Mr. UPS needs to change his shorts before he hits on the ladies.

There are incidents that require a warning yell out –rider! riders coming!, etc.- and, if you don’t have a bell mounted, a simple technique is to change gears when approaching the rider/person; the switching of the gears are typically heard. Stay away from yelling out left/right because it does at times confuse folks. If its safe to pass without warning its safe to pass. Be cautious.

Typically the only time to slow down is if you want the other rider(s) on your wheel. The other rider’s pace should not dictate your pace; focus on your pace.

Headphones… sometimes focusing on the ride, listening to the wind, and birds, or saying hello to people is the purpose of the ride; and other times music helps stimulate the workout, helps tune down the traffic noise, and if there is a good ballgame on I may tune in. It depends on the purpose of the ride, the surroundings, and the mood.

If headphones are illegal, are deaf people allowed to ride bikes?

Deaf people are allowed to drive cars - it's not that you can't hear - it's that you are distracted by wearing ear phones and listening to music. Think about it? Why do you wear ear phones in the first place? To distract yourself from the climb or whatever. No different than using a cell phone or texting while driving...

I wear headphones to I dont have to listen to my nagging Girlfriend!

I looks like hes incontinent.

This is nonsense. Every car for the last 30 years comes with an evil distracting radio. It is ridiculous to imply that music is as distracting as engaging in an active phone conversation or taking your eyes off the road to type some inane text . Music is a background task for the brain, more akin to chewing gum.

1) music is distracting, sorry it is 2) and there is no way to say that ear buds and iPods are also not distracting.*** Justify it any way you want, the reason you wear them is for the distraction. It is also against the law to wear them while riding on the road or public bike path.

Don't be surprised if someday a cop stops and tickets you...

***As are cell phones, texting, etc. Conversations with passengers are also distracting. One reason why in the state of CA minors are not allowed to drive in cars with other minors. They must be alone or with an adult.

You can speak with someone while driving but if it causes an accident, you will be cited.

We were out for a ride today on the Mountains to Sea Trail and went from Tustin to the Back Bay. It was a busy Saturday on the MUP- a lot of walkers, runners, cruisers, cyclists, kids with training wheels etc. Plenty of times we needed to brake, slow down, go around. But I was happy to see so many people being physically active and enjoying the outdoors.

However, I was really disappointed with the behavior of the "serious cyclists." There were two women in full regalia, standing straddling their bikes, chatting in the dead center of the path at the top of a hill, taking up most of the way. No "sorry" or "excuse us" as people were barely able to get past them. A group of cyclists were riding about 3-4 abreast practically edging us off the path on another hill. We were silently and sometimes closely passed by cyclists without warning and a few road cyclists seemed to absolutely refuse to alter their line, speed, or cadence even around groups of children and young families.

I understand that a lot of cyclists have serious experience and sound judgement but even then you can't read other trail users' minds and honestly predict their actions with certainty. Especially unpredictable children who could easily be injured if you hit them. I also understand the mindset of a person who really wants to get a work out and is on a long, endurance ride. But if you need to ride 20+ mph at all times you should use the road or use the path at a less busy time. It's just safer for everyone and we all have a right to safely use the trails. It yanks my chain to hear so many cyclists whine about how poorly we are treated by motorists but then they treat other cyclists, pedestrians and trail users with the same lack of respect.

p.s. I don't know who's a "serious cyclist" or not but all the ones I'm referring to were on road bikes and wearing all their gear- jerseys, bike shorts, etc. Not that everyone who was decked out was rude, plenty of them were courteous and just out to enjoy the day. It's just that everyone who was rude fit that description.

Music –headphones- can be distracting or it can be a stimulant. If the ride is on the city streets/bike path its likely safer to keep your ears open or the sound low. However, if a rider is cranking up a mountain a little power-up music helps.

To state that headphones distract all riders is improper. There are people that actually need the “distracting” device to be able to focus. Ultimately it depends on the person; some can effectively multitask and others need to focus on only pedaling. Different minds need different tonics.

Tickets for wearing headphones are issued by uptight individuals that don’t understand the simple pleasures.

CA Vehicle Code:
As long as you have ear buds in only one ear, you are legally in the clear. The reason for the prohibition against both ears being covered is not because it is distracting, but because it makes it harder to hear emergency vehicles and horns (as you can see mentioned in exclusion d above).

maybe "favorite" moment was on Ballona Creek path just after a crash my bike is on the ground, i'm scuffed up, gathering my things, and a roadie blasts by "NOT A GOOD PLACE TO STOP!"
my response "NOT A GOOD PLACE TO CRASH EITHER .... a$$hole"

I generally yell Rider(s) Back... and do it far enough back so the idiot who swerves to the left realizes and moves back over. I will also (more quietly) call it for Jen or a group i'm riding with when there's riders passing us.

When the big club group comes charging up the MUT using both lanes i yell Rider UP and put my hand over my eyes, so far they always have sense enough to clear the lane. They see me coming and know they'll be like 10 pins flying all over

Seriously, whats up with those large packs of kitted up goofballs taking up both lanes and maintaining both lanes even with oncoming traffic? Last time the guy towards the front was holding his left arm straight out so as to take up what little space was left in the ONCOMING lane, effectively telling everybody ahead to move out of their way. IMO if there are people in oncoming traffic it is up to them to merge into their single lane, and not for us mere mortals to steer off into the gravel.

