Bockman

You know.... sometimes..... people are really stupid.

Weekdays, I usually incorporate at least a few miles on the W & OD Bike Trail because it is blissfully quiet and almost vacant of pedestrians. Weekends, I won't get caught within five miles of the trail because it's FAR more dangerous than road riding.

Since the change in weather I've noticed the following types more frequently:

The Running Right Down The Middle of The Path Guy-- Usually can be seen using the divider line as his personal balance beam. Communications ineffective owing to ear buds or other personal stereo firmly imbedded in ear canals.

The Infirm Doddering Housefraus: Will they dodge right, or left (directly into your path) when you announce, "On your left!"? Who knows! I sure don't!

The I'm Changing My Infant's Diapers in The Middle of The Path Lady: self-explanatory

The I Have a 50 foot Flex-lead Leash On My Out-of-Control Doggie Guy (or Girl)- It ain't working if it ain't extended fully and clotheslining the path don'tcha know.

The I Take the Entire Width of The Path To Push Off Rollerblade Guy-- another selfexplanatory one

The I'm Teaching My 5 Year Old How To Bike on One of The Busiest Bikepaths in The Country Guy-- see Infirm Doddering Housefraus...

I could go on...

the beef

I've seen all of these on my bike trail.. I nearly got clotheslined once by an old lady's dog on a leash as the dog wandered to the opposite side of the trail. And those damn insline skaters manage to take up the whole trail with each stroke. This last ride I also almost ran over some 4 year old kid on training wheels despite making eye contact with the kid as I came up on his left. He stared at me with wide open eyes and kept pushing his bike further and further into my path, somehow not recognizing the danger of a combined 150 pounds hurtling towards him at 20 mph.. I had to go offroad to avoid him. Argh.

KevinF

Back in the 90s, I lived pretty close to the W&OD trail. It was great for racking up early season miles -- long and flat, two things that a lot of the roads in northern Virginia aren't. By the time I left in '99, that trail was getting insanely busy. I can't imagine what it's like now.

rapidcarbon

I use WOD as my warm up until I get to leesburg then I will hit Woodburn, Harmony Church, Halminton Station, Taylortown, stumptown then get back to WOD to cool down. Besides, if you start early, then traffic not that bad.

SSP

If you're trying to pass a 4 year old at 20 mph on a MUP, then you're the dangerous dummy . If you'd hit him, you would undoubtedly be held liable.

Most MUP's aren't safe for bikes, especially if you want to go faster than about 12-15 mph. If you want to go faster than that, do it where real roadies ride - the street.

clausen

Trails in my area have a 20km/h speed limit. That combined with all that other reasons mentioned to stay off them is enough for me to stay away from them, far far away.

SlowJim

I actually had a enjoyable 90 mile ride on the trail last Saturday, two loops from 28 out to Purcellville. I do slow down for the kids though and use that as an opportunity to sprint back up to speed. I would agree that weekday rides are the best. Today I'll slip out for a 50 miler after work.

Have fun riding or don't ride

GuitarWizard

I like my bikes paths.....Rte. 195, Rte. 89, Rte. 44, Rte. 198, Rte. 6, Rte. 203, Rte, 32, Rte. 87, etc.....only thing I come across on those paths are cars.

SilentShifter

I agree entirely. I rode that path once and probably won't be riding it again. There are too many clueless people as you mentioned and I would rather go head to head with a semi truck than deal with those people.

yoyodyne

i'm going to take the other side on this, i prefer the W&OD to the road. i commute 20 miles each way and have encountered all of the personalities mentioned. an angry driver is far more dangerous to me than a clueless pedestrian, and there are TONS of clueless and angry drivers commuting on nova roads. i'm sure i'm going to hell for it, and with the exception of kids being involved, i dont announce passing unless absolutely necessary. people too often stop, and turn right into my path, like deer. i may spook them as i zip by, but better than running into them.

