by chance, I just had a close call yesterday on a MUP, although I didn't know it at the time.

I was riding on a MUP (broad sidewalk, really), that was on the left side of the road. I use a helmet mirror, but in this case, I couldn't scan the road behind me for approaching traffic (which I normally do on a MUP located next to a road). I rode a few blocks up to the grocery store, got a couple of things, and then stopped into the adjacent Walgreens.

I was waiting in line at the Walgreens when a fellow in a bright green sweatshirt asked me "were you just riding on Alta road?". I confirmed that I was, and he told me that just after I crossed one of the side streets that intersect Alta Road, a woman came up from behind me on Alta and turned left onto that side street, coming very close to hitting me!

I wasn't aware of this at that time, and maybe it wasn't as close as it appeared to this fellow, but I know that I wasn't checking traffic behind and to my right when I crossed those side streets. If I would have been riding on Alta Rd. instead of the MUP, the car would have seen me and I would have seen the car in my mirror. Next time, I think I'll avoid the MUP by taking the side streets a block north to get to the grocery store.

BTW, the fellow was a construction worker and very conscious of being visible. He said that he's stopped and given bright yellow safety vests to some pedestrians that he thought might want to be more visible when walking along busy roads. I was already wearing bright yellow, or I suspect he might have offered me one too. It's great to have these chance encounters with such considerate folks!

Steve in Peoria