Originally Posted by
Daves_Not_Here
These situations (blind pass leading to potential head-on collision on MUP) are the ones that make me most nervous around here -- it is not that uncommon to have two pace lines pass within a few feet of one another with a closing speed of 40 to 50 mph. The presences of pedestrians and cyclists adds an unpredictable element and some cyclists get irritated if they have to slow down. That said, I've not yet heard of a mass pile-up so it's probably not as big of a deal as I think it is.
Group bike rides notwithstanding, this is one reason that I stay off the bike trails. I have come close to being clipped on bike trails on several different occasions. Either by cyclists passing me going the same direction, and by cyclists' going the opposite direction. Also, Pedestrians can only be reacted to, as if they were moving debris'.
I live near the trail mentioned in the link, along with one other trail north of it. The trail mentioned in the link, is a highly used MUP on the weekends, since it goes from Montgomery County(MD) to Northwest DC. I have been on bike trails in Northern VA during a club ride on a weekend, where they were a very highly trafficked MUP.