Chuvak

Went to my local park today to ride a few (or maybe more) times around a 3.4 mile loop. Everything was perfect and the weather was nice until this kid decides to ride (on his bmx bike) across the road without even looking. And the mother is right there and I think she even saw me, but still let her son ride on to the road. There was another guy behind me, thank good he was a few bike lengths away. Anyway, I started to brake and scream as loud as I could to watch out and stop. Thankfully he responded in time and bless the god his bike had brakes. You see it’s not uncommon to see kids ride these toy bikes without any brakes. A few laps later almost identical situation happens again. Two punks started to cross right in front of me, and it wasn’t like they didn’t see me. They did and for some reason started moving on purpose playing chicken. So I just leaned to the right and gave them some space. The twist was that I had a guy on my tale (not the one from previous situation) crossing my rear wheel. Again I, and the guy behind me were speared from the crush, but he gave me this look like it was my fault. You see I believe that he was hanging on me for some time, without giving me any sign that he was even there. I politely pointed out that I had to avoid the kids, but he didn’t say anything and just passed me and continued on his way. The moral is: You always have to give a sign that you are joining a rider or a group, because if you don’t it will be costly for your health and your wallet. Thanks for listening!

SchreiberBike

So you try to do serious training on a 3.4 mile loop with kids nearby? Sounds like you'd have to expect other users to be irrational.

Chuvak

I don't understand what you mean. Are you implying that public park should be for cyclist only, so we can do our "training"? And yes I was trying to do some training, alone with another thousand cyclists who use park everyday. I rather ride in park with stupid kids nearby then ride on streets and get killed by a driver

SchreiberBike

I guess your situation is so different from my mid-west rural area that I just can't relate. I can't picture how you could ride around in a loop that many times, or how you could ride at speed or draft other cyclists with so many potential dangers or distractions.

Laggard

I was just telling the wife the other day how I would never in a million years try and train on one of those bike path loop things. They're normally too narrow and too busy to use for any serious riding. Can you imagine hammering along in a 27 mph paceline? Or trying to do sprint intervals?

They're ok for a nice leisurly sunday afternoon ride with the kids. That's about it.

Chuvak

I think our relativity to one another has nothing to do with safety. If you can't imagine yourself riding the same loop, it's fine, I see where you coming from, and most of the time I don't like it myself. But you have to agree that it's not any safer on the road, where you have to ride pass the cars and cars passing you. This forum had many threads where cyclists got hit by cars, beer bottles or simply cursed at.

Well, the path in the park I go to varies in width. Most of it is around 4 lanes wide, standard car lane that is. Don't you think it's wide?

timmhaan

i think (correct me if i'm wrong) but the thread starter is probably refering to prospect park, or one of the shorter loops in central park, NY. these are beautiful areas to ride in, and even though doing laps can get a little boring, this is like riding in a senic movie set.

in NY it's either this or the street. there are very few places you can ride without potential dangers of some kind. if i do serious training, i go at night when the pedestrian level is down 90%. i don't think it's fair that some serious roadies blast through here at 20+ mph on a nice weekend when everyone is out enjoying the park. they could seriously hurt someone. there's just too many people doing too many different things.

55/Rad

I would imagine it's much more difficult to find good cycling routes without car traffic in New York as opposed to the midwest or Oregon. It's also impossible to say that a 4 lane loop in NY has the same obstacles and conditions that the beach path in Santa Monica has. I would hope that the people here would give you enough credit to know the conditions in your own backyard and trust you to judge what's best for you.

That said, I agree it's best to let other riders know where you are and what your intentions are.

55/Rad

Chuvak

Yeah, I'm in Brooklyn and referring to Prospect Park. Timmhaan, I know what you mean, I usually ride during daytime. This way most people are at work or in school and the park is almost empty. 55/Rad, thanks for understanding

SchreiberBike

I guess I live in paradise. I can ride just over a mile and be out of town to a place where I will typically see one car every mile.

I know I'm comparing Big Apples with tiny raisins, but we even have a place in town with a pretty good bagel. Actually, if money were no object, I'd probably spend about two weeks per year in NYC. The concentration of everything there is just breathtaking - and I mean that in a good way and a bad way.

mlwschultz

People are just careless. To be crossing a path, road, etc. in front of a moving vehicle (bike or otherwise) is sheer stupidity. The people going across traffic have a responsibility to move safely, not to cut in front of someone & endanger both parties.