Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Over the bars!

Hey everyone, I have been lurking on the forums for a while, but after my experience today I feel compelled to post.
I was riding on my local bike path here in RI doing my usual 20 mile ride. On the weekends, the path can get kind of crowded, so I keep the speed low and pass with caution.
I come upon two older men meandering along on Wal Mart special mountain bikes. As I approach, I call out my usual "on your left!" before I pass.
Apparently, this is enough to startle one of them into moving left--directly into my path.
I grab the brakes, knowing there's no time to stop and up and over I go, headfirst into my first crash at speed (I remember seeing 15.5mph on my way over).
I land taking the brunt of the crash on my left shoulder, also hitting my left knee, wrist, and my head (thankfully helmeted).
As I lay on the asphalt doing a mental check of all my body parts, I hear a spewing of inappropriate language directed at me.
"Serves you right, M.F.er, you need get a bell or a horn to let people know you're passing, you don't know S. you stupid A." Keep in mind, the only inconvenience I've caused this guy is that he had to stop his bike and yell at someone who just smashed themselves into the pavement to keep from running into him.
I get up, dust myself off and walk my bike in the direction I came from back to my car, dripping blood and limping without a single look from the 30+ people I walked past on my 2.5 mile journey back to the car.
So here I sit, banged up, swollen and bitter. Unable to ride for at least a week.
Anyone have any motivational stories that could help restore my faith in cyclists and people in general?
Thanks for listening to my whining and complaining!

Wow, big time bummer. Most I had was being run off the road by a truck, but I did not get hurt. Hope you get better and I suggest a different path in the future.

..you need get a bell or a horn to let people know you're passing...
Well hope you feel better soon glad it isnt' worse. So far the only time I have hit the pavement was when my mind wandered and a cement island wandered into my path.
I'd get a bell if I was riding on a path as they so "nicely" suggested ;) Take a different path and give people a wide berth too :D
I must admit if I never signed onto bike forums I'd have absolutely no idea in the world what it meant. I remember when I was a kid some guy came flying up on route one and said on your left and the first thing I did is look ahead on my left like something was there maybe a loose dog coming right for me or something. Since I looked when riding my bike well you guessed it I moved toward the left. I had no idea why he said that for decades.

Wow, that's a bummer. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. I hope you recover quickly and are able to ride again very soon.

Some people are just rude. I'd have been tempted in that situation to give the guy a predictable two-word rejoinder accompanied by the famous salute recognized by everyone as the universal gesture of brotherhood and good will, but it would likely only have exacerbated an already unpleasant encounter.

Yea, I didn't want to react that way because being a 25 year old former Marine, I would look like a jerk talking smack to a 60+ yr old man and his buddy.

I thought the "on your left/right" thing was fairly self-explanatory and common. I've known it since I was very young... Oh well, I see where assumptions get me!

Glad you are ok. Fortunately, our paths around here don't get too busy. I have had a pretty good spidey sense about who might give trouble and slow down a lot for them. I take into consideration some of the older folks might be a bit unpredictable and have slower reflexes. But, for me, dog walkers are the worst.

If our paths had 30 plus people on them, I'd probably hit the roads instead, though.

Well, this is probably the second or third "there I was on the MUP going 20mph" story I've read this week. Personally, I'm staying off the MUPs! I think it's safer mixing it up with 50mph cagers on the road! At least on the road everybody's going the same way, the other drivers are at least playing at being alert, there's not crowds of kids on roller skates or bikes with training wheels, joggers with iPods, or ladys walking their golden retreiver on 20 foot leashes!

At first, MUPs seemed like a good idea - and probably would be except for the 'MU' part.

Not being able to ride sucks and I hope your recovery is swift.

The law here requires a bell if you ride on multi-use paths and trails althouhg ringing the bell does not guarantee that people will hear you or stay to the right as you pass them.

My most severe accidents have involved other cyclists who did not seem to understand the rules of the road and I've had two crashes on the MUTS where an oncoming cyclist was taking a corner on the inside (my lane).

