randya

I've just about had it with the Lance Wannabes and their fancy bikes, day glo kits and dumb shoes that think the local MUP is their personal time trial course!!! I might have to start carrying a stick to jam in their spokes as they go by, they pass worse than the motorists on the street...

noisebeam

Perhaps if these (inappropriately stereotyped) individuals were better exposed to vehicular cycling they would find a much larger world in which to cycle fast in.

I don't think there is anyone who disagrees that a MUP is an inappropriate place to speed, regardless of how one dresses for the occasion.

Al

randya

Believe me, I am not stereotyping the worst offenders.

thebankman

When they find out that going too fast on the MUP isn't a good idea, they head out to the bike lane and buzz by you with a couple inches of handlebar clearance. This is why closed course racing was invented, to get these yahoos in an appropriate environment where they can only hurt each other.

noisebeam

I didn't mean they don't fit a stereotype, but that the stereotype is inappropriate
Al

randya

no, I double checked and that is the stereotype they fit. If it offends you, because you consider them your bretheren, well then they probably need some internal policing...

noisebeam

For me the take is not from the 'traditional' PC point of view, but more as your stereotype fits generally used stereotyped used by anti-cyclist motorists. The one used to self-justify harrassment and violent behavior such as throwing things at them (or worse putting a stick in their spokes)

Focus on the behavior you don't like, not the appearance or attitude you imagine someone to have.

Al

noisebeam

I've never worn a kit or cycling shoes in my life, nor ridden a fancy bike or wanted to be like any pro cyclist.
But I also have not issue with folks who do.
Al

skanking biker

Wait.....I'm so confused......If I am going too slow in the bike lane I am "incompetent"; If I am going too fast in the bike lane I am gay. So, if I am cycling slow on my way into work and fast on my way home that makes me an incompetent gay cyclist for the day**********


adios mios


[edit: I'm a poet and didn't even know it, and my gay shoes are longfellows]

randya

Sorry, but I don't see a lot of cyclists in street clothes on sensible city bikes speeding and close-passing other cyclists and pedestrians on the MUP. Almost every single one of the speeders and close passers I've observed has been on a fancy race bike in full kit. All I'm stating are the facts as I empirically observed them.

noisebeam

Oh, so is the solution for these folks to change what they wear and ride or to change their behavior?
Al

randya

I think self image and riding attitude have a lot to do with each other and self image is typically displayed by the plumage.

CB HI

I guess that is what happens when Portland tells them that the roads are not safe and that cyclist need special facilities to ride on. Besides, are not MUPs for recreational use and these guys are just enjoying a nice scenic, recreational ride.

It appears that you want to limit the MUP to your personnel use. After all, why not “share the MUP”.

Side note: do these MUPs have speed limit signs?

CB HI

Maybe Portland needs bikelanes on their MUPs to better accommodate the cyclists in street clothes on sensible city bikes.

randya

15 MPH I believe.

noisebeam

Clearly what is needed is not SL signs, but instead a ban day-glo kits and gay [6/4 edit: this is term OP used originally] shoes, that will leave only the safe riders with the right attitudes on the path.

After all it is much easier to enforce rules based on looks vs. actual behavior.

Al

randya

Now we're getting somewhere...

thebankman

WTF?

Not only did I make no mention of the homophobic language of the OP, but where did I say riding slow in a bike lane equates to incompetency? I just don't like getting passed too close, at too high speed, without so much as a "heads up" on approach.

skanking biker

reference to another thread in A&S

Dogbait

Have you tried stopping in front of them and blocking the path so that they cannot pass?

CB HI

One reason Portland MUPs are mostly useless for many transportational users.
Now I guess they are useless for many recreational cyclist as well.

At least there are no speed limit signs on the Pearl Harbor Bike Path.

CB HI

That sounds like a really smart idea.

Raiyn

This thread reminds me of something that happened to me:
A while back my girlfriend and I were out puttering around on the local rail-trail when some spandex **** buzzes us without so much as an "on your left". I yelled "Try an ON YOUR LEFT!" to which he replied something unintelligible and probably un reprintable. Now, as most of you know, I'm not one to back down from anybody when I'm insulted, much less so when someone does something that could potentially cause harm to either me or especially my girlfriend. So, naturally, I went after him. When I caught up to the guy, I asked him quite politely and quite calmly (not even breathing hard) "I'm sorry I didn't quite hear you what did you say?" He replied "Ummm Ummm I had plenty of room!" To which I said, "No, no you really didn't. I suggest next time you warn people when you're going to pass OK?" Of course he replied "Gotcha OK" and with that I slowed down and waited for my girlfriend to catch back up.

Moral of the story: Warn people when you're going to pass and don't smart off to people who call you on it when you don't -- You never know who's going to be able to catch up with you and ask you to repeat yourself. I didn't intend to hurt the guy but I did want to adjust his 'tude a bit.

Laika

I wish I could take credit for this but it was a friend of mine who did it...

My friend A. was riding loops in Prospect Park, and for those who don't know it, it attracts every kind of cyclist, from kids to racers. Most of the roadies are OK but there are some real type-A, alpha dog, big swinging aholes in the park as well. Anyway, A. is climbing the one hill of any consequence in the park, and he catches up to one of the elite roadie guys, who is just coming upon a charming scene... a dad teaching his 8-ish year old son to ride. The kids is wobbling a little, back and forth, and the roadie unloads a verbal torrent on them for daring to block his way. A. said the kid looked scared and the dad was beyond pissed, but what's he gonna do, make the situation worse by throwing down with the guy?

Anyway, A. comes up beside the roadie, and says to him, "Do you remember why you started riding a bike? Was it because you liked being a dick to other people, or was it because you liked how it made you feel?" and then dropped him like a bag of wet ****.

It was, I think, le mot juste and I have it ever on the tip of my tongue when I am in the park now.

CB HI

So you went sceaming down the MUP faster than spandex **** to prove your point, do I have that right?