H23

Northern Virginia a-holes are in a class all by themselves, and they get even worse when the weather become oppressively hot and humid.

rogue9607

Heh, but at least then most of them just stay in the air conditioning and complain about it. This leads to clearer trails, but more disgruntled drivers. Right now when the weather has just started to turn nice is when everyone gets the idea to go walk/jog/cycle/wave little weights around.

As for the bell vs "on your left", bells tend to startle me when I'm out walking but are still better than nothing at all. So far this spring, a good percentage of the people I've passed with an "on your left" (somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2) actually reply with a "thank you". This tells me that users of the Mt. Vernon trail certainly know what it means, which is probably due to the number of cyclists on the trail.

rule

At the point with someone that I can clearly see that they are just taking their problems out on me, I smile, disengage and remind them to reconsider the benefits of decaf. It really isn't worth letting them spoil my day.

recursive

He was probably just upset because he was invading your privacy. If he was expecting privacy in a public park that was definitely his mistake. That would seriously piss me off, and I would think a lot about it too.

Was it the fact that he was a jackass that tipped you off that he was leftward-leaning? I only mention it becase moronic pedestrians come from all parties and political inclinations, and to mention your guess about his political alignment seems unnecessarily confrontational and divisive.

clfjmpr44

Them's fightin words!
On that note, Baltimorians or as Tony Montana says "Bal-ti-more," are the nicest people you'd ever want to meet...in a sewer!

zapb42

I second that. Lived in Leesburg area, would ride down to DC occasionally. Very inconsiderate general population.

celticfrost

Hhhhhhmmmm --- my evil twin is telling me that this would be the perfect opportunity to make his experience a miserable one, so he associates the Green Belt w/ fear (and never comes back) or he just keeps his trap shut next time!

theopowers

Riding home up the Custis Trail today, I was behind, well, let's say your average "odd bird" cyclist - a bearded old guy with pink-trimmed full-length spandex...

Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that he was passing a young woman. She was walking on the very right edge of the trail. He started to pass well to the left (on a two lane trail) and announced loudly, almost alarmingly "On your left!" She jumped all the way off the trail against the wall, and turned with a look of confusion and then disbelief as he very slowly rolled on by.

That's why I'm for the bell...

jitteringjr

Not in Virginia. I can show you proof.

roadrider_va

Hey everybody, I'm happy to report that I used my telepathic powers to communicate with the HUNDREDS of squirrels on the Mount Vernon Trail. I convinced them to do my dirty work for me. Let's just say THAT crazy old jogger won't be bothering me again.

Here's an ACTUAL photo of the attack!!!!

Wheel Doctor

Thanks for this post! I sometimes have the misfortune to drive the entire length of the Belt and then the Cross Island. I look at the multiuse path and think that doing anything on it is lunacy. The mix of venues is wild. Walkers, Inline skaters, pacelin'n speed crazed roadies, lost MTB'ers, Mommies and Nannys with strollers, dog walkers, joggers, marathon runners, power walkers, recreationally challenged cyclists, elderly with or without walkers, skateboarders It's the same on the path along Little Neck Bay!

For the original poster! This is why MultiUse Paths suck for cycling. I would never commute on one. Except for the times when I know that there is little foot traffic.

I ride MultiUse MTB single track in state parks. I get real bad vibes from some of the hikers and dogie walkers. Some look as if they had a weapon they would use it on ya.

I have been yelled at by vehicular drivers to get on the F' en path. It's the reason why I'm against any multi-use path that would restrict my on road cycling.

GOOD Grief!!!!!

skydive69

The guy is lucky he ran (no pun intended into you). I would have caused him to do an ass plant after I knocked him on his. I'm not laid back.

Monument Man

I try to always give a little "thanks" after I pass following an "on your left"

BTW you're correct most people have no freaking idea what on your left means. The bell is so super dorky but honestly might work for me on my commute....

robotkittenarmy

well i haven't been to the asheville outdoor track since the big flood and renovation, and was delighted to find the main gate which all the pedestrians, basketball players, kiddies, et al used to blunder across the track, oblivious to cyclists, locked down. Now there is an enormous redwood walkway and ramps built up and over the track and down to the central area with the inline hockey rink, kiddie area, b-ball courts and everything else. Now I can just hammer it out lap after lap and not have to get anxious on every lap at the walkway that used to be...however, a large and clear sign is now posted: IF cyclists are using track they MUST ride ABOVE the white line; any other activities must take place below the white line. This seemed cool, as there is waaaay space above the white line to ride, although there actually exists 2 white lines, one very close to the central area. Anyway, I started riding, bad songs going through my head and enjoying the slightly chilly weather when a slim, "LIBERTY BICYCLES"-clad fellow shows up and starts spinning around the track. Interesting thing is that he rode the entire time as close as possible to the center, inside of BOTH white lines. Similarly, the other cyclist who had been using the track had finished and stretched and was preparing to cross the newly-built walkway above the track to get to her car. This walkway has several signs which I could read clearly at 20 mph stating "No skating or cycling on walkway; please dismount and walk" . Ok now I watch her try to clip in and cycle up the walkway, unclipping at each turn and almost falling over and clipping in again to try to ride across. Of course, there is now a man and hos two children coming up the other side from the parking lot. At this point, I decided to just pedal and blank out on the blue line, rather than worrying about the ONLY OTHER TWO CYCLISTS HERE who didn't give a sheet about the safety guidelines for this awesome, FREE velodrome we are stoked to be able to use here in asheville. Until I read this thread, then I got all irritated and had to blab. so there.

JohnKn

This thread is very amusing. Why? Because the joggers described here behave just like many, not all, bikers do on the road with cars. How many bikers don't move out of the way of a car approaching them from the rear? Or when in groups move out to block the road? It happens out here (Wa) all the time, especially on the weekends when more riders are out.

Good luck with the joggers.

roadrider_va

There is no excuse for rude behavior in any sport. This just so happens to be a matter of a rude person that happened to be a jogger. A I said, I'm a runner as well. When I run, there are rude cyclists. I also swim. When I swim, there are rude swimmers that jump into your lane without asking. There are people in life that take their frustrations out on others, no matter what you're doing, and this particular morning, I was the one that got targeted. This could have very well been a story about a guy cutting in front of me in line at a grocery store. It was just a frustrating incident that I shared to vent my frustrations, and it happened while I was on a bike, so I figured "bike forums" would be an appropriate soap box.

LV2TNDM

There's nothing like the hyprocracy of hikers going "Sierra Club" on cyclists using local trails. This used to happen to me all the time. I rode my bike to the park to enjoy the trails. They drove their cars! And filled up the parking lot!
Hikers should be thanking the cyclists that choose to cycle to their recreation spots! Be sure to point this out to them next time someone gets in your face.
PS I'm a long time cyclist (road, mtn., tour, tandem, commuting) AND Sierra Club member.

LV2TNDM

I always use a bell. Even around blind corners to warn oncoming traffic. Bells are required in our local parks and that's fine with me. But what about the idiots who choose to go out in public with headphones on? Pretty hard to be cognicent and aware and respectful of other users while blaring music in ones ears. If bells are required of cyclists, headphones should be prohibited. Cyclists have been forced to compromise from day one. Time for other user groups to make some concessions.
And I'm always nice to everyone I pass - hellos and thanks every time.