Speeding on Bike Paths
#1
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 491
Likes: 137
From: Albuquerque, NM
Bikes: 2022 Priority Coast, 2022 Priority Current
Speeding on Bike Paths
Is this an issue in your city? This is what is happening in Denver.
https://kdvr.com/2019/06/17/first-ti...-cost-you-100/
https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2013...a-school-zone/
https://kdvr.com/2019/06/17/first-ti...-cost-you-100/
https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2013...a-school-zone/
Last edited by alloo; 06-18-19 at 02:46 AM.
#2
Cycleway town
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 169
From: Milton Keynes, England
Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick
Not in Britain, no. We're exempt from the speed limit for reasons to do with common sense, but there are still laws they can use against idiots who put people at risk - one is to do with riding ferociously, then universal anti-social behaviour.
E-bikes here are limited to 16mph of assisted speed, and few will push beyond that once the motor isn't assisting. Unless it's a really big hill. So it's more a manual bike issue when people are doing crazy speeds outside schools. It's not an issue i've ever noticed.
E-bikes here are limited to 16mph of assisted speed, and few will push beyond that once the motor isn't assisting. Unless it's a really big hill. So it's more a manual bike issue when people are doing crazy speeds outside schools. It's not an issue i've ever noticed.
#3
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 1,286
From: socal
Bikes: DIY
Most of the paths that I frequent are very sparsely populated and I slow down in the rare instances encountering others. I've never heard of anyone receiving a speeding ticket in socal although, probably it's happened.
#4
Newbie racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,404
Likes: 1,574
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
If the speed limit is too slow for you on a MUP or commuter path, then only use the commuter path to link yourself up with faster riding.
When I ride road locally, I'll take maybe 1/2 mile of MUP to link to another part of town. I usually take the MUP uphill (slower) and take the street downhill (faster, often equal speed as cars). That's an option if you MUST go faster.
I think people underestimate the lethality of a head on bike crash. Had a parent at the preschool my wife works at stay in the ICU for nearly a week after an "over the center line" head on accident on a local trail because someone was cutting the corner speeding.
If you like road and want to speed around safely, bother to get up early on a weekend. I live in a major population area and at 6AM on a Sat/Sun I can bomb the 4-lane boulevards and not come across a car for long stretches of time. Roads jammed with 15mph car traffic during rush hours.
Also, for commuting by bike, same as speeding in a car.........you actually don't save any meaningful time. You only do so if it's a super long vacation trip. Not a 20 minute commute. Wow, you saved 1 minute! Woooo hoooooo.
When I ride road locally, I'll take maybe 1/2 mile of MUP to link to another part of town. I usually take the MUP uphill (slower) and take the street downhill (faster, often equal speed as cars). That's an option if you MUST go faster.
I think people underestimate the lethality of a head on bike crash. Had a parent at the preschool my wife works at stay in the ICU for nearly a week after an "over the center line" head on accident on a local trail because someone was cutting the corner speeding.
If you like road and want to speed around safely, bother to get up early on a weekend. I live in a major population area and at 6AM on a Sat/Sun I can bomb the 4-lane boulevards and not come across a car for long stretches of time. Roads jammed with 15mph car traffic during rush hours.
Also, for commuting by bike, same as speeding in a car.........you actually don't save any meaningful time. You only do so if it's a super long vacation trip. Not a 20 minute commute. Wow, you saved 1 minute! Woooo hoooooo.
#5
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,486
Likes: 4,563
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
15 mph isn't bad. I've gone faster than that in remote unpopulated areas but mostly 15 mph is fast enough. I'm faster on the roads. we had a death on a popular paved trail this spring. that was pretty sad. 2 guys riding in opposite directions collided. a little law/speed enforcement wouldn't hurt that trail in the busy parts. cpl years ago I saw an elderly woman on the ground dazed & surrounded by ppl including one cyclist. I'm guessing he knocked her over. ppl don't like law enforcement, but I think they like injured or dead relatives even less
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 392
From: Chicago Suburbs
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
Whether it's my GT Transeo, or one of my ebikes, I average 12.7 mph, so 15 mph is a bit low. If I was careless and coasted down a hill, boom, a $100 fine for 17 mph..
I was taking a break and sitting on a bench today on the bike path when I saw a rare ebike come by. It was fat bike, in throttle mode, no pedaling. It probably wasn't doing more than 15 mph, but the knobby tires were howling, so it sounded like a crazy man was passing by.
I could accept 15 mph, but all the cardio riders would get mad.
I was taking a break and sitting on a bench today on the bike path when I saw a rare ebike come by. It was fat bike, in throttle mode, no pedaling. It probably wasn't doing more than 15 mph, but the knobby tires were howling, so it sounded like a crazy man was passing by.
I could accept 15 mph, but all the cardio riders would get mad.
#7
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,486
Likes: 4,563
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
wonder what the threshold for a ticket would be. I doubt 17mph. I'd bet they would ticket 25+mph
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