Monthly MUP rant!
 

Seems like we haven't had one of these in, well, about a month.:-D

Early this morning I rode down to the heart of the city, about 30 km, to pick up a box of V-brakes. I took city streets. No big deal. Very little traffic so early.

On the way back I decided to go on the MUP to avoid the mid-morning Saturday traffic. This is just about the time when all the runners, walkers, dog-walkers come out--8AM. How frustrating when every two minutes I have to steer around oblivious pedestrians. Then there are the group walkers who walk four abreast across the trail, or the dog walkers who let their dogs run free without leash, and runners with headphones, both of whom I always worry about running into my way.

Yeah, I know. They're probably thinking the same thing I am--what the heck is he doing on the trail! What a nuisance.

The trail part was about 20 km. Was it worth the frustration to avoid some light traffic? I dunno.

End of rant.

It's not worth getting worked up about. Just be glad that people are outside being active. There are times and places on our MUP's that can be crowded. If I'm in a hurry, I would not use the MUP at those times. However, if I'm on my bike, I'm never in a hurry. If it's crowded, I just keep the speed down, and slow way down as I approach anyone.

The biggest issue for me... dogwalkers that have those leashes that stretch all the way across the trail or they let their dogs go off leash.

Multi Use
 

Par for the course. No point wigging out over things that are completely predictable.

Dog owners should have to apply for the privileged of caring for another living thing after going to school and taking a comprehensive test on the care and ownership of livestock. People should be licensed to even own and care for a cockroach. At any time, that license could be suspended or revoked.

Letting an animal run free outside of a pen is inconsiderate to the animal and everyone who comes into visual contact with the loose livestock. Plenty of people are terrified of dogs. Loose dogs diminishes those folks experience in the outdoors. Not to mention risk of injury to the animal and people around it.
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Not sure if I'd go that far. Much the same could be said for people caring for another human being. But I digress...

Oh, but aren't they all [dogs] friendly and people loving? Pff. At least that's what the owners always claim the countless times dogs off-leash have made b-lines for me when I am running in the park or on the trail. They get defensive when I tell them it's a $240 fine for the offense of having their dogs not on leash.

I always avoid the local trail on Saturday mornings. It's a zoo. I will always take the road instead.

I did say "another LIVING thing" if you noticed. :)

I just lift my shirt and show them this:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1477768334http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1477798636

Then I point to the scar I still have and tell them "This is a new Camry with leather interior. If this was a child's face, it would be a new house with a two-car garage and a couple of Maseratis in there." No one has argued the point.

Unfortunately, the scar is beginning to fade away. I really got my money's worth out of it for the better part of a year. A border collie pulled me down while skating on an MUP. Bruised my bum, hurt my back a bit. A lot more to the story but not relevant here. I call it my "Blessed Scar". I am gonna miss it when it's gone.

@Joeybike, your pic did not work. I'm curious to see what it looks like.

Yeah, now I know. It wasn't even nice weather--overcast, misty.

And I just pull my shorts up and show them my $150,000 scar. Another $150,000 and I will be in high cotton.

J

Another month and you won't see a soul outside unless they're in a car. Of course....Canadians may be tougher than us.

MUPs on nice weather weekends are very popular. This is a good thing since if nobody used them except cyclists we might not have them.

My MUP is good for commuting and bad for rec, I am ok with that...

When you see a child, treat him like a child. When you see someone acting like a child, treat him like a child. I don't mean you should chastise him. I mean slow way down and don't pass too closely. Expect him to do something erratic.

Good opportunity to test those new cyclocross tires on the grass. That's my philosophy, anyway.

Yup, MUPs are crowded on weekends during the day. Just the nature of the beast. Take the city side streets. Or slow down to the speed and unpredictability of the footborne MUP users. Or ride an all terrain bike/tire combo and go around 'em.

[MENTION=381746]mcours2006[/MENTION] - fixed it. My photo attachment ability has been strange here for some time.

:eek:Holy cow!:eek::eek:

We've heavily promoted KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS on our MUPs and it's worked well. The longer bit says it's great to walk or ride three or four abreast but QUICKLY move right if someone is coming from front or behind. Always keep dogs off to the walkers RIGHT. If wearing EarPods then stay hard right at all times.

More MUPs also helps as the number of people using them for recreation will often not grow as much so they get thinned out a bit. We've now got 8-10' wide MUPs on just about all county roads near us and some have them on both sides (which helps even more since people have learned to use the side traveling with traffic). Recently we've been pushing for physcially separating some of the more heavily used ones, usually with a 1' strip of grass, in to separate 8-10' bikeways and 6' walkways.

All of these MUPs we've got have had a huge impact on how many people ride bicycles. The middle school will have nearly 25% of students Fall & Spring with still 5-10% on even the coldest winter days. The grammar school had 41% of children riding one day this fall with an average of about 30%. They fall off to 1-2% when below zero f or during snowstorms though.

Over this past spring/summer/fall it was extremely rare that I'd arrive at my morning coffee place that there'd not be bikes parked out front. Some days we've begun commandeering a car space to keep the bikes from encroaching too much on the sidewalk. The same is beginning to happen around lunch time/places. The grocery store is adding a larger covered parking area. People thin out considerably when it's below about 50f and more so when below 32f or snowing but each year there area more and more riding during winter (though an estimated 20% of our population, mostly retirees, leave during Jan-Mar)

I'm happy to see people on the MUP's -- more people means more support. It's usually pretty easy to slow down around pedestrians and slower cyclists, including me. Oddly enough, cold weather seems to be less of a deterrent than rain. I think there are a lot of people who are involved in a variety of winter sports, so they're equipped for it, and it's fun. But when it's raining, I rarely see another cyclist out.

Great way to think about it--all the various uses make MUPs something our communities value.

I, too, try to slow down, let pedestrians know I'm there courteously, and go around. The other day, coming home from work, there was a whole family (about 5 kids and a parent) on a bridge spanning the Platte. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the bridge gave great views of the river and the day. I kept slowing down as they kept moving from side to side on the bridge. They can never pick a side, can they? I had a big smile on my face, and said, "Beautiful day!" Eventually the kiddos picked a side, and I was able to slowly proceed through. I said, "Enjoy!" as I rode away. Was it a little obnoxious for me? Yes. But the children are learning about trail etiquette, the trail is there for ALL of us to enjoy, and do I have the right to blow through as fast as I please? Heh, no.

I know I'm a slower cyclist, so I hug the right and hold a steady line. I always appreciate it when faster cyclists call their pass. I've been startled by ninjas, as I call them, passing in steely silence (usually with raceface), but whatever. I hold my line, they pass me, life goes on. I do appreciate what others have posted on these forums about enjoying silence and not breaking it. I tend to go for noise, just cause I hate being startled as a pedestrian.

Bells are quickly becoming the standard on our MUPs. I can't remember the last time I heard someone screaming ON YOUR LEFT or PASSING or anything else. The bells are much more pleasant for everyone and don't cause people to mistranslate ON YOUR LEFT to MOVE TO YOUR LEFT.

+1 for good bells. Also squeaky horns in slow traffic with kids involved - gets the right reaction and easy on the ears.

Agreed, bells are much more pleasant. Typically, I find that people react better to bells than me saying (as pleasantly as possible), "on your left."

Last summer my neighbor said "I don't think it is possible to say "on your left" in a pleasant manner. No matter how you say it, it sounds like a dictatorial command."