Just got done reading this thread and thought I might clear up some of the original confusion as to what HawkOwl posted since I was the person with him that almost got his a$$ run over by this inconsiderate idiot.

The incident occurred on a very popular rail trail, at a very busy trail-head that has restrooms on one side and picnic tables on the other. There were quite a few people walking around between the restrooms and picnic tables. It's not an area that you use as a speed zone. We stopped to use the restroom and take a break as it was our turn-around point and I really needed to go.

HawkOwl had started to slow down and instinctively unclipped and placed his foot down. This is a rather common thing for first time recumbent trike riders who are used to riding DF bikes, and not something that was a stupid move on his part; even if he thinks it was. The same thing has almost happened to me, on a few occasions, when I first started riding my wife's trike. Several of the people there, including myself, went to help back the trike's cruciform off of his leg, which was pinned underneath it, when the rider came by at a speed too fast for the condition. The approach to the area where this happened is long, straight and flat, giving the rider more than ample time see that there was a problem ahead. There was absolutely no reason for him to continue toward us at the rate of speed he was traveling. He only came to apologize after someone stopped him and told him what was going on. Had he slowed down and gone around us safely, this entire incident would not have happened.

I ride MUPs daily and they are designed for "public" use. Unless you are the only one on the MUP at the time, they are not meant to be your private race track so you can break your Strava segment times or be KOM of the MUP. While there are MUPs that are designed for speed, such as the one Amanda Coker is using to break the women's world annual distance record, they are still public pathways and as such, riders should adjust their speed accordingly.