moose67

Last night I started off having problems getting my phone to load my tracking program then nearly fell after losing my balance getting on my bike. I couldn't get comfortable in the saddle. I generally take a warm up lap on the short section of about a mile before I start the rest of the ride. By the time I got back to the turn around point I was really aggravated and depressed. I thought 'I've got to ride somewhere else. I'm getting tired of this trail'. Normally I have to navigate around people walking because they feel they can spread out and walk the entire width of the path. As I neared the trail head I encountered a group of 5 or 6 the completely blocked the path. I slowly and moved to the edge of the pavement so I could narrow the amount of space I needed to get by. The in turn did nothing until I almost reached them then just looked at my like I was supposed to get out of their way. Finally the moved just enough so that I rode between them. I have a bell on my bike and detest it. I don't like saying anything too people because I never know what to expect or how they'll react. The one or two times I have "politely" alerted people to my presence I've heard unwelcome comments about me or that fact they shouldn't have had to move. As I reached the parking lot I was so steamed that I knew if I continued to ride I would have to pass them several more times. I stopped and put my bike up and left. I have rode this path almost everyday for months. I'm of the mindset now that I need to find someplace else to ride now. Thanks for letting me vent friends.

turtlewoman

Geez, what a miserable ride! I'm sorry. I'm thinking about getting an Air Zounds for use commuting in traffic. They are supposed to be pretty loud. Maybe you need to get one of those to make your presence known. But, for gosh sakes, don't be intimidated into giving up a favorite riding spot. But I do hear you.

bautieri

So you're upset that your techno gadget wasn't working?

Well they don't call them MUPs for nothing. Personally I think the folks riding horses on rail trails are the most...entitled...people you will ever come across. Just use the bell or say something like "Good Evening" well in advance. "On your left" usually only works with cyclists (sometimes ), I've had much better results with Good morning, afternoon, evening.

Bikes---->people----->Horses

Neil_B

I'm sorry you had that experience.

Some multi-purpose paths are worse than others when it comes to loitering. Are there others in your area you could ride?

You might need to become more assertive with pedestrians. I find shouting "On your left" helps a lot.

flip18436572

The rules on the trails that I have read said everyone must yield to pedestrians. Yes, they should also only walk on half of the lane, but some people are not that way. Rarely do I ride on the trails, as that is a 45 minute drive from my house, but sometimes that is a place we are heading anyway, so I take the bikes in case we get time to ride. I have never had anyone block the entire way on purpose, and I usually use Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Hello when I get to that point. I will use On Your Left, with the people with IPODS and walking, running or biking. If they are walking their dog(s), I slow down a lot, because many people have no idea what their animal is doing and I don't like to spook them either.

Poolagoo

The other night I went on a ride around the local park around 10pm and there was a gaggle of homies who felt they needed to loiter in the middle of the track to smoke some herb. Now, I've got no problems with the herb but come on people, you have en ENTIRE PARK to smoke in you can't move aside 3 feet? I'm on a mountain bike so it really wasn't too much of a problem to go around them but still....
I agree with Bautieri, usually killing them with kindness seems to work and a nice Good Morning/evening will usually be returned with a little more courtesy next time around.

txvintage

I've only ridden on a MUP once, and I have to admit I had a great ride. The fact that it is rather far from the house probably means it is a place I will keep in mind if I ever get the chance to ride someone who is uncomfortable on the road.

It may be time to expand your horizons. How comfortable are you with the idea of ridig on the road?

barturtle

Geez, I've found that a ding of the bell, a smile, nod and "Good morning" tend to make all but the most inattentive of dog walkers become friendly, accommodating trail users.

gapwedge

Here in my home town our trail is called a BIKE trail. There are lots of joggers, walkers, couples with dogs, etc. I have never had an issue with them hogging the trail when saying 'passing on the left' of if heading toward them they move over to the right. Sorry you had that experience.

hammond9705

This comes up a lot on the road forum. You need to learn to ride on the road, as the MUPs are full of little kids who go every which way, dogs on those long leashes, roller bladers, joggers with IPODS, ....

bautieri

If that doesn't work you could always try a brick

Jtgyk

Sounds like you were having one of those days where the universe was trying to tell you to do something else. This post for instance.

