MUPs aren't a bad thing. I actually enjoy riding the MUPs in my part of the city. They provide welcome shade and bits of nature that tend to have a nice calming effect on my cranky old self. Of course, these rides are purely recreational and there are no deadlines for me to meet so speed is not important.

Therefore I can't fault the OP for riding on an MUP. I won't get into any finger pointing as it really isn't my place and I wasn't there to witness who hit who or why. I know I've certainly encountered several beings who were not at all focused on my presence, but that happens to me on the roads also.

For the benefit of the new riders who may be reading this thread I'll bore the rest of you with my self imposed rules of MUP survival..... When I ride the MUPs I am fully aware that I will encounter all kinds of challanges to my staying safely upright on my bike. When ecountering other life forms I always always always slow down to a crawl. It keeps me and those around me safe and maintains the calming effect that I so cherish from the ride. Like all rules, I occasionally decide to break the "slow down to a crawl" part when I'm absolutely confident that the approaching soul is fully aware of my presence and is acting accordingly.

Like the sarals has stated, we don't bounce so good anymore.

Sarals, I hope your SO is healing well and will be back on the bike soon. Umm, you never did mention....how's the bike?

I ride the local MUP about twice a week because I can get to it in a 5 minute ride from my house. It is frequently as busy as any MUP anywhere at certain times. When the parents are out with their little kids or pets I ride very slowly approaching them. The little kids are often visably delighted to be out and I will almost say something to them such as "Nice bike".

One time I was on longer ride on a back road in the early AM and met a woman pushing a baby carriage with a 5 yo boy on a bike coming the other way. The boy was waving hello vigorously so I turned around and road with him for a minute and told him I thought he had a very nice bike. He sure looked proud. I think cyclists should stick together and make friends of other cyclists and their moms.

My lesson was hitting a twelve (or so) year old. I called out "on yer left" at 15m and again at 5m. He turned sharply left about the time my front wheel was just passing his rear wheel. I don't think I was going fast since the collision didn't even unseat me, but the boy did get knocked over. I took it as my fault since he probably didn't know about "on yer left", and I should have anticipated that children are often unpredictable in their movements, especially the wheels-assisted kind.

Since then, I've avoided collisions many would call the other person's fault, including a toddler veering into my path from the opposite direction giving me less than 2m to come to a stop or collide. No matter who is at fault, I just want to avoid collisions and ride accordingly.

My turn to say "Really". Seriously, and with all due respect, I have to ask - were you there?

Lenny, my boyfriend's bike, a 2005 Bianchi L'Una (a beautiful thing) is just fine. My Look is unscathed, too. The little boy's bike was also okay - he rode off on it. Thank you for asking!

Here's the Strava report on the ride I was on with Alex when we had the incident. Look at the speeds, if you will. Also look at the map. You'll understand how the rec trail and roads around here work.

https://app.strava.com/rides/4561134

As one of those who chimed in ................. no I wasn't there, and I will defer to your presence at the scene.

I will however add in some years of experience with riding on MUP's, both where I live (unpaved, room for one bike in each direction, heavily trafficked in good weather) and on Cape Cod (paved, slightly wider than at home and still heavily trafficked, to silly sidewalk style bike paths that are better avoided by running next to them on the street).

1st observation: On a MUP, the cyclist takes on the role held by cars on the street. As the most dangerous vehicle, the avoidance of accidents falls on the shoulders of those on the bicycles. Do not ever think that you will be safe from a lawsuit for hitting a child who is completely in the wrong.

2nd observation: Pedestrians are totally unfamiliar with bicycle protocol and in no way are they going to think like cyclists in similar situations.

3rd observation: The MUP belongs to all, including the "bad" parents who allow their children to wander around a bit. They have as many concerns about out of control cyclists riding at speed around them (please admit that you've observed some of this as well as those who take great care not to) as you do about them getting in the way. I am amazed at how many times I am thanked by peds for telling them that I am going to pass them on their left side well before I do. They seem to think that is unique in their world of cycle missiles. I rarely pass peds at more than about 5 to 10 mph because the downside of one mistake is so much larger than simply slowing, passing carefully and accelerating again (good exercise).

I have no problem with speed on a MUP in areas where there are no peds ................. as long as you can see around corners which is something your trail doesn't seem to have a problem with.


Yes, there are bad people on mups. I've been knocked off a bike by those walking who never noticed I was there. Yes I've had to come to a complete stop for a child on a trainer wheel equipped bike. Yes, I've been attacked by a dog on a leash and chased by those that are off. That's part of interactind with civilization .................. most of those people pay the taxes that support that MUP same as me.

I'm not trying to castigate you because I wasn't there for your accident. I am trying to point out that on many MUPs in this country cyclists have no idea how their activities are viewed by others. We are very concentrated on "our hobby".

maddmaxx, I agree completely with each and every one of your points. You'll get no argument from me.

When with a group or by myself, safety and courtesy on the rec trail/MUP is paramount. Most cyclists I know are cognizant of this and ride accordingly. Yes, I have seen cyclists blasting through groups of pedestrians or slower bicyclists, as well as going way too fast and weaving recklessly in congested areas. I've even chastised some of those cyclists for their behavior. In addition, there is an on going debate in the local press and on our velo club forum about the rec trail. Some is from riders thinking there are "too many tourists", many are from locals who think cyclists are dangerous. As a cyclist, I am quite aware that negative publicity takes hold, and not withstanding the need to ride sane for the sake of safety, we also need to project a positive image.

I did not intend for this thread to become preachy. It's fine that it did, though. I work in EMS, and believe you me, it's always good to keep safety at the forefront.

Thanks, I didn't mean to get preachy, but I've been known to sound off from time to time.

Nothing wrong with that!!!