Originally Posted by Blue Order
I think the kind of cyclist who buzzes pedestrians is self-centered. i think the kind of cyclist who buzzes other cyclists is self-centered. I think the kind of cyclist who ignores speed limits on MUPs is self-centered. I think the kind of cyclist who ignores the law and causes collisions is self-centered.
And some people here are defending that kind of self-centered behavior.
So, when I am alone at 6:00 a.m. on a portion of an MUP where I have a clear view, I am being "self-centered" if I ride 16 mph when the posted suggested speed is 15mph? Riding without an assured clear distance, that's "self-centered." Buzzing peds (or other cyclists), that's self centered. Not giving that stupid ped enough space to be stupid in, that's self-centered. But riding at a safe speed on a nearly empty path is not at all "self-centered."
Putting uniform 15 mph speed limits on all MUP's 24/7 (like they do here) is just as effective as putting a 20 mph speed limits on all streets just because kids are walking to school at some times in some places. No one would pay attention. People would just drive what they felt was safe at the time, with a bias toward speed. That's pretty much what happens on MUP's. Worse, a 15 mph speed limit implies that it's OK to go that speed, and that's not always the case. Some times and some places, 10 mph is too fast.
If city planners want to encourage more cyclist respect for speed limits, they have to stop using the on-size-fits-all approach to speed limits that works as poorly for cyclists as it would for motorists.
Fortunately, no one has been able to show me a city ordinance or state law that makes MUP speed limits here anything other than suggestions where I live. Traffic laws only apply to cyclists on roads and on paths exclusively reserved for cyclists (of which there are none), and an MUP doesn't fit either definition. And if they are going to ticket cyclists for going 20-25 mph (I assume we get the same 5-10 mph buffer that car drivers get), they should also give tickets to peds walking side-by-side (also against the posted "suggestions" on our MUP's).