This morning I was riding the Burke-Gilman trail, I witnessed some very, very bad manners. I need to rant about it.

A little ways in front of me (10-ish bike lengths) was an elderly man on a bicycle who was obviously not riding a straight line. Two guys passed me (very closely, no voice announcement, no bell) and then proceeded to pass by this elderly man, much too closely---inches, literally, not giving a warning (to me or the elderly man). The elderly man swerved just slightly, and, one of the passing riders ran into the handlebars of the elderly man, making him swerve.

No one crashed, thank goodness. The elderly man was able to catch his balance and keep riding. Whew.

But damn, that was just stupid, passing 2 abreast on the BG, especially past an obviously not-as-physically-able person. I don't know what's worse, bad manners or bad attitude: Even though the offending bicyclist stopped to make sure the elderly man was ok, the elderly man apologized, asked if he was too far over (to the left). The offending biker's answer was "no, it was only that we were 3 bikers across". The offending biker didn't apologize, didn't acknowledge that he should have voiced his presence, and didn't admit that they should have been riding single-file to pass. Not once did he say "It's my fault, I'm sorry"!!!

That elderly man could have been seriously hurt if he had crashed. He could have broken bones or hit his head (no helmet on, I believe), which can dramatically change the quality of life for anyone, especially the elderly.

People, be careful! Use common sense! Watch out for others and use a voice or a bell to announce your presence on the BG. It's not that hard of a thing to do!

Rant over, but, I'm still livid. That poor man, I sure hope he didn't get scared off riding his bike from the incident. This kind of exercise is soo good, for everyone, not just those who can ride fast.

Very annoying, definitely hope the guy doesn't feel chased off the speedw... I mean trail.

This is why I try to avoid the trails.

'Spent 20 years in Seattle. The BG is not the place to shred 3 across. Dorks, adult version.
I know the Burke is not for speed, at least not before you get thru the U. The Samammish end works. Have they fixed that part? It was really thrashed last time I rode it.

There are a few groups who treat the B-G as their personal TT course. In the past I've not named names, but since this is a continuing issue... Jet City Velo/Byrne Invent Masters (blue/orange kit), and Recycled Cycles; they're the worst two offenders, IMO.

Things I've seen on the B-G. (Not necessarily from the above mentioned teams)
- 20mph+ paceline passing like it's the TdF
- A grown man yell "Hold a <expletive> line!" at a child on a bike with training wheels.
- 3 people riding handlebar-to-handlebar across the trail and not moving for anyone.
- Pacelines bump-passing a rider who is already passing someone!

Now, there's nothing wrong with pacelining and training to get your team in top-form for whatever race/event you're competing in... but there's a place for it: Get on the road, not the MUP. Starbucks local team, Zoka (formerly Cucina Fresca), even Lakewood Cycling Club... all of them have some awesome pacelines. I've never seen them practicing on the B-G. They're always out on the roads.


kellyjdrummer - They're having a re-opening ceremony for the recently repaired north-end of the B-G trail this weekend, finally!

Really? That seems so extreme as to be unbelievable.

Believe it. Some racers are incredibly arrogant sobs. I've encountered plenty who wouldn't bat at eye at yelling at a kid.

I've been cycling the Sammamish/Burke-Gilman trails (mostly Sammamish) for 20 years and have seen just about everything. If I had to choose, I'd pick the agressive riders over the casual riders and pedestrians. I'm not letting them off the hook for their "I'm coming through so get out of the way" attitude, but at least they are competent cyclists and have some idea of the rules of the road. Really the only time they bother me is when they pass me while I'm overtaking or passing someone else, especially when there is a cyclist or pedestrian coming the other way. I have had far more close calls with casual cyclists/walkers/roller bladers/kids than I have ever had with agressive cyclists.

Yeah, finally. I rode that trail from around '85 I think and it was bad then. 23 years, tax bux at work, eh?

The section that he is talking about is in Kenmore, east of Juanita Drive; NOT the Lake Forest Park/Lake City section with all of the driveways to cross. The Lake Forest Park section improvement is slated for sometime in the future, now that the courts have ruled against Lake Forest Park's city council, who tried to block it.

Another thing I remember: Years ago, speed limit signs were posted on the Sammamish trail; they're not there anymore. Also, Redmond used to enforce the speed limit on their section of the trail and I used to see uniformed Redmond police patrolling the trail on motorcycles.

<Soapbox on>
I've had a couple of run ins with Jet City Velo and they are complete jerks. In my instance I was on the right holding my line and they almost ran their paceline into me from the opposite side. Causing me to vear off the trail. Of course they said something to me and it was an apology. I exchanged a few mails with the team director and they were just as pricky. The MUD is for everyone, it is in fact most useful for getting people to enjoy our sport not cause antagonism that is taken to the roads.

If they were to yell at my kid I would probably stick my pump in their fancy wheels! Then tell them to pay for ruining my pump!

These guys/gals are not professional riders and would get smoked by real professionals, they should ride the roads or the track. If someone from the team is reading this you should be embarassed to where the Orange and Blue jersey!

</Soapbox off>

Along NE Bothell Way? Just a mile or two before the narrow bridge? They are still working on that?

I just looked at Google earth and am amazed how long things take to finish back home (there.)

Looks like they got the 20th St. Trestle finished in Everett, finally. They were working on it when I moved to Everett in 1995 and were still working on it when I left, for here, in 2001. Was that ever a nightmare?

They have been widening NE Bothell Way from Juanita Drive east to about 83rd including the bridge over the creek at 80th. A new underpass was built at 73rd Ave NE. At about 83rd the trail ends with a ramp down to NE 175th.

Currently the majority of that section is finished and open for use except for the bridge @ 80th.

Saw this one last year on the Sam-River section of the trail, just before getting to RedHook. Two little kids riding with their dad. Lead rider of a 5 or 6 man Tour de MUP peloton yells "LEFT!" (not "on your left" or "passing left"... just LEFT!) because one of the kids was weaving around on the trail.
Granted, the dad should have been paying attention and teaching his kids proper trail etiquette, but as the group passed them, yes... the guy yelled "hold an effing line."

Since Gil Peñalosa's interview with Jonathan Maus, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this subject. For various reasons, we all use MUPs because we would like to get away from motor vehicles at times. People with children especially feel this way. It seems pretty normal to me. I don't have children and I probably never will, but I do realize they are still learning to behave in the world and developing fine bodily control. If we can't tolerate them being less than perfect at the time of their lives when they're gaining their skills, what does that say about us as human beings and about the society we have created?

Share the Path

+1 Donna.

Actually, it sounds like he did admit fault -- unless you think he was blaming a single elderly man for riding 3 abreast.

Sure, it sounds like they were riding like jackasses and could have easily caused a wreck. Sure, he could have used the magic word "sorry". But I'm just glad he didn't take one glance to make sure the elderly man was still on two wheels, and then ride on without slowing down.

If that's the best we can hope for out of people, then we will surely get no better.

So, do our children have to be competent cyclists to use the MUP's? What if they're just learning? I guess mine will have to ride in the street for a few years until they're competent enough to ride on the trail.

Empty parking lots are good.

I think everyone should bring their kids and hold a protest!!! Freedom to the PEOPLE!! :-)