Buzzatronic

I've had this happen once and got it on video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bLMxlzuso8Y

tarwheel 

This is one reason why I try to ride with a bell when traveling on MUPs. However, as noted, many joggers won't hear a bell because they have their music turned up too loud. What I do is first ring my bell if that doesn't get any reaction, then I slow down and pass cautiously as far to the left as I can go. If I sense any potential for the jogger turning around, then I shout "On your left" or "bike back" as loud as I can without screaming.

Here's a somewhat comical encounter I had with a roller-blader, who are even worse than joggers because they weave back and forth so much. I followed a roller on a MUP for a while because he was traveling fairly fast but I eventually got tired of scrubbing several mph off my speed so moved left to pass him. He had headphones on and was weaving across the entire trail. I rang my bell and got no reaction, said "bike back" and got no reaction, so I finally shouted "on your left while" passing. I gave him a look when I went by and pointed toward my ears, suggesting his music was too loud. The guy got very angry in an instant, and yells back: "Go to H*ll. You're not my mother!" It was so ridiculous that it made me laugh. I'm trying to avoid running the guy over, and he gets ticked at me for it.

chefisaac

I have not read the replies yet but thank you for posting this. I never realized this could be an issue.l

nudave2005

I run half marathons and try to commute everyday. I check over my shoulder when running on a MUP, and keep my music at a reasonable level to hear a bell, shouting, whatever. It's a MUP and you don't need you music blaring to overcome traffic noise. If I'm running on a sidewalk, I turn up the music and stop looking behind me. Cyclists are going to have to run me over if you're on the sidewalk coming up from behind me.

On that note - I never U turn. I run a circuit. Running the same path from where I came from is boring.

Medic Zero

+1 ! I don't ride without it. That said, there aren't any useful MUPs on my commute route, so I have yet to have to resort to using one on a jogger. Tempted once on a longer ride to a friends place, part of which took place on a MUP, but I felt it was too rude in that instance and just waited until the dog walker with headphones finally noticed me and reeled in their dog from yards away, stretched across the path of course.

MikeM21

Had this happen to me today. At the top of a short hill which is after a short but steep downhill, so I'm carrying a lot of speed, I'm usually around 30 mph or so heading up that hill. I could tell that I would be catching her right at the top of the hill, saw the headphones, called out "on your left" then, without any telltale signs that I could see pulled a quick U turn right in front of me. Fortunately she didn't freeze and kept on moving cause there was no way for me to stop in time. Definitely a close call and no tells at all, just an abrupt U turn.

nelson249

I get the sentiment but I'd rather not risk damaging the bike or injuring myself in the process. But I had a fat bike....

tarwheel 

Riding to work this morning, I came upon a jogger running down the middle of the right lane on the street. I didn't know whether to pass her on the right or the left as she was pretty well blocking the lane. I could have called out but was afraid that I would startle her as it was early in the morning, so I passed as wide to the right as possible. She still seemed to freak out as I went by. I just don't get it.

chefisaac

I love my airzound horn. Love it. Has saved my life a few times with cars as well.

Yalc

About 3 years ago now a jogger was killed on a MUP here in Dallas doing exactly what you’re talking about. The result was tons of outlast on bicycles and riders using the trail, and talk about enforcing speed limits on the trail, they even put up a few speed sensors and safety under 15mph signs. It was sad and the general reaction to put the blame on cyclist was even worse. This trail was partly funded by money set aside for bicycle transportation but it has been taken over by joggers and dog walkers to the point where it is dangerous for cyclist and as a cyclist you have much better options to just go be traffic somewhere.. Okay this turned in to a rant..


Get a bell, Get a Horn, be loud.. and say thank you to the ones that acknowledge you, smile and wave.. thats what I do.

