General Cycling Discussion - Is it ok to practice on walking trails ?

I am not sure about the etiquette of this, but there is a nice walking trail near me. Is is ok for me to use that to practice on .. if there are no signs prohibiting bike us.

The way I look at it, if theres no one to ask, just do it to you get kicked off. If you're not destroying anything or hurting anybody and not private land, I don't see the problem.

Just be respectful of people walking, and maybe try to go during quieter hours, especially if you are aiming for speed.

There are some great rec trails near me, but I'm starting to avoid them during peak-hours (ie: mid afternoon on weekends). Even though they are marked as multipurpose trails, way too many people on them, kids wandering, dogs running about - that trying to keep up a consistent/fast speed on them is annoying, and potentially dangerous. I scratch my head at the road cyclists barrling down them at 35km/h when they are at their fullest. Early morning / late night / after work - not so bad. 2pm on a sunny long-weekend afternoon? they are a zoo.

what are you "practicing"?

Well, if you want to practice colliding with mothers out with their children, then, by all means, use the walking path.

If there's a sign that tells you NO BiCYCLES, well, don't ride on it. If there's no sign, it's probably ok. You can check with the local parks department or the city government to find out if the trail is walking only, or Multi-Use Purpose (MUP). Regardless, walkers & runners have the right of way over a bicycle.

what are you "practicing"?

That is the question isn't it!

A second is what is the path like. Some trails have good sight lines, you can see for hundreds of yards so even decending at speed is safe (at least for others). On some other trails you can see for hundres of inches. Those are not so good.

If you want to practice riding slowly and courteously, then the path is a great place. If you're practicing just staying upright, a parking lot or little used neighborhood street would be better; they're wider so you've got more room to wobble and weave without hitting anyone. If your practicing riding fast, please do it somewhere else.

Just be respectful of people walking, and maybe try to go during quieter hours, especially if you are aiming for speed...too many people on them, kids wandering, dogs running about - that trying to keep up a consistent/fast speed on them is annoying, and potentially dangerous. 2pm on a sunny long-weekend afternoon? they are a zoo.

I avoid 'em for those reasons. we have a nice 12-mile trail along the river, legal for bikes, but there have been several serious crashes between cyclists and pedestrians. Kids, dogs, old ladies in walkers, groups of workers striding out at lunch...I'll use the path for casual, 10mph rides with the kids, but not for training, which is what I assume you mean by "practice."

It's ok to use them but i wouldn't. I stopped using the one near me last week when i crashed pretty hard. They are in my opinion more dangerous than roads.

If the trail is in any kind of government-operated park, then there's probably already a rule about (not) riding bicycles on it.
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Around here, it's either a sidewalk, in which case it's narrow and close to the road, or it's a multi-use path, in which case it's open to bikes. They do have signs up saying "No motorized vehicles" which implies "non-motorized vehicles are okay."

If you'll notice on some of Mr. Beanz' posts, he has some straight clear bike paths that are good for speed. You won't see those around here. So if you want to ride 12-15 mph, with occasional slower or faster spots, they're okay. Otherwise, get out on the road.

Around here, too, on a nice day, those paths can be pretty busy, but there's times of the year where nobody is out, too.

is probably a "MUP" "Multi Use Trail"

if you are concerned try to monitor walker traffic and ride your bike when there are fewer walkers. stay off remote parts of MUPs at dusk and night

Please be courteous to the other users. I ride the MUP here regularly commuting to work, and I see so many cyclists, especially team groups, barreling down the path at well over the speed limit of 15mph. They have a real bad attitude towards the other users of the trail, as if they own it for their training. This results in bad attitudes towards all cyclists on the MUP, and it's very discouraging. I really am not comfortable on the road, but when I get onto the road bike to train, I find roads, not the MUP. It's not fair to me or the other users for me to be trying to maintain speed on an MUP.

what are you "practicing"?

I am working out for a Tri.

I am working out for a Tri.

Then ride on the road where you belong. Riding on the road is much safer than riding on a footpath, and you can go as fast as you like. And better than just riding on any road, ride on a road/highway in the country ... outside of city limits ... where you aren't hampered by traffic lights.

A footpath is not the place to train for the cycling portion of a triathlon. You can however, use the footpath to train for the running part of a triathlon.

i prefer not to use the trail. we do have a neighborhood entrance to the trails, but you gotta watch it with people and kids:rolleyes:

I am working out for a Tri.

Unless you are making a point to go out early-morning or on 'off hours', I'd recommend against it. If you are pushing for speed, trying to do it when the trails are full is dangerous for yourself and others around you. You are probably better off and safer finding stretches of road in your city that are low traffic and don't have any/many stop signs.

I am working out for a Tri.
Who would have guessed that? Put a bit more useful detail in your posts the next time!

Please tell us you're not on your aerobars on a MUP.

I am working out for a Tri.


Is this your first competition?