Any riders in the park have this problem?

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have to start out by saying that I'd have a problem riding where you ride - too many people and cars! You're braver than I am...

It's very rare that I will ride on a bike path. The paths around here are very much overutilized, and I feel that they are not safe places to ride. I'd much rather take my (legal) place on the roads with the cars; at least I have a pretty good idea of how the cars will behave. I remember once many years ago riding in Cambridge (MA) with a friend. He insisted on staying on the bike path. I started there with him, but I quickly moved into the road. I was much happier there.

Do all of the cyclists riding in that park ride on the bike path?

--- Denise

[SouthernBelle]

You do have, to an extent, a NYC problem. I pretty much avoid the local park. Last year I cracked my ribs avoiding a child. I will occasionally cut through there, but don't use it for general riding.

[lisa_b]

Biking on the streets of New York is not so fun with avoiding traffic and people and potholes and other things in the road. It just doesn't make for the best weekend ride. I've found that getting up early makes things much better-there are far fewer people on the bike paths and in the park and on the weekend I can always try and grab a nap in the afternoon!

[missymaya]

I agree with the rest of the gals. It's best to take the trail early, when most people are sleeping or just getting up. When I go to work, I use the trail b/c it's a longer route and I can get more mileage that way and I have to leave early. If you can't ride earlier or the trail is just packed all of the time, it's best just to take to the road. I then hop onto the road where the trail ends. I think it's easier to maneuver on the road and there are usually clear signals as to what's going on (right hand turn lane signs, traffic lights, etc.) compared to the path. You can easily guess what a car's gonna do (most of the time), but not a kid!

[LadyinWhite]

Lizbids: If you are in NYC then you are probably familiar with sandy hook. SH has a brand new beautiful bike lane. The hook is a gorgeous point of land surrounded by water on both sides, it's long and flat w/ a view of the city and the ocean and you ride straight out to the end, around and back.

Sound great?

Sure, in theory. The bike path is SO congested with ped during the height of the season that I won't go near the place unless it's 7am. As gorgeous as it is and even though the path was built to keep the cyclists off the main road, it's just not worth the frustration of avoiding kids, dog walkers, strollers, roller bladers and the occasional senior on a beach cruiser. I've seen roadies come cruising through with bells, calling out "on your left" etc - too much stress if you ask me.

[kjay]

Well, I'm going to vent, too. Today I swore (more than once - lol) that I'd not ride another bicycle path on the weekends! The bike path has a speed limit of 15 mph, and I was going about 13 when from a pedestrian bridge (that leads to the bike path, out come two little kids who didn't even LOOK either way before they pedaled onto the bike path. I swerved and thought for sure the one kid would catch my back wheel, but thankfuly he didn't. Then, only a short ways later, while biking under the San Mateo bridge (SF area), there's a blind corner and the path is very curvy. Well, what appears but another kid biking toward me in MY lane and of course I didn't see him until I turned the corner. Almost crashed again!

I was so pi**ed both times that I ranted and raved at them, and I hope they know better in the future, but I wouldn't bet on it.

No more bike/pedestrian paths for me on weekends!

[lizbids]

yeah I try not to get too mad at little kids, b/c they're well, little kids. In my head I scream like a lunatic, but it's the adults that get me CRAZY. Especially since many ride going down the wrong way on a one-way street and REFUSE to move. I am positive that some do it on purpose to force you into the middle of the street just b/c some people are, well...NUTS AND BORED!!

[Shatteredshards]

I live about 2 blocks away from a trail here in Minneapolis. In most parts the bike trail, which has only a 10mph speed limit, is separated from the walking trail, but shared trail sections are clearly marked. Also, in most parts the trail is a two-way with a dashed line down the middle, and is a good 3 to 4 feet wide on each side of said line.

Lots of times walkers will use the bike trail for their walking, often walking in pairs/groups that are spread out to take up both lanes and/or not paying attention to the "traffic" acround them. Lots of people like to walk their dogs on the bike trail on long or retractable leashes, so that the dog will run across to the other edge and you are unable to pass them until you can get their attention and they can get their dog next to them.

Unfortunately, if you're not to the point where 25mph is a piece of cake, the streets that run along this trail are more of a problem than the trail itself; lots of drivers speed, ignore stop signs, and other things cops should be around to see.

[lizbids]

Yeah I never really understand how easy it is to have a license to drive here in the USA. I remember for the first year I had a license, I had to make lots of mistakes before I learned, as most of driving is experience. I hear in Germany their driving test actually spans over two days, and that their cars don't even have cupholders b/c they think taking a sip of a drink is ludicrous. I mean, I know they have to travel much higher speeds on certain roadways, but I sure wish this country was stricter with licenses, and that ever driver must take bicycle-safety courses...though I suppose plenty of cyclists could use a refresher course, too.