On one occasion I slammed into a railing and on another ended up going down to avoifd a total head on and ruptured the bursa in my knee which kept me off the bike for a month.

I've oftten thouhg that one of those air zounds hirns would be a good idea except that startled people often jump into your path.

Get an air horn and give a 5 second blast behind everyone from now on - that'll teach 'em!

Glad you're OK!

And I tend not to like MUPs that are well traveled since so many idiots are on them.

Sometimes the best warning is none at all. Everytime I ring the bell people seem to go into my path.

Stay off the MUTs. They're a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Ride on the road. It's safer.

Some MUTs are safer than others.

That sucks man I ride 11 miles a day most on a multi use path In Brooklyn NY, while I haven't lost control yet I have a close call at least 3x a week, Screaming and whistles seem to work best yelling on your left on a brooklyn path doesn't work unless you have a translator riding with you.

If you can get on some of them that are not so urban, they can be a lot of fun and turn into more bicycle paths as the pedestrians only wander so far before turning back.

Hey everyone, I have been lurking on the forums for a while, but after my experience today I feel compelled to post.
I was riding on my local bike path here in RI doing my usual 20 mile ride. On the weekends, the path can get kind of crowded, so I keep the speed low and pass with caution.
I come upon two older men meandering along on Wal Mart special mountain bikes. As I approach, I call out my usual "on your left!" before I pass.
Apparently, this is enough to startle one of them into moving left--directly into my path.
I grab the brakes, knowing there's no time to stop and up and over I go, headfirst into my first crash at speed (I remember seeing 15.5mph on my way over).
I land taking the brunt of the crash on my left shoulder, also hitting my left knee, wrist, and my head (thankfully helmeted).
As I lay on the asphalt doing a mental check of all my body parts, I hear a spewing of inappropriate language directed at me.
"Serves you right, M.F.er, you need get a bell or a horn to let people know you're passing, you don't know S. you stupid A." Keep in mind, the only inconvenience I've caused this guy is that he had to stop his bike and yell at someone who just smashed themselves into the pavement to keep from running into him.
I get up, dust myself off and walk my bike in the direction I came from back to my car, dripping blood and limping without a single look from the 30+ people I walked past on my 2.5 mile journey back to the car.
So here I sit, banged up, swollen and bitter. Unable to ride for at least a week.
Anyone have any motivational stories that could help restore my faith in cyclists and people in general?
Thanks for listening to my whining and complaining!

Gee, maybe it's my Canadian politeness, but if I saw someone do an over the bars, inappropriate action or not, I would stop and ask if they were okay, and offer some assistance. Mind you, I would probably reply to his diatribe, "I THINK I'M HURT, SOMEBODY GET ME A LAWYER". Yeah I know, a doctor or paramedic would be more useful, but it would likely shut him up, really fast, while he wonders if you know something he doesn't.:D

I haven't really figured out the best solution for that situation. One problem with saying "On your left" or whatever ("Passing on your left" is more clear) is that you have to be pretty close for it to work, and if you're going fast and they don't move, you don't have time to dodge. The path I ride on, you can generally go around people if you need to, and that seems the more prudent course of action if you're making any speed.

MD you're a saint. If that were me rage would take over and that a-hole would've been on the ground.

Well, this is probably the second or third "there I was on the MUP going 20mph" story I've read this week. Personally, I'm staying off the MUPs! I think it's safer mixing it up with 50mph cagers on the road! At least on the road everybody's going the same way, the other drivers are at least playing at being alert, there's not crowds of kids on roller skates or bikes with training wheels, joggers with iPods, or ladys walking their golden retreiver on 20 foot leashes!

At first, MUPs seemed like a good idea - and probably would be except for the 'MU' part.

Hear! Hear!

When I first got back on my bike (was it only August?), I thought I'd be making much use of the MUP around the tip of my town's peninsula. I now do loops up and down the beachfront roads, preferring to take my chances with car doors than with the Multiple Users. I don't do bells or horns, believing my voice to be more reliable, louder, and much more colorful, but it amazes me how many people respond to a loud shout from behind, "Passing on your left!" by immediately jumping left.

