In the New Orleans Metro area there are very few good riding roads. So If I want to ride, it's the MUPs. We are very fortunate to have dedicated MUPs along our lake and river front as well as a few others. With that said, they are MUPs with all the attendant baggage. Each one has its own personality. The one around Audubon Park is fascinating to me. I never fail to be stunned by how spectacularly oblivious people can be. This particular path has a two foot buffer zone of perpindicular hash marks separating the lanes. Each lane is marked at regular intervals with symbols showing pedestrians on one side and bicyles on the other. People pushing strollers will push them out of the pedestrian lane and into the bicycle lane when they have to tie a shoe or make an adjustment to the stroller. People walking dogs will walk on the hash marks while Fido weaves in and out of both lanes. Pedestrians crossing the path won't look for bicycle traffic before they cross. It's an absolute mess. But, I can still find enjoyment because it is a beautiful park and there are plenty of yoga pants to look at. It's also fun just to people watch and observe behavior.

The MUPs atop the levees along the lake and river aren't as bad. There are congested areas on those paths, but they are long paths with areas that see little use. I always slow when I come up behind someone. Many have in ear buds or are wearing headphones. If they are walking alone and are far to the right, I ease silently and slowly past them, leaving myself enough distance to react to an unpredictable move. If I come up on multiples I call out "I am coming around your left side." Then I pass slowly. If I come up on a group taking up the entire width of the path I call out "where do you want me to go?" That seems to work very well.

I have seen a bicyclist plow into a homeless guy. The homeless guy was walking on the grass parallel to the path. I knew he was going to cross it just any minute. Two bicyclists were coming up behind him and sure enough the pedestrian did a 90 across the path without looking and the rider slammed into him. Both were bloodied and in some pain. Another time I was passing an older man wearing headphones. I had slowed considerably. He was walking along the right edge. Without looking over his shoulder he did a 180 right in front of me. Had I not slowed, I would have hit him. I shook my head and moved on. I see some riders fly past pedestrians from behind. On occasion my wife and I will ride. When we do, we will ride side by side so we can talk. Our pace is about 12-13 MPH. She rides along the right edge and I ride in the middle. There is enough room for a cyclist to pass us. I look over my shoulder regularly and go single file for anyone who may want to pass. I have only been caught off guard once. A rider buzzed me very closely at what I'd estimate to be about 30MPH. That kinda pissed me off. I can and do hold a line, but many riders can't.

Any time I encounter a kid on a bike I slow and tell them they have a cool bike. When I pass pedestrians without buds or headphones, I tell them to enjoy their walk. If they have heard my announcement that I am coming around the left and have moved over, I thank them and tell them to enjoy the weather or the like. It's an MUP. With tempered expectations, they can provide for a great ride or a great walk.