Originally Posted by
Trakhak
No, it's not "the other way 'round." This reasoning, such as it is, drives me crazy. That's exactly how drivers reason when they say bikes don't belong on roadways and that cyclists get what they deserve when they're injured or killed on the road.
It's not a bike path.
It's a multi-use path.
If bikes were prohibited from the path, 99% of the problems that occur there would vanish. Since that's not going to happen, be prepared to stop and walk your bike when you encounter iffy situations on the path. Problem solved. If riding in a civilized manner is too slow, hit the road.
Well, yes, I agree. Depends on the area, but they certainly can become walkers only paths, not MUPs. I don't ride some of them anymore unless it's the only way to get somewhere. They're usually better in the rain and at odd times of the day or week. Walking your bike the whole way is, I guess, the answer. It's not "situations on the path." The problem is that a runner suddenly does a U-ie right in front of you so that you hit them and you go down. Or child or dog that was comfortably walking with their mom or dad suddenly runs across the road, same thing. Earbuds, inexperience, or simple ignorance. I've also ranted here about riders who use earbuds, but I get shouted down.
There's a major MUP here which gets so much bike use that there are very few walkers. I'd guess at least 10 to 1. I've never encountered a problem on that MUP but I have a friend who was very seriously injured by an earbuded runner. Thing is that the road alternative to that path is no fun at all and the area is densely populated. The MUP that I don't ride anymore also parallels a road which is shoulder-less and quite busy. That's the reason that the path was built, but one can now neither ride that road or path at some times of some days without having dangerous encounters.