I disagree ... I am a runner and there are runners in my family. We all observe the "rules of the road." In my opinion there is nothing worse than a gaggle of yentas, pushing baby strollers, three or four abreast, totally oblivious to what is going on. They think that just because they are pushing their precious trophy child in their mega-buck strollers, that they are entitled to the whole width of the MUP. Heaven forbid that someone, a rider or a runner, should ask them to move a little to the side. They act as if you have just threatened the future of the Nation...

I wonder why runners wish to run on a hard surface when the recommendation to avoid injuries is to run on grass, which often is on either side of MUPs.

Having said that, if you ride MUPs, you just have to accept that there are risks involved, that you need a certain skill set to avoid trouble, and that you need to keep a higher level of awareness which can be helped by looking well ahead, anticipating what might happen, and using a rear-view mirror to see what might be coming from behind.

The worst MUPs I've been on for traffic density have been through parks in Adelaide on a sunny day over the weekend. Melbourne's paths aren't so bad as most of the users seem to have a sense of where they should be.

It's not my favoured way of riding, and if there is a parallel road option, I will use it. But sometimes the path is a good way to bypass difficult conditions on the road or to take a shortcut.

I am a bike rider first, I am always on the side of the biker no matter what.

Hi, I wish I knew what to do about stupid.

You were NOT doing anything wrong. I believe it's often safer to be on the street (obeying traffic laws and taking the lane when appropriate) than on a MUP.

I would have been incredibly mad if I'd been in your shoes. Glad I wasn't and glad no one ended up on the ground.

We prefer riding on the road . . . they are actually safer than most MUPs!

Did a bike ride yesterday with my local club and two things I noticed. Or 3 actually. In the main the cyclists were safe on a busy road and there was a cycle lane at the edge that "Most" cyclists kept within BUT one rider was permanently the wrong side of that lane causing cars to go round him which was not always safe for the driver. Why he did it I do not know but out of 20 riders he was the only one not sticking to the cycle lane. The other incident was another rider along the sea front and all riders in double file except one that made a 3rd line.

After the ride they were asked by another rider why they were so far out from the kerb and one was a new rider not used to riding in a group and he did not realise he was making the 3rd line. The other said that Bike lanes are not compulsory so he was asserting his right not to use it.

The new rider could be excused but the one that was asserting his rights will not get any sympathy from me when he has a problem with a car or car driver.

An a*#*hole is an a*#*hole whether on two legs, two wheels or four wheels.

you are behind the times and running science my friend. It is very bad to run on grass and with cushy shoes.
The new science of injury free running has you landing on the forefoot there by using yourself as a shock absorber,, running on grass is very bad for your knees causes shin splints and other bad things lol.

True. Some cyclists are too dangerous. Good, bad, and ugly exists in all areas of our society, even here on BF.

Oh OK, all those real sportspeople running laps as preseason training in team games, and playing all season on grass, artificial and real, must be in for a bad injury time. Let alone the track and field athletes who would boycott an event run on asphalt.

Trust me, the majority of people running on MUPs wouldn't have a clue about the science of running, much less about running on their forefoot, a trend that started with athletics and the use of spikes on running shoes.

Yesterday I planned on mountain biking but it rained. Since the bikes were already loaded in the car we decided to just tool around on the local MUP's using the mountain bikes since the roads were still fairly wet. Because it was still drizzling a bit, the trails were very quiet but occasionally some roadie would come flying by or coming at us around a blind corner...I figure I had as much duty to watch for the roadie as the roadie has to watch for me so I am careful but there were still grandpas, ladies with dogs, kids etc running around and it alway scares me when some roadie decides to use the MUP as his own personal Tour De France closed course. We had already had some bad accidents including a fatality (several years ago a roadie struck and killed an elderly lady who walked onto the MUP in front of the rider) and don't want to see more.

So what can be done? I will yell and scream but am seldom "heard"... people don't care. Not that there are financial resources for this but I would love to see cops monitor and tag speeders on the MUP (posted mph is 10).

Thank you for riding on the street - that is where I am when doing a road bike well. Just safer for everyone although sometimes not as scenic. Only if I plan to cruise will I take a MUP...

Sorry but I have to agree with others... in my area... trail runners and joggers are fairly dangerous. We have a large community of runners and they will routinely take up the width of any trail because they are running in groups (single runners are generally OK). Some of the large mountain bike park have been taken over my trail runners. I've noted they will do the trail even when wet and muddy causing ruts and problems and they are very difficult to pass... but like in everything this does not mean every runner is bad. But I give them more grief than grannie with a stroller or dog as runners are suppose to know better... just like i am harder on cyclists as well.

Thanks for sharing this. You and many others indicate that roads are safer than MUPs. However, I get too scared riding in the streets with cars. I don't know how to overcome this fear! MUPs to me "appear" or "feel" safer, notwithstanding my experience in my original post. People here in Metropolitan DC are always in so much hurry, that having people run a red light, especially during rush hour, is becoming much more common. Maybe I should just enroll in a class that teaches proper biking technique in the midst of the traffic jungle!

