Originally Posted by okelle
Hi, all:
I'm new to commuting and to this forum. I live in Arlington, MA, just over the border from Cambridge and am very close to the Minuteman Bike path. The first day I picked up my bike from the shop, a 7-year-old kid slammed into me, bending my front rim. His father, who was with him at the time, got into an argument with me about whose fault it was and rode off in a huff, refusing to give me his contact information.
From this experience, I guess that you just need to be extra careful of kids and people not paying attention on the bike path, especially on the weekends. I'd love to hear tips from anyone else who commutes into the city via the Minuteman Trail.
Also, I'm still looking for the perfect pannier to carry my laptop in. I have a great one that folds out to carry a full bag of groceries but would like a second one specifically for the laptop.
Okelle,
I ride the MDC/Paul Dudley White Path in Boston pretty much every day and often work on weekends so I use it then, too. I've ridden the Minuteman countless times as well.
My wife uses the bike path into Boston less frequently than I do and it was informative seeing her have to adjust to the busy path last weekend. Lots of kids and parents and people who just plain stop and stand in the middle of the path straddling their bikes or holding their dog on a leash as though no other people existed except those in the small sphere of their own self centered reality. Though I admit to huge frustration at times myself, her discomfort grew into an absolute rage by the time she exited the path in Cambridge. My advice to her was:
#1 Accept the reality that there are a ton of bozos on the bike path and all of them are looking to take you down.
#2 Ride with your head up and your plane of vision well ahead of where you are riding. A lot of riders drop their gaze to the ground about 20' in front of the bike, which makes every obstacle on the path a really big surprise. Look almost to the horizon while taking in everything around you in your immediate vicinity.
#3 Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate unexpected maneuvers by those around you especially children and be consistent, steady and predictable in your riding.
#4. Warn others of your approach with a bell, horn or your voice. A bell is great. It's for the most part a friendly sound though the impatience of some cyclists has almost worn out the bell- it's become for some the sound of antagonism just as "on your left" has almost become a joke phrase. so use these warnings sparingly.
#5 and probably one of the hardest for me sometimes- Slow down. yeah, bite the bullet and slow it down when it gets busy.
#6 and if you get really frustrated take to the roads. the drivers will eventually make the bike path seem like a friendly place, albeit still dangerous, and you might decide to head back to it or you'll love riding the road and never go back.