that, from now on.