SSP

Have you tried a bell? When I've ridden MUP's regularly, I've found that a bell is much more effective than trying to use vocal warnings. A proper bell is immediately identifiable as an overtaking bicycle, and can be heard from a long ways away. It also tends to not startle the elderly (unlike yelling "on your left!").

cc_rider

+1 the bell. Usually cut thru the headphones.

bunabayashi - you left out the bike racers and racer wannabees who blow down the trail at 22+ mph and buzz all the slower traffic without warning (just like the cagers do )

I usually don't mind the W&OD and ride it often. It can be busy, but it's not nearly as bad as Capital Crescent in Bethesda, Rock Creek near the zoo, or anywhere on the Mount Vernon Trail.
Like any mup riding, I control my speed, ride politely and watch out for the "speed bumps."
And if I'm tired of the trail crowds or am riding for speed, or just want to go a different way, I switch to the roads. No difference to me.

rapidcarbon - Love that Woodburn / Harmony Chruch route. Might do it again this weekend.

*new*guy

agreed. My commute is just a bit longer, but the W&OD is the most direct and safest route for me to use. I get a bit fed up this time of year w/ all the fair weather folks who take it over, but hopefully it'll rain tomorrow and we can have the trail back

As for the poster who said that "real roadies ride on the street", whatever. You don't live here, and I'd wager you'd use the W&OD as well if you were commuting over 10K miles a year, regardless of the weather.

nova

Onthe dog one im pretty damn sure that bike path is going to have a legal limit on how long the lead can be let out. In my local park where i ride the park roads and parking lots its 5 foot any longer and you risk getting the leash cut by the rangers. They ttend to realy enforce that one esp after about 2 years ago when some idiotic lady had 2 run out leads each 16 feet with a dog on each. She was joggign on the entry road with her dog when it happened a car doing the legal 25 mph cought both leads and well lets just say 2 dead large breed dogs one with its head nearly ripped off and one lady with a busted arm.

Guess who was paying for damages in that one? Wasnt the driver of the car.

So far this year no less than 5 instances of leashes being cut by rangers that i have seen personaly. One lady did not learn from the first leash and was cought again this time she got a metro parks ban photo taken. Basically shes not allowed in any of the metro parks in summit county for the remainder of this year.

Lithuania

My commute includes 10 miles on backlick - annandale - gallows roads and 15 miles on the W&OD to sterling. I must admit that I am generally more relaxed while riding on the trail but I tend to ride a lot better on the road. I was suprised by this.

Even riding this trail at 6am gets me nervous because of all the animals running across the roads.

That being said if I could take the W&OD entirely on my commute I would most likely take it.

truckin

The W&OD is wonderful, even on weekends, if you get out past the highly-utilized portion of it. From Reston (actually, closer than that even) out to Purcellville is some of the best riding in the DC area because it's flat, fast, and too far out for most people on foot or who don't ride seriously. I've always enjoyed riding out early, adding in some extra miles around Purcellville, and then coming back to make up a century.

Bottom line, despite its being a MUP, its unique characteristics make it a great place to ride.

buelito

I ride the W&OD between Reston and DC almost daily-- and it is the main reason I commute year round-- because I am not at the mercy of the cars, where a 'mistake' can be deadly-- I agree that the trail has its problems-- but the benefits clearly outweigh the problems.

I also use the trail as a warmup on weekends for rides west-- particularly the hills as were mentioned in an earlier post. It also provides an adequate cool down on the way home. And you can open up--you just need to know how to slow down when needed.

train safe-

stickydpaul

Amen to that! I can't even count the number of times I've almost been rubbed against the curb by cars, and this is only in my ~1 mile stretch of King Street in Leesburg until I get to the trail.

So far no wrecks due to pedestrians on the streches out west, but sometimes I have to slow WAAAAYYY down when passing, almost to their speed. As opposed to getting booted onto the sidewalk by a quarter-panel......I'll take it.

Kuma

You forgot "Triplets-Joined-at-the-Hip-Jogger Guys/Girls" always jogging three abreast, taking up the entire trail...

Guest

I really can't stand trails. I prefer cars- they pretty much keep to themselves and obey the laws. On the trails, it's anything goes when it comes to people using the paths for whatever their purposes, which sucks. If there was any other way to get into DC from VA, I'd do it. Unfortunately, we're confined to the trails.

Koffee

baj32161

Do you commute over 10K miles per year? ....wow!!!
If I commuted everyday to and from my job it would take me 3 years to pile up that kind of mileage. WOW!!!

Cheers,

Brian