Hear! Hear!

When I first got back on my bike (was it only August?), I thought I'd be making much use of the MUP around the tip of my town's peninsula. I now do loops up and down the beachfront roads, preferring to take my chances with car doors than with the Multiple Users. I don't do bells or horns, believing my voice to be more reliable, louder, and much more colorful, but it amazes me how many people respond to a loud shout from behind, "Passing on your left!" by immediately jumping left.

I think the problem with "on your left", or "passing on your left", is that by the time the person denotes someone is speaking, and that the message may be directed at them, they only comprehend "LEFT" so they go left. I find that using a bicycle bell that goes brrring brrring works just as well, in that people will look around for the bicycle, which is the whole point, if they see you, they will not collide with you.

Now for the OP, to get all serious, on a crowded MUP, 15MPH is far in excess of the speed you should have been going, if you do not have time for evasive action, your going too fast.

^^^^ "No! Your Other Left!!!!" ^^^^ ;)

^^^^ "No! Your Other Left!!!!" ^^^^ ;)

LMAO!!!

Don't hear that one nearly enough anymore.

Now for the OP, to get all serious, on a crowded MUP, 15MPH is far in excess of the speed you should have been going, if you do not have time for evasive action, your going too fast.

Just to clarify, my going 15+ mph on the path pales in comparison to the freds going 20+ on their litespeeds in full kit. By busy, I mean on weekends I pass more than the usual 6 cyclists and 10 joggers. This was a situation that would've been avoided had I merly blown by them in the left lane, most likely causing them to shoot me the bird.
Can't win!

Glad your ok- use the experience as a lesson- not everyone on a bike knows proper etiquette. In your case they were rude and out of line. Sorry you had the experience.
The bike trails I ride on have a lot of Mexicans walking on them and most of the time when I call out "On your left" they simply raise their left hands and don't move over..............

You should have tased him.

Hey everyone, I have been lurking on the forums for a while, but after my experience today I feel compelled to post.
I was riding on my local bike path here in RI doing my usual 20 mile ride. On the weekends, the path can get kind of crowded, so I keep the speed low and pass with caution.
I come upon two older men meandering along on Wal Mart special mountain bikes. As I approach, I call out my usual "on your left!" before I pass.
Apparently, this is enough to startle one of them into moving left--directly into my path.
I grab the brakes, knowing there's no time to stop and up and over I go, headfirst into my first crash at speed (I remember seeing 15.5mph on my way over).
I land taking the brunt of the crash on my left shoulder, also hitting my left knee, wrist, and my head (thankfully helmeted).
As I lay on the asphalt doing a mental check of all my body parts, I hear a spewing of inappropriate language directed at me.
"Serves you right, M.F.er, you need get a bell or a horn to let people know you're passing, you don't know S. you stupid A." Keep in mind, the only inconvenience I've caused this guy is that he had to stop his bike and yell at someone who just smashed themselves into the pavement to keep from running into him.
I get up, dust myself off and walk my bike in the direction I came from back to my car, dripping blood and limping without a single look from the 30+ people I walked past on my 2.5 mile journey back to the car.
So here I sit, banged up, swollen and bitter. Unable to ride for at least a week.
Anyone have any motivational stories that could help restore my faith in cyclists and people in general?
Thanks for listening to my whining and complaining!


Sorry you hit the pavement so hard. :( Heal quickly.
That's a normal move from walkers on bike paths. Expect it, that's all you can do.
Was that today? Did you pass Bailey and I in the green trike today?

I got scared off my bike by a big canadian goose and I went for a spill and ripped my leg up pretty bad. I had been yelling at him to get off the path but instead he turned towards me and opened his wings and made this loud hissing noise so I swerved hit soft dirt and down I went.

I'm sure the noises the goose was making afterwards was the equivilant of laughing and talking some trash to his buddies about what he did to me.

Sorry you were injured.