CommuteCommando

I ride a Bike Path Behind the offices of Blizzard Entertainment as my daily commute. I think they have some schtik about encouraging their creative people to experience nature and brainstorm. This one section I have had cell phone walkers cut in front with out looking, and "Focus Groups" of up to eight people walking down the path full span at 2 mph. They must think I am that crazy aggressive biker guy. (One time I was passing a guy with his head in a keypad to the left. He suddenly cut right in front of me so I veered and passed behind him and shouted DUDE as I passed. He never saw me until I made him jump three feet. I am usually very considerate, but I think that guy doesn't do that anymore.

I now use a Contour Roam and if any one give me grief about being on "their" conference room, I'll sen the video to their HR dept.

CommuteCommando

I can kind of agree with this sentiment. There are some cases were I do hit the street as a better alternative. However, my afternoon commute follow a route with ungodly long traffic signals the the MUP lets me bypass. https://www.strava.com/activities/76419685#1528210528

On a weekday afternoon pedestrian traffic is not thick enough to be a problem, but about once a week something crazy happens. I'm prepared and have never had a really close call.

Buzzatronic

So as luck would have it, yesterday on my ride home I was on the MUP and a jogger decided they wanted to turn back. I was moving at around 15mph and she stopped and turned around (didn't run in a semi-circle) and she saw me. She jumped backwards off the trail and waved to me saying "sorry sorry!". What's funny is, I wasn't even that close to her, I was still a good 30' away from her and I hadn't even rung my bell yet. I waved back and said "no worries, you're good" and went on my way.

So not all joggers are clueless, at least some are self-aware and apologetic when they make this move in front of a cyclist coming up behind them.

GTryder

As cyclists, we tend to be moving faster, following the rules of the road(keeping to the right/passing on the left) and being aware of our surroundings.

The majority of other MUP users may tend to forget about everything around them, while enjoying the outdoors, the company of others or their dog. With the exception of most joggers, people usually move to the edge of the path (not always the right side), reel in their dogs and kids and have a friendly greeting or an apologetic "sorry".

Those with headphones are more likely to be in their own little world - unaware, unpredictable and a danger to themselves and others. Because of them, we must ride defensively - but the MUPs for the most part are still less stressful than city traffic.

wisaunders

I have not seen anyone jogging in reverse on my commute. I suspect I would be able to tell they were reversing if there ass was getting bigger.

Seriously, it's dangerous and you have to be on the look out for it. A couple of years ago a young lady jogger turning around was hit and killed by a biker on the Katy Trail here in Dallas. After that, all you heard on the trail was "ON YOUR LEFT!!!!!" but all the on your lefts have quieted down now.

I guess it's like when I run over something and get a float, I'm very diligent to watch what I'm running over for the next few rides, but then I go back not paying attention so much after a few rides.

longbeachgary

It's not just joggers. This guy just passed a "natural" turn around spot and made a u turn without a second thought. The only reason that I didn't hammer him is that I saw that he stopped pedaling.

fietsbob

More Cowbell !

GTryder

Yep - its all about riding defensively - picking up cues from body language or the rider in general.
That guy, while riding a bike, is not what I'd consider a serous cyclist - no helmet, poor bike fit, etc; and I'm not an elitist - just make a lot of those type of observations.

CenturionIM

Links to the video? Can't find the original post.

wphamilton

He reposted it here, #6 .

genec

Right, 'cause cars are never a problem, eh?

rhm

Watch what's going on far ahead. Ride defensively. Know the warning signs. Watch. And use an Airzound. It's really a must-have for a commuter bike.

sonatageek

I had this yesterday on a narrow (divided lanes with grass and trees between) section of our Towpath Trail. Had a double team of one guy with loud music who could not hear me shout passing on your left, and then about 100 feet ahead of him a woman (they may have been together) with blaring music on the LEFT side of the trail (but going in my direction) where I had to shout even louder passing on your RIGHT, since there was no room to properly pass on the left.

genec

Gotta fully agree. AirZound is strong enough to remove almost anything not smart enough to get outta the way.

no motor?

And get some lights. You're harder to ignore that way, and the "how'd I miss seeing him" looks I see after people finally notice me are pretty special.