an unfortunate incident

[blueskies]

I had a near wreck today on a local bike path. I was riding along, slowly, (it was a recovery ride on my old bike, on a drizzly day on a busy path), when the path curved to the right. I saw an older man standing off to the left side of the path, just as it curved. He was looking toward me. So, I slowed slightly & stayed toward the right, when suddenly, I saw that he was holding a retractable leash, which was strung out full length across the path & connected to a dog on the opposite side, just around the bend. (I couldn't see the dog until I started around the curve, because of the plantings along the path...)

I braked, let out a small yelp when I realized that I couldn't stop in time & thought that I was going to be taken down. Fortunately, the dog was short & the leash was low, and my front wheel pushed it down & under the bike. No wreck ensued, but my heart was racing.

I stopped & the man started to yell at me. "You're going too fast! This path is for walking! You shouldn't be riding a bike here, lady!"

I was really surprised to have him yelling at me, but I took a breath, and said what came in to my head in response, which was, "This is a multi-use path."

He yelled again, "You shouldn't be riding a bike here. It's for walking."

I said again "This is a multi-use path. It's for bikes and pedestrians."

He said, again yelling, "It's mainly for walkers & you shouldn't be going any faster than the slowest person."

At this point, I was shaking from the combination of the near wreck & the feeling of being attacked. I couldn't get my wits about me to communicate in any way that would be effective, and so I just got back on my bike & rode away.

Anyway, I mainly wish that I could have thought more clearly in the moment, so that I could have talked to him a little more effectively. I wish that I would have talked to him, not angrily, but just to explain that having the leash strung across the path like that created a hazard for anyone that came by. I wish I would have asked him to think about staying on the same side of the path that his dog is on, so he won't clothesline anyone else in the future. I mean it's pretty unlikely that he was going to say "Oh, you're right! My bad!" But maybe he would think about it in the future when he's out walking his dog.

I was almost in tears when I rode away, from the combination of near wreck & frustration at how I was treated. I wish I could have just had the clarity in the moment to represent myself more effectively.

Oh, well. I'm ok, the bike's ok, the dog's ok, and even the cranky man is ok.

[NbyNW]

Glad everyone's okay. I'm sorry that man felt that he had to yell at you.

Sometimes all you can do is remove yourself from a situation.

[shootingstar]

At this point, I was shaking from the combination of the near wreck & the feeling of being attacked. I couldn't get my wits about me to communicate in any way that would be effective, and so I just got back on my bike & rode away.

Anyway, I mainly wish that I could have thought more clearly in the moment, so that I could have talked to him a little more effectively. I wish that I would have talked to him, not angrily, but just to explain that having the leash strung across the path like that created a hazard for anyone that came by. I wish I would have asked him to think about staying on the same side of the path that his dog is on, so he won't clothesline anyone else in the future. I mean it's pretty unlikely that he was going to say "Oh, you're right! My bad!" But maybe he would think about it in the future when he's out walking his dog.

I was almost in tears when I rode away, from the combination of near wreck & frustration at how I was treated. I wish I could have just had the clarity in the moment to represent myself more effectively.

Oh, well. I'm ok, the bike's ok, the dog's ok, and even the cranky man is ok.

He is the sort of person that needs a reminder to stay on same side as dog. Just chalk it up to experience.

I had something similar happen to me..when I was riding a multi-use path..but 1 side was for cyclists. It was in the highly popular Stanley park here, several years ago where I was commuting homeward from work. It was abit twilight and the dog walker had his leashed dog carelessly across the path, the leash loose while he yaaked on cell phone. A clear indication he didn't care...or whatever. Wasn't going fast but I did go down abit on bike since I barely could see the leash.

My cycling partner who was with me...yelled at him. The guy got the message.

Now, I do yell out of my incoming presence or use the bell with dog walkers..if there's enough time.