Passing is always problematic, especially on MUPs.

Best to be super conservative when passing. You just can't rely on people to react in a predictable way.

Same goes for other users, runners, strollers, etc., on MUPs.

I tend to hang back, let them know I'm there and then wait to see what they do, even then; I'm extremely cautious when proceeding to pass.

The best you can do with some people, like the guys who got you, is to minimize their effect on you.

I admire your restraint.

I ride on a MUP quite often and I quit saying "on your left" because it seemed only seasoned cyclist know what that means. I now say "coming by" in a friendly voice (I hope it sounds friendly) and give myself enough time to react to any unexpected moves by the people ahead of me. On weekends I just figure there is going to be families walking or riding that don't know the rules of the MUP so I am more careful on the weekends. Depending on the situation, I will sometimes not say anyting and just pass them on the far left of the trail. I guess it just depends on the vibe I'm getting from the person or kid in front of me.

I've also thought about getting a bell but...

Anyway, sorry to hear about your fall and hope you are back on the bike soon. Think of the positives, at least you didn't break a collar bone or something similar.:)

Just to clarify, my going 15+ mph on the path pales in comparison to the freds going 20+ on their litespeeds in full kit. By busy, I mean on weekends I pass more than the usual 6 cyclists and 10 joggers. This was a situation that would've been avoided had I merly blown by them in the left lane, most likely causing them to shoot me the bird.
Can't win!

The important part of my statement was if you don't have time to take evasive action, then your going too fast for conditions and I will stand by that. It's not good that you got hurt and then berated in a condescending manner by the meat pylon that caused the issue in the first place, but if you had seen that the situation wasn't good, and started to slow down a little, then you might not have crashed. Hopefully your feeling better in a few days, replace your helmet, and get the LBS to give your bike a good going over, to make sure that you haven't broken anything in that department either. Now, also install a bell, there are some small ones that don't look stupid, but are quite loud, this works better then words that need to be interpreted.

I have had a bicycle at one point or another for 40 years, but I first heard the "on your left" statement about a year ago. There are problems with it, because the first thing that goes through someones mind, is what's on my left? Maybe it's something that makes me want to go that way, like a pretty girl who has lost her bikini top:rolleyes: Naturally they look left, and that means they go left, a loud brrrrring brrring, and they need to figure out where the noise is coming from, and what it is, and they are most likely to stay where they are until they figure it out. Although people from countries where bicycles as vehicles and bicycle bells are common, will immediately identify it, and will move to the right side of the path.

One path in my city, the Martin Goodman Trail, has signs that state "stay to right side, bicycles use left side to pass. There is a lane marking down the middle of the path, most people tend to follow the rules, and even with high traffic (like Saturday mornings), it tends to move smoothly. This is something that should be done with many more MUPs.

MD1982, I'm sorry to hear about your accident, but it appears as though you and I are in the same boat! I had just left some friends at the local bike shop after a 50 mile ride and it happened while I was cruising home. I was about 2 miles from home traveling at about 17.5 MPH and thinking seriously about what I was going to have for lunch. I know, I should have been paying more attention to the road, but as we all know, many accidents happen when we are tired or distracted. I was on a road that I ride almost every day and I should have been aware of a bump in the road. I had my hands resting on the top of my handlebars, not really holding on, when I hit the bump, causing my hands to lift from the bar. When they came back down they slipped forward causing me to go head first over the handlebars. I've fallen enough to know how to fall without major injuries to shoulders, etc., but my foot didn't come out of the peddle and I landed heavily on my right knee. 9 stitches and some professional grade road rash later, I'm a week off the bike, with a minimum of another week prescribed by the ER doc. My wife told me that I seem to be handling this much better than she had anticipated, but I'm beginning to get a little antsy to get back out there.

Hope your recovery is quick! Mine is a work in progress.

Mike

I grab the brakes, knowing there's no time to stop and up and over I go, headfirst into my first crash at speed (I remember seeing 15.5mph on my way over).

