Pacific Northwest - Rant - Racers on Sammamish River Trail

It's an afternoon weekend -- If you don't expect to see young kids on bikes and all manner of traffic on a MUP, then you are an idiot. Sorry if my kids and I have held you up for your time trial, but there is plenty of asphalt on I-90 to ride.

I'm not going to condemn or condone any particular activity on the BG/SRT, but here are some of the things I've seen which are fairly typical.
Mind you, they're the typical cyclist vs. jogger vs. stroller pusher vs. dog walker circular BS that commonly crops up...

1) Team pacelines. Like the OP pointed out, if you wanna paceline at 25mph then go hit the open streets. I've heard a 'line leader yell at a kid on a tricycle once. That's far too much testosterone for the MUP. Maybe even too much for the Eastside.

2) Team in Training / local high-school XC team jog-squad. 50 person contingent of joggers spanning 2' over into the grass on either side of the trail. Only way to make them move is don't slow down, and start yelling "MAKE A HOLE!" because to go "on their left" would require fording the danged river.

3) Double wide twin stroller jogger (with one child in it, preparing them early for the transition to single-passenger Cadillac Escalade) who refuses to move from the dead center of the MUP, probably because she can't hear you over her iPod.

4) The Family Outing. Yes, the path is for everyone, including families with mom, dad, a kid on a big wheel, a kid with training wheels on the bike, and a kid on skates, and two dogs. But remember, the path is for everyone, and you can't take up the whole thing... and BTW, teach the kids to stay to the right of the path and not weave an erratic serpentine from edge to edge.

5) Joggers who look at their watch and realize they've hit their halfway point so they hang a no-look u-turn, and they didn't hear your "on the left" over their iPod.

6) Ninja cyclists/joggers

7) Cyclists/joggers who enter the MUP without checking for traffic or exit (to the left) without looking for oncoming traffic.

8) Cyclists who just stop in the middle of the MUP to take a phone call, or worse yet, chat with a friend who was coming the other direction so now they're blocking the whole path.


I ride the BG/SRT all the time, so I know where to expect the traffic to bung up a bit and I slow down accordingly:
Marymoor Park up to the bridge across the river (1 mile past 90th)
The 116th soccer fields
Wilmot Gateway Park (very busy)
Next to the roadway in Kenmore (before Log Boom Park, lots of pedestrian traffic to the malls)

but it's true. That's why I don't ride MUP's anymore as than are not MUP's as much as walking paths with no rules. Walking should be banned everywhere. You should only be allowed to walk from your house to your car and your car better have a bike rack on it or you will get a ticket.

aaach, thoughtless users of the MUP~

yes, bicyclists shouldn't be so peloton or soloist driven on the sammammish river trail, esp in spots where its busy.

but in my 20 some years of cycling the greater puget sound region year round, have never encountered an insurmountable situation on the trails around here.

but yes, the bicyclists need to lighten up a little on training on the MUPs. peds need to realize bicyclists may be moving quickly relative to their pace. families need respect regardless, but mothers walking four abreast with strollers a little less, eh?

everyone needs to get a clue stopping in the middle of any path or road is a poor idea. -

-but the MUPs around this area are great both for efficient transportation and enjoyable recreation.

as an off topic, i suggest roadies invest in a cross bike if haven't already and start riding the unpaved trails around king county, talk about great assets. i rode 100 miles loaded camping this weekend, seattle/northbend, iron horse trail, snoq valley trail, and BG, and rode maybe 10 miles of road, with the rest of the miles on gravel trails and paved MUPs.

I'm not going to condemn or condone any particular activity on the BG/SRT, but here are some of the things I've seen which are fairly typical.
Mind you, they're the typical cyclist vs. jogger vs. stroller pusher vs. dog walker circular BS that commonly crops up...

1) Team pacelines. Like the OP pointed out, if you wanna paceline at 25mph then go hit the open streets. I've heard a 'line leader yell at a kid on a tricycle once. That's far too much testosterone for the MUP. Maybe even too much for the Eastside.

2) Team in Training / local high-school XC team jog-squad. 50 person contingent of joggers spanning 2' over into the grass on either side of the trail. Only way to make them move is don't slow down, and start yelling "MAKE A HOLE!" because to go "on their left" would require fording the danged river.

3) Double wide twin stroller jogger (with one child in it, preparing them early for the transition to single-passenger Cadillac Escalade) who refuses to move from the dead center of the MUP, probably because she can't hear you over her iPod.

4) The Family Outing. Yes, the path is for everyone, including families with mom, dad, a kid on a big wheel, a kid with training wheels on the bike, and a kid on skates, and two dogs. But remember, the path is for everyone, and you can't take up the whole thing... and BTW, teach the kids to stay to the right of the path and not weave an erratic serpentine from edge to edge.

5) Joggers who look at their watch and realize they've hit their halfway point so they hang a no-look u-turn, and they didn't hear your "on the left" over their iPod.

6) Ninja cyclists/joggers

7) Cyclists/joggers who enter the MUP without checking for traffic or exit (to the left) without looking for oncoming traffic.

