Any riders in the park have this problem?

[salsabike]

Hey, I grew up in Albany! Have lived in Seattle for 24 years now.

Many people who grew up out here and have never been to NYC have totally unrealistic and weird views of the city---nothing but muggers, etc.

Lizbids, you'll be fine out here! It's great. No more or less scary than any other place.

Yes, I am sure that I will go into a pleasant culture-shock. I only lived outside of NYC in a smaller city...Albany! So yes, I am looking forward to seeing what else is out there. And who knows...I may fall in love with a new part of the country.

The city-slicker in me is scared of grizzlies, mountain lions and lunatics with chainsaws...so ladies of the Northwest/West coast, tell me I'll be okay!

I love the idea of a sunrise. I'm not sure how cold it gets in the late evening, overnight and early morning in that part of the country. I'm assuming it's chillier than I think, especially when you're on the water?

Haha, I know I sound like a neurotic New Yorker. One time I went camping in the Adirondack mountains, and after we checked into a rustic cabin, I locked my car door, to which all of my upstate friends ragged on me the whole time.
What it's really about is inexperience and how I don't want to underestimate the land, you know? I get the feeling within a day or two I'll forget that I'm anywhere but home...on the road

[lizbids]

I hear ya, Mimi--

What made my situation funny is that the land was privately owned by my college, and since we were the only students who had a cabin on the entire plot, it was unlikely that anything would go missing..jeeez, I probably had my club on, too!

[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.