Sorry to hear about the crash, MUP crashes are the worst because there are always witnesses around to view your foible and the aftermath. In RI of all places I can't believe there wasn't a lawyer or politician nearby to descend upon you and offer their services. :D

Hopefully next time you encounter this situation, and if you keep using a MUP you WILL encounter this again, be sure to expect the unexpected! Give every trail user a lot of leeway and prepare yourself to take quick action.

When your wounds have mended find a place to practice doing some panic stops with a bicycle, like a nice parking lot or low-traffic street. When you need to stop in a hurry it's best to throw your weight behind the seat and over top of the rear wheel. This keeps the rear wheel on the ground, preventing loss of traction on your tires (minimal skidding) and keeps you on your bike. So practice by grabbing the brakes as you dismount your seat and lunge your body off the back of the seat and over top of the wheel.

Remember a large amount of your stopping power comes from your front wheel and if you don't get your weight back there off you go!!

I searched the internet high and low for another example of a panic-stop dismount where somebody crafted a technique of doing a front flip leap over the handlebars and landing on his feet (!) if you have a need to do a panic stop. I couldn't find it though, crazy guy but he's trying to convince everybody the technique works! Anybody else familiar with this?

Sorry to hear about the crash, MUP crashes are the worst because there are always witnesses around to view your foible and the aftermath. In RI of call places I can't believe there wasn't a lawyer or politician nearby to descend upon you and offer their assistance. :D

Hopefully next time you encounter this situation, and if you keep using a MUP you WILL encounter this again, be sure to expect the unexpected! Give every trail user a lot of leeway and prepare yourself to take quick action.

When your wounds have mended find a place to practice doing some panic stops with a bicycle, like a nice parking lot or low-traffic street. When you need to stop in a hurry it's best to throw your weight behind the seat and over top of the rear wheel. So practice by grabbing the brakes as you dismount your seat and lunge your body off the back of the seat and over top of the wheel.

Remember a large amount of your stopping power comes from your front wheel and if you don't get your weight back there off you go!!

I searched the internet high and low for another example of a panic-stop dismount where somebody crafted a technique of doing a front flip leap over the handlebars and landing on his feet (!) if you have a need to do a panic stop. I couldn't find it though, crazy guy but he's trying to convince everybody the technique works! Anybody else familiar with this?

Haven't heard of this. have heard though of taking a few beginner marshal arts classes though, because the first thing they teach is how to fall without injuring yourself. Been wondering about trying this one myself :D

Haven't heard of this. have heard though of taking a few beginner marshal arts classes though, because the first thing they teach is how to fall without injuring yourself. Been wondering about trying this one myself :D

The old tuck and roll! Draw in your appendages letting the trunk of your body taking the impact and rolling out of it onto your back or back to your knees to get up and go again. I'm not into martial arts but have had to learn defense techniques since I sometime run into crazy people that want to hurt me at work.

Learning how to fall has helped me in several of my crashes, however I haven't done a leap over my handlebars since I was young. I'm not sure if I'd have the presence of mind to do that now but it'd probably mitigate the damage some if you could tuck up some prior to landing.

Bummer, glad to hear you are okay.

Like others have mentioned the phrase "on your left" is a death trap. Only about 10% of people seem to be able to understand what it means. I've noticed that a large percentage of people actually move left when you say that. I now exclusively use "passing" with plenty of warning if I'm traveling fast.

I love to ride my local MUP. It has not speed limit and it runs out in a rural area. Many days I can average 15mph and only see a hand full of people on a 15-25 mile ride. If the MUP gets busy I hit the roads.

A friend of mine went over the bars this last winter and landed on his feet, but not on purpose. He just got lucky.

I recently went over the bars, too.

I was on my way to work on my usual morning commute when I was approaching a red light. Okay, brakes, shift down... then something went wrong. The chain jammed up and my back tire locked up... but my front tire wanted to keep going... suddenly the back wheel's off the ground, and I'm thinking, "This is going to hurt...".

Yup.

