So I've always maintained that the its more probable that you'll get into an accident on a MUP than on the road..... well I've never (knock wood) been hit by a car, but today I got hit head on by another bike!! Thankfully neither one of us was going very fast. I try to avoid MUP's as much as I can, but to come across from the Humane Society (where I volunteer on Thurday mornings) back to Seattle I have to go over I-90 so a few miles of MUP are unavoidable. Coming across the East Channel Bridge, right near the west end, just as I came around the corner there was someone else, on my side of the path, looking down (I think she was trying to clip in or something). Good thing I was just coasting... I barely had time to hit my brakes and yell (swerving wouldn't have done any good, she had a friend on the right side of the path...) Landed mostly on my messenger bag so no injuries further than a little bruise on my right knee and a bigger one on my pride for wallowing around on my back like a turned over turtle - my right leg was pinned under the bike, my left arm pinned to my side by my messenger bag strap, bag pushed up under right arm so I couldn't reach much with that one.....
Poor lady, I think she was pretty embarrassed, but heck if she's more careful about staying to the right the next time, its a good lesson learned without any too terrible consequences. (and I was riding my rain bike too....)