Hoshnasi

For the past month I have passed the same couple of runners and joggers that always run on the left side of the MUP (Running towards me, who is riding on the right). It seems like they want to avoid being close to the incline of the resevoir. I can't exactly fault them for the logic, one bad step and you have a twisted ankle or worse.

One in particular is what seems to be a nice elderly Asian man that is really spry. He gets out and runs hard for his age. However, I'm concerned that given some of the blind turning dips on the MUP here it could be dangerous to be on an incoming bike lane.

Anyone else ever say anything to runners or cyclists?

EDIT to Clarify: They run on the left of the path, towards me, who rides like most others do on the right side of the path... When we're in the open, there is little problem. However, one of the blind turns could be a big problem.

thenomad

yes "On your left"

Hoshnasi

They see me coming... Since I am on the right (their left). The question was do you ever say something like: "Run on the right side of the trail."

When we're on the flat stretch with open visibility everything is cool. No need to say a word. However, if they are on the left side running toward me and I'm on the right and we approach a blind turn... Could be disasterous.

acidfast7

no. i find most people run/walk/ride/horseride where they should (in Germany at least.)

for those that don't, a simple bell causes them to move to the correct spot on the path. they usually don't even turn around, then move to correct spot and keep on walking/jogging.

we cycled a little around Mount Desert Island (coastal Maine) last autumn in a small group. one American (me), one German, two Swedes, one Pole and one Romanian.

we found it quite humorous that people always said "one/two/four on your left" when passing when quite simply a bell would've worked.

no one in their home country would attempt to speak a complete sentence and we wondered why? maybe it's a language thing (English in the US vs. the mix over here). we figured that a bell was much simpler/effective. and then joked that you guys make everything so complicated

but it does beg the question, why even say anything?

edit: we also concluded that city (Dutch) bikes are the most commonly purchased bicycles style over here and every one comes with a bell.

dimachka

My personal opinion is that you should be going slow enough on a MUP to react even in the blind turn situation you describe. If you want to go faster, use the real roads.

So to answer your question, I have never said anything to such runners and I don't think it would be appropriate or necessary to do so.

troyWI

I've said things, it gets very annoying when the same people run/walk/bike on the wrong side of the road and force me into traffic. I've talked to most of the "regulars" and the majority of them just had no idea what side they are supposed to be on and have adjusted accordingly. I just want to be as safe as possible and get annoyed when someone forces me into traffic because they don't know how to walk/run/bike.

Rx Rider

they probably have a reason to do it. I'm always tempted to tell runners that whatever was chasing them has stopped so they can stop running. but that would go over as well as telling them something they already know. like when people tell me that was a stop sign and I tell them I stopped pedaling so STFU. winning.

Hoshnasi

I'd say the bolded part is the most responsible answer I could think of. I'd like to say something, but there are not MUP laws. IDK how I feel about the "faster" comment though. I often hit the upper 20mph on the MUPs. Never on a blind, but I do it all the time.

JPMacG

Around here runners seem to prefer to be on the left, and some will not yield for a bicycle. I have actually stopped trying to pass them on the left. I just pass them on whichever side is free, announcing my intentions in plenty of time.

I have noticed an interesting difference between men and women runners. Men will generally move to the right giving me the left, women, particularly if they are in groups, will not. Maybe this coould be a PhD dissertation topic for some psychologoy student.

Hoshnasi

I'm going to tell my wife this, thank you.

dimachka

I don't think upper 20mph on parts of certain MUPs is unreasonable. When I said if you want to go faster, I didn't mean top speed. I just mean that when riding on a MUP, i think it is a cyclist's responsibility to slow down sufficiently for everyone's safety when the situation calls for it, like a blind turn. If you want to sustain high speeds, I think you need to stick to the road.

Hoshnasi

Interesting that as cyclists we are actively considering those that are much slower, like joggers and responding acording for safety to us all rather than getting impatient and running them off the MUP... I guess that is part of the reason I am on the MUP in the first place. Been buzzed, honked at to many times. Getting hit once was the last straw.

dimachka

Haha, I like your point, well put. I guess just because cars often act like asshats, that is no reason that we as cyclists should not strive to be good citizens on the road (or MUP as the case may be).

no motor?

Twice, the first time the jogger said he was supposed to keep left to make it easier to see approaching cars. When I pointed out car weren't allowed on the bike path we were on he apologized and then kept right. The second time jogger just moved to the right side of the path and life went on for both of us.

tjspiel

For people used to running on a road, running on the left is second nature and they may stick to the same behavior on a MUP.

Aside from sections where use is combined, most MUPs around here have separate lanes for pedestrians. Often they are physically separated and not just paint. This doesn't always stop peds from running on the bike paths. There's been times I've been tempted to direct runners to "their" path, especially when they're running several abreast but so far I've held my tongue.

alan s 

Don't ask. Tell.

Hoshnasi

No MUPs like that around here. Just lots of walkers which are almost always 2-3 abreast and juggers on the left.

umazuki

The problem I have is rollerbladers. With earphones on. That weave all over the lane. Two or three abreast.

CommuteCommando

I don't care what side they're on, as long as they pick a side and stay on it.

thenomad

Cyclists are vehicles and we are to ride as a car would, on the right. Pedestrians are supposed to travel facing traffic, so on the left side if we were going the same direction. This lets the Ped/Jogger react to any issues in advance.
I see no issues with oncoming joggers as I will not be sneaking up on them unannounced and speaking/ringing a warning where they have to react within one to two seconds.
They reel in dogs, move slightly out of the way, see me gie a wave and smile etc. Everything works fine.

The situation proposed in the OP is that they are on the proper side, cyclist is on the proper side but a blind curve is ahead? Big deal, the cyclist should recognize the blind curve and adjust speed so as to avoid crossing the center line of the road. If you cross the center line because of your "racing line or excessive speed, poor handling etc then you have no business taking that turn at speed.

Hoshnasi

I can't say I'm in love with the choice of words, but you bring up a great point. So I went off and did some searching. It seems regardless of laws almost all runners that post on forums run against traffic. Pretty interesting. Apprently the MUP by my house is the wild west. Peds from all directions!

no motor?

The first guy wasn't used to running anywhere, I think he was just trying to get away from everybody.

I should have added that both of these runners were aware of their surroundings, and wouldn't have said anything if they were the typical ipod/iphone zombies or so zoned out by what they were doing they wouldn't have heard me anyway. Most of the runners I see on the bike path run on the right side and make it easy for others to use the path around them, I wish the rest of the people I see on the bike paths were that competent.

no motor?

That's the same as in most places. When everyone is going in the same direction it's easier for everyone to pass each other, just like when we drive. When you've got people going the opposite direction in the same lane and enough people to create traffic you've got a problem.

rex_kramer

Runners on the MUPs in my area get a thumbs up. They're the only consistent group that not only run on the right side of the trail, but most acknowledge my bell with a nod or wave as I approach them. If only the majority of cyclists and walkers were that orderly and predictable.

CommuteCommando

I actually find the MUP's faster than the roads. The ones around here usually have underpasses at major boulevards. On the street parallel to the one I travel most, there are some hellaciously long traffic signals. The four mile stretch of MUP saves me up to five minutes. I slow when there are hazardous conditions, like yesterday, when I passed a skateboarder talking on a cell right in the middle of the path. I said nothing.

Later that same ride I almost got brained by a couple of sixteen year old bimbos with a giant surfboards on the San Juan Creek MUP near Dana Point. They were spanning the path, and I shouted "watch out". As I came up to them one of them turned and almost gave me the Three Stooges Ladder Gag. I ducked and avoided it. I did say something then. I won't repeat it here.