Actually it's against the CVC to block a MUP, besides being rude.

Mellow out, Patrick. Just because you fell off of your tall tricycle...

I yell at them to GTFO of the way.

Glad to see I'm not the only one aggravated with these dressed up roadies and "kitted up goofballs." You'd think that with being able to afford all the gear they'd be able to afford some manners. Too bad money doesn't buy common courtesy or common sense (neither of which are actually common).

No I am with you - I just posted a "rant" on the rude riders on PCH thread. I've been riding longer than most of those wise guys have been alive. Most of my buddies, who have actually done real riding, double centuries, long tours etc. don't wear the kits or ride the Chinese carbon fiber bikes (just saying), really know bikes, know how to repair and care for bikes and know the rules of the road. These young guys played video games and now think they know how to ride. Pretty much I laugh at how "posery" these guys in their race kits on their Big Box bikes are.

If this hits any buttons with any of you rading this, just know we old timers on real bikes find you comical.

OK "get off my lawn" and I am done with another rant!

Incorrect.

I did use " " to indicate they are similar in that the operators of both must obey the same traffic laws.

From the DMV handbook:

BICYCLES

Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile and motorcycle drivers. Respect the right-of- way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with other drivers. Here are some critical points for drivers and bicyclists to remember:

Bicyclists:

Must obey all traffic signals and stop signs.

Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways, in some rural areas where there is no alternate route.

Must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.

Shall ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical– not on the sidewalk.

May legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, animal, make a turn or avoid debris and other hazards.

May choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.

Should ride single file on a busy or narrow street.

Must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.

Must signal all their intentions to motorists and bicyclists near them.

Must wear a helmet if under the age of 18.

Should carry identification.

Shall not operate a bicycle on a roadway during darkness unless the bicycle is equipped with:
A brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry level, clean pavement.
A front lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet.
A rear red reflector visible from a distance of 500 feet.
A white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from a distance of 200 feet.

Wow! This is an entertaining thread... I think that EVERYONE needs to re-read the DMV handbook and all of the applicable laws for bicyclists (which could include municipal regulations since this discussion is talking about multi use paths) because the lack of knowledge being presented to the OP as 'fact' and opinion is ridiculous....


I use a bell because it provides sufficient warning to the people 20 feet in front of me. Calling out is distracting to me and other people on the trail, but the bell says 'Someone is Nearby' without any other available interpretation. It also requires very little effort... flick of a finger...

If I am next to someone for more than a few seconds while passing, I look at them, smile and say 'hello' or 'good morning'.

I use headphones (sometimes in both ears) and when I am 'in the zone' I don't care about another person's approach, but I maintain my line or look back before swerving. It is easy to look far enough ahead to spot hazards and allow myself time to react.

I'm with you..

Having said that, I live about 2 minutes ride away from the San Diego River Bike Trail here in Irvine, I've ridden it literally over 1000 times..

Last year I had a really serious accident (not on this trail) and after a few months of PT I was told to walk and walk every Day so I would walk the trail to the Coffee shop and I have to say, it didn't matter if I was walking with someone and having a conversation or walking by myself I would often become oblivious to Cyclists...a lot of times I would just walk from right to leftt to cut across the Trail then think "oops, I should have looked over my left shoulder first...

So yeah, deffinately an "On yer left" or a Bell would have woken me up from my Day Dream and would have been a good reminder that I need to look back before making a sudden turn...but if you yell that to a 6 year old on a Bike they are gonna panic, look around and wobble straight into your Path..

Right now, I'm still recovering so just go for a spin around the Backbay and am constantly alarmed at the amount of Roadies pace-lining at 25 + mph overtaking me around blind corners etc. Most have the sense to yell "On yer left" so I pull even further to the right and wave them through so they know I heard them.

Bottom line, a multi-use Bike Path isn't for pace-lining or TT'ing most of the time...

I'm the OP, and it's now been 6 or 7 weeks since I started this thread as a total newb. I've now put about 700 miles on the SART, and I figured I'd share the 'answers' I settled on.

1) I yell 'on your left' to anybody riding near the center line, or any groups of riders 2 and up. I also generally get pretty close behind them, slow down, and then announce myself. When I encounter a solo guy riding or walking in his lane, I'll simply go by them at full speed without announcement as far to the left as I can get.

2) I hardly get passed anymore so this question is no longer relevant. The road bikers that do pass me generally accelerate to pass, then settle back into their normal pace after they pass.

3) Headphones: I wear them about 10% of the time now. However, when I do have them on, I still seem to hear everything from birds to road/chain noise, so I don't think it really affects hearing any more than having the windows up on a car. If I'm on a public road, I take them out of course.

The most annoying things I've found on the SART:
1) Rollerbladers that take up both lanes with wide swoops, while wearing headphones cranked up so loud they can't even hear me yelling at them from 5 feet behind them.
2) those 4 wheeler bike things near yorba linda park driven by teens at 3 mph on the wrong side of the road.
3) the fratboys wearing their abercrombie shirts riding around on their beach bikes tossing beer cans on the trail edge. I gave one a very sarcastic lecture on finding trash cans, and he did seem at least a little embarassed to have been caught trashing the trail.