Thanks for sharing this. You and many others indicate that roads are safer than MUPs. However, I get too scared riding in the streets with cars. I don't know how to overcome this fear! MUPs to me "appear" or "feel" safer, notwithstanding my experience in my original post. People here in Metropolitan DC are always in so much hurry, that having people run a red light, especially during rush hour, is becoming much more common. Maybe I should just enroll in a class that teaches proper biking technique in the midst of the traffic jungle!
Originally Posted by
Pamestique
Yesterday I planned on mountain biking but it rained. Since the bikes were already loaded in the car we decided to just tool around on the local MUP's using the mountain bikes since the roads were still fairly wet. Because it was still drizzling a bit, the trails were very quiet but occasionally some roadie would come flying by or coming at us around a blind corner...I figure I had as much duty to watch for the roadie as the roadie has to watch for me so I am careful but there were still grandpas, ladies with dogs, kids etc running around and it alway scares me when some roadie decides to use the MUP as his own personal Tour De France closed course. We had already had some bad accidents including a fatality (several years ago a roadie struck and killed an elderly lady who walked onto the MUP in front of the rider) and don't want to see more.
So what can be done? I will yell and scream but am seldom "heard"... people don't care. Not that there are financial resources for this but I would love to see cops monitor and tag speeders on the MUP (posted mph is 10).
Thank you for riding on the street - that is where I am when doing a road bike well. Just safer for everyone although sometimes not as scenic. Only if I plan to cruise will I take a MUP...