bamboobike4

I never gave much thought to the barriers placed on MUPs to prevent cars, 4-wheelers, etc, other than to avoid them. I only (before yesterday) knew 2 who’d hit them, both were OK and very much aware of them. My groups call them out constantly as part of the routine, etiquette, etc.

Yesterday, my huge group of three did our 57 and beat the rain. One of my other groups got caught in the rain, affecting their vision, requiring their concentration, and so the callout priority suffered. Up ahead was barrier. As such, the leader didn’t call it, #2 narrowly missed it, and #3 caught just the pedal.

That pedal strike broke the 2022 Emonda in half, instant folder. No broken bones. Helmet cracked. Of course, the #4 was up and over, and as often occurs, more injured, but released under concussion protocol, contusions, lacerations. Helmet destroyed.

The combination of low visibility, lack of callout, and the accordion at choke points was injurious.

(The sad irony is that part of this group was mowed down from behind 6 weeks ago at a stoplight, with one still out from having her hip snapped off in the socket. Her partner had the pedal strike, so they are down $15,000 in bikes and $100,000+ in meds in 6 weeks. This is one reason for more path riding.)

I somehow think the injury to #3 may have been worse on steel, without the frame snap, but I don’t know. Maybe that’s the only C&V angle.

So, your experiences with paths, barriers, etc?

And what are your thoughts on hitting a barrier with just a pedal on a steel bike?

msalvetti

Was this one of those single steel posts set in the middle of the MUP? I hate those things, and I ride alone. Between pedestrians, watching for traffic at the road crossing where they are invariably located, and often riding after dark, there are times I get closer than I like.

Sorry to hear about all the injuries. Hope there are no long-term disabilities.

Mark

steelbikeguy

I doubt there are statistics (or maybe there are?), but it does make you wonder if those bollards are causing more injuries than they are preventing by keeping motor vehicles off of the path.

I haven't hit the bollards myself, but have thought about how much it would hurt if you did when riding at significant speed.

Steve in Peoria

Dylansbob 

I used to do the car-free thing and used a plastic-bottomed Burley trailer for grocery runs. I was always terrified of snagging it on something like that.

nlerner

A co-worker had a too-close encounter with a bollard on a bike path last fall. She was on her new commuter bike, which she was very proud of. Broke her wrist and I don’t think she’s been back on the bike since.

seypat

It really doesn't take much to cause an accident. On a mid week run last week, I was plodding along doing a few laps on a track. There was a LAX or soccer frame net in the middle lanes. I was running the middle lanes and going around the frame. On the 3rd lap my phone vibrated about 20 yards from the frame. I started walking and unlocking the phone. You know where this is headed. Next thing I know something is beaning me in the forehead. Hit that thing square. One step to either side and I would have missed it. Luckily, I had a billed cap on that softened the blow. More importantly, there wasn't anyone else doing laps to film it and make me an internet celebrity.

You have to do all you can to put yourself in safe situations. Even that might not be enough.

randallr

In my experience MUPs are more dangerous than they look - lots of blind corners, sand in corners and other surprises. I still use MUPs a lot, but in some ways I feel safer on roads with their superior engineering and maintenance.

stardognine

Hey, wait a minute, when were we speaking of accidents? 🤪😁 I hate those poles too, but not as much as getting hit by cars. I just got knocked down a couple days ago, again, by an idiot driver who doesn't bother looking at where they're going. 🙄 Just a long look left, to check traffic from there, then a rolling California stop, turning to the right, with no clue if an old lady or young child (or both) might be crossing the road. It's a darn good thing I won't let myself carry a gun. 🙃🤨😉

Be careful, everyone. ✌️

etherhuffer 

The bollards to keep cars out of pathways make sense to me in a world where all road rules now seem 'flexible.' And the pandemic has really obliterated already distracted attention spans. People just don't pay attention. The bollards on our local pathway are wood with a reflector, not very good for bikes. Other paths have bollards but in grey, not bright yellow as they should be. Even that does not always help. Last month I hit a speed bump, bright yellow, and expected to go over it. I was at just enough of an angle that it deflected the front wheel and down I went. No broken bones but a nice should sprain and contusions everywhere. Ego was horribly abused as well.

There is no perfect answer for safety, even if everyone is alert. Since I am rather ancient, I remember PSA's from the late 60's and early 70's. "Don't be dead right" was the theme, meaning look and listen on a bike or as a pedestrian. Having the legal right of way means nothing to a distracted driver or brainless bollard

etherhuffer 

Here is one of the more bizarre PSA's ever done. Dang

Pompiere

On the trail near me, they have removed all the bollards at the road crossings. I don't know if it was to make it easier for park rangers and maintenance vehicles to access, or due to complaints from trail users over accidents and near misses.