8) Cyclists who just stop in the middle of the MUP to take a phone call, or worse yet, chat with a friend who was coming the other direction so now they're blocking the whole path.


I ride the BG/SRT all the time, so I know where to expect the traffic to bung up a bit and I slow down accordingly:
Marymoor Park up to the bridge across the river (1 mile past 90th)
The 116th soccer fields
Wilmot Gateway Park (very busy)
Next to the roadway in Kenmore (before Log Boom Park, lots of pedestrian traffic to the malls)

Words of wisdom. This should be on a sign every 100 yards on said MUPs.

I ride the BG/SRT all the time, so I know where to expect the traffic to bung up a bit and I slow down accordingly:
Marymoor Park up to the bridge across the river (1 mile past 90th)
The 116th soccer fields
Wilmot Gateway Park (very busy)
Next to the roadway in Kenmore (before Log Boom Park, lots of pedestrian traffic to the malls)

http://mysite.verizon.net/~bcrowley20/iagree.gif

The SRT at 6:00 in the morning is pretty nice, but in the afternoon you just have to pack some extra patience.

In fact, I am looking forward to tomorrow's ride...since it's supposed to be raining, I figure the trail will be just like January (empty), but about 20 degrees warmer. :thumb:

http://mysite.verizon.net/~bcrowley20/iagree.gif

The SRT at 6:00 in the morning is pretty nice, but in the afternoon you just have to pack some extra patience.

In fact, I am looking forward to tomorrow's ride...since it's supposed to be raining, I figure the trail will be just like January (empty), but about 20 degrees warmer. :thumb:

Yeah, I'm on it at around 6, too. Pretty quiet then.
It's the 4pm ride home where it crowds up. But you're right, the weather will keep the traffic down.

Too hot
Too cold
Too wet
etc...

Walking should be banned everywhere. You should only be allowed to walk from your house to your car and your car better have a bike rack on it or you will get a ticket.

:lol: I'm stealing this.

We need to take over more of the regular streets. Those streets were built and are maintained with taxes from property and sales tax, very little if any from gas tax. The streets belong to all of us, walk, bike and play in the streets, they are public, use them.

We need to take over more of the regular streets. Those streets were built and are maintained with taxes from property and sales tax, very little if any from gas tax. The streets belong to all of us, walk, bike and play in the streets, they are public, use them.

This is the best answer. MUP's are NOT ideal for riding fast. They're okay for commuting, soft pedaling, and tootling around. If you are in a position to complain about strollers, dogs, and families on an MUP, you would better served riding on the street.

BTW, yesterday my GF and I were on a recovery-paced ride on Sammamish River Trail in Redmond/Marymoor. It was very quiet, scenic and great for a recovery ride. I wouldn't want to do a training ride on that trail.

This is the best answer. MUP's are NOT ideal for riding fast. They're okay for commuting, soft pedaling, and tootling around. If you are in a position to complain about strollers, dogs, and families on an MUP, you would better served riding on the street.

BTW, yesterday my GF and I were on a recovery-paced ride on Sammamish River Trail in Redmond/Marymoor. It was very quiet, scenic and great for a recovery ride. I wouldn't want to do a training ride on that trail.

My favourite times on the BG/SRT are early in the morning, or very late at night when the trail is empty.
... or when it's 85 degrees and the joggers are down to their skimpiest coverings. Those are good days for a slow commute. :innocent:

Living in the Auburn/Kent valley I am envious of the BG/SRT as a commuting route into Seattle. There are interesting destinations on each end - with a brewery along the way.

We have the interurban trail, which is far less scenic - but it's completely straight all the way through Tukwila. It's great for going north into Duwamish and ultimately into Seattle, but it goes through some unattractive, boring industrial areas.

My commute uses a chunk of the BG trail between U Village and Fremont. Mornings aren't bad, but evenings can be life threatening. I try to keep my speed to barely faster than the walking speed when going through the high traffic areas, but I frequently get passed by racers down in the aero bars trying to set their personal best TT time. I'm often tempted to stick my pump in their spokes.

For training rides, I mostly avoid the MUTs. I use Lake City Way instead of the BG trail heading north, and Willows Rd is a good alternative to the SVT.

All those folks with their strollers and trike riding kids and dogs and such may be annoying, but the fact is that they have the right of way and they have just as much right to use the trail as those on a bike.

All those folks with their strollers and trike riding kids and dogs and such may be annoying, but the fact is that they have the right of way and they have just as much right to use the trail as those on a bike.

+1

My biggest problem on the BGT is other cyclists. I anticipate many pedestrians may just be out for the day; have never been on the trail; etc. I expect more from cyclists - especially pacelines in team kit riding two abreast at 20mph.

I'm often tempted to stick my pump in their spokes.

I'll lend you my Cinzano jersey. :lol:


All those folks with their strollers and trike riding kids and dogs and such may be annoying, but the fact is that they have the right of way and they have just as much right to use the trail as those on a bike.

True. This is why I just slow it down around the crowded parts.