1) I ride MUPs that are fairly unpopulated (lucky me).

2) There are some MUPs that are such a female dog to ride (Cycle traffic and pedestrians/dog walkers) that I just avoid them like the plague.

3) I tend to ride more on the road now that I've been cycling for awhile
(and need to actually GO PLACES/commute). Usually more enjoyable...and you can ride faster.

I like pennies in a tube sock.
(No I don't really do this, but it is a nice dream sometimes)

Awww, Shucks!
What a nice thing to say!

perryw

Almost sounds like my ride from the other night. It's nearing dusk so we're moving a long pretty well to get off the trail before it closes. Two girls walking towards us, and suddenly one decides she needs to hop in to our lane (there's a yellow line down the middle of the trail) and do some dance move. I yelled "WATCH IT!" to get her to move, which she did with her friend's encouragement, but it was closer than I would have liked. Would have been quite painful for the both of us

Greg_R

50% of the time "on your left" results in someone moving to their left . A bell ring-then-react method seems to work better on the trails around here.

gjosuem

I suggest you visit the MUP at different times and days and see when there is traffic and when it is clear. I personally ride my bike on the MUP early weekdays (break of dawn), on weekends, no later than 0930, otherwise too much traffic, dog walkers, families on bikes, skaters, joggers . . . and that is what is meant for. Hell, I personally take the family and dog for walks occasionally. So, try different times and see if it suits you better. Otherwise, find some nice road routes.

nwmtnbkr

Sounds like your karma was off. Even if you hadn't run into that group, it sounds like you just didn't feel right. That happens, some days, everything is just off. Keep that in mind and don't give up riding the trail.


I'm lucky. When I lived in the metro D.C. area, I didn't feel comfortable riding the streets so I limited myself to trail riding. Now I live in the Northern Rockies, in the middle of a 2.2 million acre national forest. I've got scenic views and lightly-traveled forest roads all around me. I'm having great fun riding now that I've got power assist on my mountain bike to help me with the steep hills.

Also, drivers here are much more mellow and actually smile and wave at cyclists. Urban areas have just become too crowded and everyone has a bad attitude too much of the time. I don't miss that part of city living at all.

Here are a couple of photos of the type of roads I'm on everyday. (I do need to stay alert to wildlife that bound out into the road.)

moose67

Thanks to everyone for the responses. First I'm wasn't upset because my phone was giving me trouble it was a statement to set the events rolling. Second even though I detest the bell I have rang it before to no avail. Third, yes the horn sounds like a good idea. The four and last point is my fault because I didn't make this clear after reading my original post. I wasn't riding up behind them they were walking towards me. I was probably 30+ yards away with them looking at me. I understand approaching from behind and people not getting out of the way but looking at me and doing nothing? This ticks me off. This wasn't the first time it's just the one the rubbed me the wrong way.

cbrown9064

Hi went for a 20 miler last night that included about 10 on the local MUPs to get to some less trafficed roads. I use "on your left" when coming up behind and they have no idea I am there. It seems to work well. A couple times last night I even got a "thank you" from the walkers.

Jtgyk

I usually use a "Passing on your left, please!" followed by a "Thank you" in a pleasant cheerful voice.

If they are staring me down as I approach from the front I'll throw out a "Please pick a side!"

Wogster

I think photon torpedos would work better, only problem is that the torpedo and launcher are a little heavy for on bike use

Jtgyk

After the infamous Snake Incident....I'm thinking inertial dampeners.

Neil_B

Or why not just carry Doug with you in a cage and release him whenever pedestrians get in the way?

Glenn1234

At least you can be thankful that you didn't hit the MUP during an organized walk-a-thon using it. Happened to me once. Not enough snakes for that.

Though, most of them (about 30-40 total, I'd guess) were real nice about me passing through.

Jtgyk

Nah.
That guy ya gotta swing like a lasso...preferably overhead whilst striking sparks from your pedals from carving back and forth across the cement shrieking the song of the Valkyries and dragging a long string of harmonically tuned human skulls behind........
......ummmm....sorry.....images in my head are leaking out into the real world again.

valiantjedi

So far Doug is my favorite.

Yelling on your left/right always works for me. I had to do it a few times today actually.