Got passed by some clown a few weeks ago on a curvy section of the MUP that I would consider to be a "caution" area - if it were a race, there'd be a yellow caution flag out. So this dude passes me tightly on the left on a right turn where I am in the middle of the lane (taking the conservative line and not realizing anybody was behind me). He had just enough room to get by, but it was a dumb place to pass. I accelerated up next to him as the path broadened, then bumped him enough for him to swerve a bit before letting him know I didn't appreciate the timing or manner of his passing. I felt much better and accelerated away. Useful things you pick up after 40 years of riding track.

I get really annoyed by riders who insist on taking the "racing line" thru a blind corner. This means they're coming right at you in your lane when you make a right turn (or a left in the UK).

I've also found that females tend to be more guilty of spreading across the MUP and blocking it than males. And solo runners/joggers are usually wearing headphones, so they seldom hear the bell.

But you're correct that MUPs are not the place to be out training. Even protected bike lanes have to be taken at "caution" speeds!

Luis

Luis,

If I wanted to catch this bozo, I would have had to take a cab since I am very slow :-) Last Sunday I was met with this ipod-listening female jogger who neither heard my bell (a loud one with a nice ring to it) nor my yell that I am passing to her left, so I had to wait until she steadied her gait and figured what side of the trail she would like to be! The part I am getting more concerned about is that the more I experience those incidents, the more I think of the safety of my indoor trainer. But I really would hope to continue riding outdoors. In fact, I am hoping I can participate in a 30 mile event in June (I currently max out at 14 miles). So, I guess I gotta keep at it in the MUP or (gasp of horror) the open road

Runners or anyone listening to an Mp3 player/radio/whatever should have the volume low enough to hear the environment--cars, people calling out, dogs. Maybe you need one of those air horns--make her jump out of her skin.

With that thought in mind, do you then slow down or speed up?

OK: I stand corrected. The mom's are probably the worst. But, whatever you do, don't mess with them -- they can get real mean real quick like.

The incident you site here was an inconvenience rather than a safety hazard (although you have described some safety hazards in other posts). But, don't get discouraged. But do practice defensive riding and whenever possible expect rudeness and stupidity and try to avoid it rather than giving up and going indoors. That would be a shame. And too, maybe try to avoid weekends or if you can't, head towards lesser used parts of the trail. The weekend warriors are always the worst whether they are on 2 wheels or 2 feet.

it's interesting that people have been running on grass and dirt, and everything else, long before athletic shoes, or even shoes period were invented, there are l many tribes in undeveloped parts of the world that stil run barefoot, yet they dont seem to suffer too many "sports injuries" maby it's that the high tech shoes have gotten too high tech, I have done distance walking my entire life and I cant even stand modern shoes, I prefer flat shoes, much more comfortable to me, the human foot is a marvel, why do we seem to think it wont work right without special running shoes?

if you are going to go over 18 you should get off the path and get on the road, that is ridiculous. heck really 15 mph. in my mind the riverside or park bike paths are for joggers and cruiser bikes, or just high cadence recovery rides. there is no place for a cyclist trying to maintain his/her pace. next time, citizen's arrest for reckless endangerment!

this is funny. yes whatever did we do back in the day before pavement. that darn grass and earth, so bad for us, crippling, how did we ever evolve? but let's blame it on the grass. amazing.

I think it all depends on conditions, whether you can see, how many people are on the trail etc, here you can go fast and still see plenty far enough ahead to slow down when needed, it's pretty much line of sight, once you get past the four lane, it makes a right turn and it's just plain asphalt for almost 4 miles, and almost never used by anyone, all running beside the four lane, no trees, just all open almost everyone uses the sections befor, going back into town.

Agree^ Especially the suggestion to avoid the weekends. Our main MUP (50 miles) during the week is peaceful, almost deserted. You can ride for miles without seeing another user, and those you do see - joggers, dog walkers, strollers, cyclists -invariably are happy to smile and wave hello to a friendly greeting while being passed. The same pathway, on the weekends, is so overused it minics rushhour traffic. Nerve-wracking and hairy, and often too many grumpy users.

The former allows you to relive the free and joyous abandon of biking you had as a child without a care in the world; the later allows you to expand your adult limits of patience, forgiveness...and maneuverability. Hence, I tend to opt for the weekday rides - for the pure peace and joy of cycling a quiet trail.

However, if I'm craving a bit of fun, and agility training, I'll join the throngs on the weekends.

Wow, this whole thread makes me feel very fortunate that the MUP I usually ride doesn't have these problems (as discussed above). All the local MUP users that I've seen, whether they are on foot or on wheels (of some kind) seem to play well together.

Sorry to hear about all the troubles and issues everyone else seems to have (for locals, my MUP is Coyote Creek).

Rick / OCRR