Originally Posted by DrPete
Just stay the hell off the MUP. The end.
Seriously, the paths in and around DC are just not designed to handle roadies, nor are the users of the trail sufficiently educated in how to be safe. This applies to everyone--cyclists, pedestrians, dog walkers, everyone. Unfortunately, aicabsolut got firsthand experience with that--but I'm glad you're OK.
Things are just too unpredictable on the MUP. Granted the speed of collisions is slower, but I feel safer on just about any road/street in the DC area than I do riding the MUPs on a road bike.
Totally agree again I just use the path to ride over the potomac into DC, I live in MT vernon and ride on the george washington parkway alongside the path and get yelled at by motorist the entire way but its safer than riding on the path. At the last possible moment I jump on the path