Scraped up my left elbow bad... a small scrape above my right knee... and the wind was knocked out of me... but that's about it. The bike's okay. My head's okay. My glasses are untouched. My neck was stiff for a while... but one night with the heating pad and that's over with. Overall, I was pretty damn lucky considering it was the AM commute on a main road. There weren't any cars behind me, either.

In RI of all places I can't believe there wasn't a lawyer or politician nearby to descend upon you and offer their services. :D



:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I was riding with a lawer not far away at the time, but we did not hear about it soon enough.
We stopped to talk to a politician along the way. :D

I should probably get a bell, because I almost always pass without warning. Most of my commute is on a not-too-busy MUP, with no curb or anything to keep me from cutting off the path into the grass in an emergency, so that's basically my Plan B. If I don't have enough room to pass on the other side of the path I'll slow down and wait until I do, but I feel like calling out will produce unpredictable behavior more often than it avoids it.

I call "on your left" in two situations--the person I need to pass looks like a reasonably experienced biker, so I expect them to react in a predictable way (it also usually means the speed difference isn't as great, so there's more time during which we'll be close enough to get into trouble); or if someone is just cruising along beside their friend and taking up the whole path, so I can't get by without getting them to notice me.

Responding to original post in thread:

What do you expect from those sweet people that live in Rhode Island? I'm surprised they didn't kick you while you were down.

More seriously, on the less crowded MUPs down here, I found that I had to explain to about half the people - cyclists or walkers - what "on your left" meant. I would put it on a par with explaining to tourists in DC "stand on the right, walk on the left"; those that have ever worked in DC and ridden the Metro know what I mean.

I stopped MUP riding for two reasons: 1) the 1/4" to 3/4" difference in surface level between the asphault path and the steel edging of the bridges every quarter mile, and 2) too many meandering walkers, dogs on 20' leashes, bicycles weaving back-and-forth.

But if I were so unfortunate as to live in RI, I guess I'd ride the MUPs, 'cause the prospect of riding roads there would be truly frightening.

I recently noticed during a run that the MUP signage had been changed from "keep to the left" to "bikes must yield at all times". I wonder how that fits with federal regs since I think at least some of the construction funds were "federal bicycle appropriations"; I don't plan to inquire because it ain't worth the hassle.

First.. I found our example.. BikerFox (http://www.bikerfox.com)!! Quoth:


The BikerFox Hop is a preventive crash and injury technique. It is inevitable if you ride a bicycle for any amount of time, you will fly over the handlebars whether you want to or not. BikerFox has broken his right shoulder and elbow several times. He decided to start practicing flying over the handlebars to prevent future injuries. If you are able to launch yourself over the front of a bicycle and land on your feet, then the next time you do crash or are in an accident, you will be so much more relaxed and be able to control those nasty spills.

http://www.bikerfox.com/bicycle/crash/images/AA_6041_013.jpg
http://www.bikerfox.com/bicycle/crash/images/AA_6041_012.jpg

From seeing some of his site and a youtube collection of his videos (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=biker+fox&search=Search) I think he landed on his head a few too many times...

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I was riding with a lawer not far away at the time, but we did not hear about it soon enough.
We stopped to talk to a politician along the way. :D

Maybe only RI'ers would identify with that comment. Politicians there seem to be very in touch with their constituents. I grew up there and Gov. DiPrete (sp?) showed up at many family functions of my neighbor friends. I thought maybe they were lucky until I got another friend in High School who's family was tight with Gov. Sundlin. Then I move to Ohio and find out former Senator Lincoln Chafee was close friends and an apprentice of my coworker's husband (a blacksmith). So it keeps following me!

I'll have to keep my eyes peeled the next time I visit home and cycle the EBBP. My last trip to New England I stayed on Cape Cod and just did a day trip to my friend's house in Cranston and a drive through my hometown of NK. I did get to ride a lot around Cape Cod including the canal and all over Provincetown.