TiHabanero

About 15 years ago a group of us on our usual at that time Saturday morning ride encountered the usual placement of the bollards and we all went around them except one who was not paying attention and ran straight into one, the middle one of the three. Fortunately it was not a carbon frame as it no doubt would have failed. The frame was steel and it simply bent the fork, but not the top or down tubes.

I no longer ride any MUP unless there is no alternative which is unlikely. Between dogs, walkers/runners, and people riding way to fast on the MUP, I find that environment unsafe, and find it easier to deal with motor vehicles.

3alarmer 

.
...I hate the bollards as well, but I hate drunks driving on the MUP more. This guy drove right past me. I was lucky enough to dodge off the trail. I'd like to say it was quick reflexes, but it was more dumb luck.
.
.

Bicyclist Dies After Being Hit By Alleged DUI Driver On American River Parkway In Sacramento Last Month

SurferRosa

Too bad the bollards aren't smart enough to stop the modern knobby-tire electric bikes.

Ex Pres 

Hit a nice short one, a base with the pole removed, endo'd and nearly cut the end of my thumb off. I can only assume it ended up in my front wheel/spokes while I was going over.

Fortunately, a fellow (my Guardian Angel that day - God watches over us fools) was at his diesel shop just off the trail on his day off and drove me the 50 or so miles to the nearest hospital, and my thumb lives on.

The bike suffered bent top and down tubes and the frame is now a stool. Steel is recyclable.

Chuck M 

This... Unfortunately the bollards exist because those that lack the sense to keep motor vehicles off of MUPs are not deterred by most other means.

stardognine

Geeze, that was hard to watch. 😟

I guess the moral of the story is, make sure you can carry everyone else's lunch? 🤨😁

etherhuffer 

Yeah, pretty crazy! That is what I grew up on . Sorry to say, propaganda was alive and well. Other stuff from the time was FAR worse

stardognine

You tricked me, that was last year. I wondered why I never heard about it. 🤔 Still plenty of idjits in cars around, though, some with alcohol and/or drugs. 😟

I'll say it again, be careful, everyone.

79pmooney

I just rode the Banks-Vernonia Trail today with about a dozen Forumites. Out and back for 40 miles. Trail is good. Almost no bollards and in general, well thought out. I also rode 64 miles today to get to Banks and back, all on public roads, most of which had no shoulder.

When it comes to likelihood of a emergency room worthy crash, far less likely on the road. I felt much safer today riding solo to and from the ride. I've had two crashes with other bikes, cars or pedestrians that have sent me to the hospital in around 150,000 miles of road riding. I had a couple of closer than I like today on that trail.

Now this was the 4th of July Sunday. Trail traffic was a little heavier and road traffic considerably less. There are paths in Portland I ride because the roads have no provision for bikes, I believe sometimes because of that trail.

Camilo

Do people do fast pacelines on MUP's? I've never heard of that.

Chuck M 

I rode a nice riverside trail Saturday. I saw a peloton taking the north and south lanes as well as many others riding too fast IMHO for a congested area.

dedhed

My daughter hit one once when she was learning her new "gear" bike. Low speed she was fine.
Around here (where they haven't been removed) they are only at street crossings where you should be slowing down to check traffic anyway.
One thing I have noticed is on the trail behind my house where they have been removed it has become a stretch of frequent illegal dumping. Everything from construction debris to TVs.

SJX426 

I dislike them too. I use to commute, minimum 11 miles one way, on the Mt Vernon trail that is next to the George Washingtin Pkwy. Park Police patrolled as it is a Federal road. The bollards are at road crossings. The MUP is the only way to ride on the Pkwy as bicycles are not allowed on the road. The curb is the lane marker. The Pkwy is more of a major commute road even though it is marked with 40 max MPH where the drivers totally ignore the speed limit with up to 60 mph. Park Service tickets are always paid in full!
Those intersections are a problem on weekends because next to the MUP is the Potomac River and lots of recreational parks. People coming the opposite way often go across the line to go around the bollard leaving no room for you. Sometimes they are indecisive about which side they are going to go around. Add earbuds to the mix and ....

They should not be steel or wood but flexible plastic that will bend in both directions. I know it is easier for a vehicle to run over it, but that is the point. The safety of the pedestrian should be taken into account. It is a Multi Use Path, not a sidewalk.

The speed limit of the MUP is 15mph. With tree roots and other challenge, pace lines do not make sense. Speed is not a good thing on a MUP with others.

gthomson

I was on a rail trail yesterday and each time the trail came to a road, there were 2 of them which just allowed a cyclist to pass through but I slowed right down to squeeze my riser bars through them. Would definitely not want to hit one of them as I was passing by.