Also some of the arguments motorists use to convince cyclists to remain on sidewalks and MUPs are the same arguments they themselves should adhere to while on the road. This comment was made in response to a post detailing the dangers of high speed cyclists flying down MUPs filled with pedestrians, strollers, and dog walkers:
No, you slow down (what a concept) and use your voice to audibly and politely (another "what a concept) say "passing on your left" and then go past them! It's really quite simple and you lose at most a second out of your total time. Big deal.
To which I responded:
Yup you're correct. Not much different than a car slowing down in front of a cyclist and passing when its safe to so. The driver loses a couple seconds of his time. Big deal.
And another response agreeing with a commenter on why sidewalks suck and came up with this nice comparison if I do say so myself.
Speaking of sharing: I, a fast cyclist, often travel down 7th Avenue, a nice wide street with bike lanes on both sides. Probably the best street to bike on in the city. On nice days these bike lanes are often populated by walkers, joggers, and stroller moms walking/running two abreast.
Even though the bike lanes have a big bike symbol in them - which I guess imply they are MY lanes built for me and me alone, do I yell and scream and b*tch about them being in MY bike lane? (Me Me Me Me!!)
Of course not. I'm not a jogger but I know asphalt is easier to jog on, and the stroller moms and joggers don't want to navigate old neighborhood sidewalks with their curbs and uprooted sections of concrete. Thus a nice wide boulevard is easier for them.
They are slower than me, but I can easily pass them and share space with them. I stay alert and aware, and its no different than me sharing a street with pedestrians versus cars sharing a street with bikes.
Its really not that complicated.