Maybe only RI'ers would identify with that comment. Politicians there seem to be very in touch with their constituents. I grew up there and Gov. DiPrete (sp?) showed up at many family functions of my neighbor friends. I thought maybe they were lucky until I got another friend in High School who's family was tight with Gov. Sundlin. Then I move to Ohio and find out former Senator Lincoln Chafee was close friends and an apprentice of my coworker's husband (a blacksmith). So it keeps following me!

I'll have to keep my eyes peeled the next time I visit home and cycle the EBBP. My last trip to New England I stayed on Cape Cod and just did a day trip to my friend's house in Cranston and a drive through my hometown of NK. I did get to ride a lot around Cape Cod including the canal and all over Provincetown.

That's amazing about Chafee and your coworkers husband!

It should be pretty easy to spot Bailey and the trike on the bike path. He can be seen lounging at the bike shop on the path as well.

I now exclusively use "passing" with plenty of warning if I'm traveling fast.

That's all I say. PASSING! If people don't understand that when it comes from someone behind them.........:rolleyes:

Sorry to hear man!!!! Glad you are okay!!! My communte has sections of MUP so I kow what you mean.... However it seems that when I give warning it almost causes a crash EVERYTIME and when I just pass there is no problem!!! I havn't figured that out yet!

A bell or pleasant horn is a good idea. In general loud noises, yelling, ect, cause people to be stunned and stop thinking. When passing you want the other person to know you are there, and think about what to do.

There are two groups of people I encounter on MUPs that I hate. Those that are going slower than me, and those that are going faster.

Consider a fixed gear, speeding up and slowing down are more challenging on a fixed gear. That makes MUPs much more interesting.

I usually yell out "good morning on your left" and that typically works with humans on the bike trail...not so good with deer. I almost hit Bambi when he darted onto the MUT after his mom who crossed over. He stopped and looked right at me. I stopped within 5 feet of him before he finally jumped back the way he came and I pedaled on.

Hope you're on the mend soon.

you gotta learn how to ride a wheelie and buzz the back of their shirt with your front tire...they'll move!

Heck, I need to learn how to do that...

Maybe it's something that makes me want to go that way, like a pretty girl who has lost her bikini top

If this is really a problem then...well...want to go riding some time? :D

To paraphrase W. C. Fields: "Out of my way, ya Path-Hog!"

I agree that "On your left" often seems to hurt as much as help, but it's not clear what other phrase would work better. I think the key is to be loud enough, and say it early enough, so that the person ahead of you has 1) time to be startled, 2) time to look, and 3) time to move over. Probably "Behind you" works just as well, and since the person doesn't know which way to move, they will just stay where they are in the lane.

My pet peeve is walkers and riders who insist on walking/riding abreast of each other, blocking the whole path. But look on the bright side - every time you have to slow down for someone on the path, you get another opportunity to burn a few more calories accelerating back up to speed. :)

1) Nothing works all the time.

2) Just about anything will work part of the time.

3) See item 1)

I got scared off my bike by a big canadian goose and I went for a spill and ripped my leg up pretty bad. I had been yelling at him to get off the path but instead he turned towards me and opened his wings and made this loud hissing noise so I swerved hit soft dirt and down I went.

I'm sure the noises the goose was making afterwards was the equivilant of laughing and talking some trash to his buddies about what he did to me.

On my local MUP a young mentally challenged young man threw a handful of bread on the path about 15 feet in front of me. Apparently Canadian Geese don't give a fiddlers damn about getting hit by bicycles!
I tried to slow and unclip but I ran into one and down I went on my side. Bruised elbow, ribs, and hip.

The path is constantly full of kids riding all over the place. People standing in the path and blocking it.
Unsupervised kids running onto the path. I always unclip now when I see kids or groups of people. I assume they will not get out of the way!

I lead beginners rides and must stay on the path. I fairly shout "passing on your left". Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Most people are reasonable but there are jerks out there. If I fell and someone started cussing me out I would most likely end up in the county lock up!

I love the MUP in the cold weather when it is pretty much empty. The roads around here are a mixed lot though! Oh well! Six of one and a half dozen of the other.

I hope you heal quickly MD1982!