Woodly Park This Evening, and "Crash Bikes"

wll

Woodly Park this evening was a joy ..... folks lined up three side by side not letting you pass ..... when I said "to your Left" I got shouted down as having an attitude, and the list goes on.

It only goes to show no matter where you bike 'YOU" must always be on the defense.

This brings me to a point .. I'm so fed up with this I'm thinking of building a "crash bike" one with tough tires, a cage over the front tire, a steel frame and have a wedge welded to the frame so when folk don't move and you have on coming bicycles and can't stop without hurting yourself .... you go in between the folks who were not paying attention. The wedge would push them aside.

I'm thinking of this not to hurt anybody but sometimes it get very dangerous and the only safe route is between the people that won't get out of your way. Tonight people heard me but seemed annoyed that I was in the right hand lane on a bike path and they were talking while walking with friends.

wll

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Blue Order

That's one way to get an assault and battery charge. You can probably also pick up some additional charges, like hit & run, and failure to yield.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Mos6502

Just get an air horn and use it relentlessly.

wll

A powerful airhorn may be the answer.

wll

Bekologist

how about a trying a lil' bell first, tough guy? they are remarkably effective. why are you going so fast on the MUP, anyway?

Bushman

mount a pair of M9 bayonets on your bar ends. Sound a 300 decibel siren first or Ride Of The Valkaries really loud and then ride. The two footed sheep will move. :)

wll

Tought Guy!!!!! I made a simple post, where did you get tough guy from ?

wll

wll

Not going fast, as a matter of fact I was being followd by a couple racer guys who after I passed the Peds, also read the riot act to the peds.

wll

john bono

Get a mohawk, some shoulder pads, and a crossbow. If it worked for this guy:
http://static.flickr.com/51/173993604_66468c0a8b.jpg
It'll work for you.

dobber

Anyone who thinks MUPs will provide some type of care-free / unimpaired riding is delusional. Go find yourself a nice country road to amble down and leave the MUP to the crowds.

wll

This evening again I was going slow and said I'm on your left, the woman (if that is what you want to call her) never moved, when I passed she said F you.

About 2 miles around the bend I had to stop as both lanes were blocked by two young girls who were riding in my lane going the wrong way, it was a good thing I was going slow I told her father 'cause some folks are going ~15 - 20mph and could not stop and causing a bad accident ...... that statement by me got a nice fat F you also.

There are skaters that leave me in the dust, there are folks riding that are putting the pedal to the metal ... these folks are on racing bikes and they are flying, I'm on a Specialized Crossroads Cruser, and I'm and old guy !!

I need to call the San Fernando Valley Councilman who is in charge of that district and tell him what is going on and see what happens.

wll

syn0n

If they don't wanna move, that's fine. Just go slow, get nice and close, and then join in their conversation. They'll move.

wll

That was a great answer .... as much as a pain it is it is much safer to ride there on a Saturday or Sunday, but it has been to hot in the afternoon.

I'm going to look for some long side streets next to where I live as riding in that park is a MAJOR accident waiting to happen.

I saw a guy pull out in a driveway at the park without looking a get run into by a cyclist. The cyclist was not hurt, got up and put three large dents into to guys car with his fist. The cyclist had a right to be P'ed off, as a matter of fact for a moment I thought the guy on the bike was going to pull the driver out of his car and give him a whoop'n.

Like I said, I think it is MUCH safer finding some nice surburban side streets :-)

wll

San Rensho

Rotating knives on your axles. Cuts the backs of their knees, no more walking for them.

rajman

I recall a steep ascent where a jogger was jogging up backwards while I was sucking air riding forwards right 'behind' her - a good way to have a conversation, if you have any wind left for talking :)

Have you tried hopping off the path to go around clots of pedestrians? I find that there is little point confronting people on MUP's - they are what they are, often congested, and multi use. At off times they can be quite fast, but that is not really their purpose - in my experience if you really want to go fast get on the road, preferably a country road.

nova

I find that on your left passing on your left or even on your left works better. I my self say coming up on your left. To your left sounds like something you may say to a riding or jogging partner when you see something of interest. Remember mups tend to be very wild life heavy with nice scenery many people on long ride or walks are there to enjoy said wild life and or scenery and will tend to assume you are as well.

So avoid conversational phrases like to your left or to the left.

For the record i hold a average speed of 17mph on my commute by bike to where i work on the towpath wich is a nonpaved mup

dzinehaus

Patience.
Simple patience.

Learn it, and use it.
I frequently come across slower people. Be it in the grocery store, in the mall, on the road, on the sidewalk, and especially while driving a car. If you your presence and/or signal does not move them, then wait.........
You'll get by them. Why make such a big deal? You'll get where you're going--just minus the negative attitude.

Well said, patience is a virtue, you only have one life to live, and why hurt some one? Would you like some one to hurt you?

Blue Order

I saw a guy pull out in a driveway at the park without looking a get run into by a cyclist. The cyclist was not hurt, got up and put three large dents into to guys car with his fist. The cyclist had a right to be P'ed off, as a matter of fact for a moment I thought the guy on the bike was going to pull the driver out of his car and give him a whoop'n.And today, I saw a cyclist riding the wrong way on a one way street run a stop light and cut off a cab's right of way because he couldn't wait one second for the cab to pass.

Good to know that the proper response of the cabbie would have been to kick the cyclists rear wheel into a taco shape before giving the JAB a whoop'n.

Speaking of wrong-way cyclists, I'd be surprised if it turned out that this cyclist:

I saw a guy pull out in a driveway at the park without looking a get run into by a cyclist.

was riding legally, in the direction of traffic.

Cyclaholic

If they don't wanna move, that's fine. Just go slow, get nice and close, and then join in their conversation. They'll move.

Brilliant! I love this. I'm sort of thinking that you may also steer the conversation towards the "have you let jesus into your life yet?" angle.

Another option may be to shout in a panic striken voice at the top of your lungs.... "NO BRAAAAKES!!!!"

kendall

Brilliant! I love this. I'm sort of thinking that you may also steer the conversation towards the "have you let jesus into your life yet?" angle.

I've found that's a great way to get telephone salespeople to hang up on you real quick.

I've got an advantage in a way when riding bike mups, I've got long hair and normally tie the hair up in a pony tail, but after riding a bit it gets out and gives me that psycho look, so most people on the trails get the **** out of my way.

Ken.

meb

Brilliant! I love this. I'm sort of thinking that you may also steer the conversation towards the "have you let jesus into your life yet?" angle.

Another option may be to shout in a panic striken voice at the top of your lungs.... "NO BRAAAAKES!!!!"

Or maybe politics, particularly if you can target a subject they are averse to.
Or sports, particularly of a different city's meadiocre team.

Maybe a loudspeaker letting you also outdecibel them in addition to the unwanted subject.

filtersweep

Racer guys on a bike path?!

Not going fast, as a matter of fact I was being followd by a couple racer guys who after I passed the Peds, also read the riot act to the peds.

wll

I-Like-To-Bike

Tought Guy!!!!! I made a simple post, where did you get tough guy from ?

wll

Maybe because the post was simple minded and drew similar responses from those who also believe that everyone else on a MUP has a duty to get out the tuff guys way on voice command.

Use a bell and go around 'em. It isn't that difficult if you don't let your ego get in the way.

I-Like-To-Bike

Get a mohawk, some shoulder pads, and a crossbow. If it worked for this guy:
http://static.flickr.com/51/173993604_66468c0a8b.jpg
It'll work for you.

It worked until he met a tougher guy. Those who blast Air Zounds at pedestrians on paths might consider that the pedestrians may retaliate to such provocations with more physical devices.