+1, but, in my area, the MUPs usually aren't very crowded in the late fall through early spring. This winter being an exception. I have one with lights every 1/10th mile that's ideal for riding after dark. No one uses it then except 3-4 regular riders. But on nice days--of which this winter has been for the most part--it's hairy.

When I'm passing from behind on the MUP I keep my intentions as simple as possible. In the beginning I shouted out "On your Left". This was too much information for many. Now I just say "Passing". I have so far found that whatever side people are on, they tend to stay. Children and pets require special consideration.

Yeah, it works. When I would attend world championships & international cycling events (as a spectator!), the Belgian amateurs would show up with bells attached to their frame pumps. There must be some law in Belgium that requires bells on bicycles. So when they're racing, they just remove the frame pump (which is normal anyway) and they lose the bell. So I've got a small bell attached to my frame pump. It's out of the way, but still easy to work. I use it on peds on the MUPs, especially if they've got dogs, and I have been thanked by dogwalkers on more than one occasion. The bell is very non-threatening; it doesn't send the same "get outta my way" message that a car horn does.

When I raced in Mexico, I noticed that most of the racers had cultivated the ability to whistle thru their teeth. We'd go on these huge group rides along Insurgentes in Mexico City on Sunday morning, and the Mexicans could whistle loud and sharply enough to warn motorists and peds that they were about to pass. If you can't already do this, it's a skill worth learning. I whistle when I'm approaching slower cyclists, but the whistle is really useful when you need to give a quick warning and you don't have time to hit the bell. You need to be able to whistle thru your teeth without using your fingers, and it needs to be a crisp, piercing sound. But once you get it, it really works!

And when I was heavily into cross-country ski racing, we'd always shout "track" when we needed to pass. But I always figured that the onus was on the faster (overtaking) skier to make sure the pass was done safely. Because in most cases, the overtaking skier is far more skilful and adept on the skis than the guy being overtaken.

And I really think that this is the sort of culture that needs to be created on our streets today: that anyone driving a car or riding a bike has that "duty of care," which means that they have a responsibility to ensure that they "look after" everyone else on the road. Assume you're there to protect other road users, and NOT to just selfishly get to where you're going in the least amount of time, damn the rest of the traffic. Back when guys were allowed to wear swords and armor and ride horses amongst ignorant peasants, this was called "chivalry." Now, unfortunately, those ignorant peasants are also driving cars and riding bikes too, and they haven't a clue about "chivalry." But it's something anyone can learn; like true nobility, nobody is born with it.

Luis

On MUPs I have hound that calling out "On your left" is too much information. I have simplified this to "Passing" and find the people will hold their course, even kids. Pets, on the other hand are a risk but I will slow down for for people and slow way down for kids and pets.

A loud "Heads Up" seems to as good as "on your left". Most of the time you can tell even from behind weather the MUP user your coming up on is experienced at sharing the trail.

In general, it is just like being on the street, Rider Beware!

"On Your Left" is a cycling term. Many people using a MUP, even casual cyclists, don't understand it. Then there are the iPods. Yikes. I've gone to using plain English; I just yell "Behind You!" or sometimes "Look Out!". I always slow way down to pass riders who are traveling much slower than I am, the same holds for peds.

Kids I just run over. I'm clueless....

I ride the Silver Comet pretty regularly when it isn't winter. After my first few rides on the trail I decided that "on your left" or any variation doesn't work reliably. I only use "on your left" when riding with other cyclists (such as on a group ride). For the MUP I say "good morning", "good afternoon", "good evening", which is a non-threatening way to alert someone that I am there. Or I just say "passing".

And if it's a kid riding, I slow way down and give plenty of room. I've still had one turn in to me at the last second, not knowing I was there.

Really???

I also use my ringy ding bell when needed on MUP or other situations. I started using the bell when I got tired of saying "OYL" over and over on event rides like Cycle Oregon. Old farts on these rides get absolutely militant if you don't give a pass warning, so I got tired of being chewed out every five minutes on lonely country roads when I was passing them with 6 feet of space without saying OYL. The stroller moms are generally pretty nice and move to the side when they hear your warning, but they are often chatting so fast and furious that it is hard to get your warning across to them. On MUP's I always tend to err on the side of caution and safety, so never have problems. I just use the MUPs to get to the edge of town where the real riding starts, so I can deal until I get there.

When overtaking non-avid-bikers, I slow down and say "I'm passing on your left." If that doesn't get their attention, I ding my bell:

I agree that most seasoned runners or hikers know what to do on the trail, but there are a lot of people who don't have a clue when someone announces their presence.

I slow way down if there is no reaction from my first attempt to warn them, and even add something like, "how are ya'll doing today?" as I'm getting ready to pass.

I've had a couple of women that I approached and one took the right side of the trail and the other darted across to my left even after I announced passing on your left.

I then laughed and said, "I guess I'm going right in the middle then!"

Fortunate to not have to ride around the "general public". I rarely have to say anything while riding.

I just keep yelling: "Comin' in hot! Whoah!! Comin' in hot, comin' in hot! AAAAAAHHH!!!!"

We don't have MUPbike, but a roadbike and tandem.
So we ride the road . . . safer!

Same thing has happened to me several times over the years, I give the same response. A good rider is aware of his surroundings and takes nothing for granted.

I'll have to try that. I've tried yelling "FIXIE HERE! NO BRAKES!" But they just don't seem to get it until we're all in the ditch.

I just yell!! I would have no idea the meaning of the phrase except that I have ridden to organized rides and was taught the meaning. As well as CAR BACK!. I have ridden up on riders in alll the biking clothes who have no idea of "ON YOUR LEFT" so I yell "hello! Behind you!!"

Poseurs... America's number 1 problem. And bears. Them too.

Is it different in Tucson? The MUP's here have pics of bikes and the word bike all over them. Not to mention signs with bikes, including rules. Plus some of the biggest most popular rides (Amtrak and Cool Breeze) take the riders along sections of an MUP.

I visit Tucson and Chandler every so often and I see nice MUP's . I'm pretty sure you could fit a tandem on the trail.

If MUP's weren't designed for bikes, I wonder why they have pics of bikes and the word bike lane all over them ?


bike1 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr


bike2 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr

klang goes the Trolley, ring goes the Bell , I think is how the song goes..

Trolley is only for the tourists, summer and some weekends,
trestles are planked in and serve as the Riverwalk MUP where it's not dry land.

I ring my bell , they look around and move single file if needed..

I say "Hello", as I go by.

where the trolley passes the driver, invariably, waves.

When on the local MUP I holler, "on your left". They usually get over. If it's just one person sometimes I zip on by with no word said.

It's the ones that walk double and triple wide taking up the entire path that encites me to yell. Some folks act like brain donors.

There it is. Give me the open road and the thin white line. Knees to the breeze and wind in the spokes.

Hey Bill...MUPs can be problematic to a roadie. I always yell "PASSING" and it seems to work. I have never had an issue and we have a very well used (as in popular) MUP along the lakeshore here. It is an MUP I actually enjoy riding.

Cheers,

Brian J.

Big huge plus 1

To cheep for a bell so I just yell out "DING DING" It seems to work very well

That makes me feel better. I don't feel quite as Fredly about the little black dinger that came on my Tricross.