Since I'm not a dog owner nor grew up in a dog/any pet household, I often wonder if my irritation at some dog-owners is reflective of not being a dog-owner. But my partner had various dogs at home for over 4 decades of his life and so if he gets really pissed off at some thoughtless dog owners on the path,...I use him as my benchmark.

I appreciate the dogs with reflective collars, little jackets, etc. Important for nightlifers on bikes.

[Zen]

I'm glad you're ok but I'm afraid the best argument-even a copy of the Rules Of The MUT- wouldn't persuade this guy.
From your description of the incident he sounds like the type of person who is always right and the world should revolve around him.


I don't care for MUTs.

[lph]

ah, I'm sorry, blueskies. It really sucks when you meet angry self-righteous people who can see no other side than their own Like, you were supposed to ride slow enough so you could stop and LIFT your bike over the leash?? He should have at least made a move towards one side.

[PscyclePath]

I'm glad you're ok but I'm afraid the best argument-even a copy of the Rules Of The MUT- wouldn't persuade this guy.
From your description of the incident he sounds like the type of person who is always right and the world should revolve around him.

Might have been time to pretend he's Superman and let him have a little dose of Kryptonite...

[Mr. Bloom]

He said, again yelling, "It's mainly for walkers & you shouldn't be going any faster than the slowest person."

...so based on his logic, I suppose that there's no jogging allowed either?

Once while channel surfing, Silver and I came across a "Judge Judy" show where a cyclist was suing for damage to his bike caused by a careless driver. The driver's defense was "there are XXX miles of bike paths in Minnesota...so he didn't belong on the road"

This older guy thinks that "his use" of the path is the "best use" of the path...and he'll have to reconcile that on his own.

So, here's a question. On one of my routes, to avoid traffic, I take a short cut on a short path for "pedestrian traffic only". I'm careful and no one has ever had an issue...but if someone did, isn't it true that a bicycle is "pedestrian"???? Government statistics for bikes are for "pedalcycles"

[uforgot]

So, here's a question. On one of my routes, to avoid traffic, I take a short cut on a short path for "pedestrian traffic only". I'm careful and no one has ever had an issue...but if someone did, isn't it true that a bicycle is "pedestrian"???? Government statistics for bikes are for "pedalcycles"

From answers.com

Definition: pedestrian
(pə-dĕs'trē-ən) pronunciation

n.

A person traveling on foot; a walker.


Regarding the clown with the dog: Every multi-use trail I've been on has posted rules stating that all traffic is to stay to the right except to pass. Having the dog leash across the trail makes him the rule breaker, not you. Glad you are okay. Can you imagine? Speed limit 1 mph.

[OakLeaf]

On one of my routes, to avoid traffic, I take a short cut on a short path for "pedestrian traffic only". I'm careful and no one has ever had an issue...but if someone did, isn't it true that a bicycle is "pedestrian"???? Government statistics for bikes are for "pedalcycles"

NO!!! On pedestrian thoroughfares INCLUDING ALL SIDEWALKS cyclists must dismount and walk. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Now, I won't deny the rare instance of cheating when there are NO pedestrians on the sidewalk. But as soon as I see someone on foot coming the opposite direction, I dismount to pass them. Early enough that they don't have to adjust their pace and wonder whether I'm going to. No exceptions. Bikes don't belong in pedestrian lanes.

Now, of course, MUTs are a whole different beast, and the OP was absolutely in the right, but the simple fact that there is over a 1000% differential in the expected speeds of users of an 8 foot wide strip is exactly what makes MUTs so dangerous. Even when there aren't arrogant !@#$%@$#s insisting that all traffic should go THEIR speed.


ETA: of course, most people aren't at their best after a huge surge of adrenaline, so maybe after the guy had a little time to calm down, he may have realized he was in the wrong and decided to adjust his future behavior. Just glad everyone's safe, dog included - I've seen a dog and bike tangle on a MUT and it wasn't pretty

[divingbiker]

I had the same experience as blueskies a few months ago. An older man had his dog on a retractable leash, with the dog on one side of the trail and him on the other. I came up on them around a curve, slowly, and had to stop. I might have rung my bell. He started ranting that "you bike riders think you own the trail" and on and on.

I also didn't engage with him, just went on the grass and on my way, but I really wanted to tell him, "no, I don't think I own the trail, but I'd like to borrow just one little strip over here on the right if you don't mind."

I've got a retractable leash but haven't used it in about 11 years, since I saw how dangerous they are.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

OMG Zen that's exactly the old guy I was thinking of!

I hear you on the post conflict adrenaline rush. I hate that. I am with the other poster that stated that he probably figured out afterward that he was probably in the wrong, but he was too stubborn to say "My bad!"

When I was at my dad's last year, I went to a local multiuse trail park and while driving down the dirt road, a woman walking a dog started yelling at me "SLOW DOWN!!!!". I was going about 8 mph and it was posted for 15. I was so mad that I actually pulled over and walked up to her. Of course she simmered down...but I told her that if she had a problem the ranger is probably at the office. And she had a retractable leash and had her dog strung across the road!!

I just don't like that crazy drama people deal out.

For the record I have a retractable leash but I don't use it that often. If I'm going for a long walk where there is NO ONE, I use it, but if it's around where I'm staying in Mass (busy beach area), I don't use it. I don't want her that far from me. I think the 3 foot rule applies when you are on a multiuse trail (well the common sense 3 foot rule leash law-where the dog is not on a leash longer than 3 feet within your control).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Too bad someone doesn't invent a James Bond-like retractable leash cutter for bikes that can razor-cut a leash as we ride through it.

[lph]

It's quite strange, but some people seem to get upset at the sheer speed of a bike. No matter how wide a berth you give them, no matter how early they see you coming, no matter that you slow down the second you see them and maybe pass them at a joggers pace - the fact that you at some point were moving a lot faster than they were truly upsets/provokes/frightens some people. And if you happen to wearing tightfitting lycra you're pretty much the devil incarnate.

I see it all the time on this one gravel road I ride in the woods. It's HUGE and completely straight, you could drive a logging truck down the one side and nary bother the walkers on the other side, but bike riders riding at an average training pace still get black looks from a certain segment of those walkers. As they pass with 10 feet to spare.

[ny biker]

NO!!! On pedestrian thoroughfares INCLUDING ALL SIDEWALKS cyclists must dismount and walk. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Now, I won't deny the rare instance of cheating when there are NO pedestrians on the sidewalk. But as soon as I see someone on foot coming the opposite direction, I dismount to pass them. Early enough that they don't have to adjust their pace and wonder whether I'm going to. No exceptions. Bikes don't belong in pedestrian lanes.

This is not true where I live. There is a specific area in downtown DC where bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks. Elsewhere in DC cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks. They are supposed to yield to pedestrians but they don't have to dismount. Same in Virginia and Maryland - some localities might have similar no-bike areas to DC's, but in general cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks. However the safety of riding on sidewalks is debatable.

As for the OP, I'm finding more and more that riding on multi-use trails is more dangerous and frustrating than riding on the road. Between the people who are just plain not paying attention and the ones who are downright cranky and mean, it can be pretty stressful. I wish I knew the solution.

[7rider]

This is not true where I live. There is a specific area in downtown DC where bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks. Elsewhere in DC cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks. They are supposed to yield to pedestrians but they don't have to dismount. Same in Virginia and Maryland - some localities might have similar no-bike areas to DC's, but in general cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks. However the safety of riding on sidewalks is debatable.

As for the OP, I'm finding more and more that riding on multi-use trails is more dangerous and frustrating than riding on the road. Between the people who are just plain not paying attention and the ones who are downright cranky and mean, it can be pretty stressful. I wish I knew the solution.

+ 1 from a Marylander....