Improving Multi Use Bike Paths

[Nanci]

Wow, I can't believe you guys run into people who _won't_ move after they know you want to pass...I think the biggest "danger" are the parents with a flock of very small wobbly children on bikes. It's like riding through a flock of skittery sheep which don't know which way to go!

Nanci

[Crankin]

I would never ride on a bike path, especially a multi use one. There are just too many opportunities for accidents. One of the rides I do crosses a heavily used path on the road. There are zillions of little kids and people walking slowly. The only time I have been on a path is early in the morning (6AM) and on Cape Cod in the off-season.
Recently, I have had problems with walkers (with dogs) walking 3 or more abreast on the road. While, this has been in the car, I think it would be scarier on a bike. They refuse to move over and when I lightly blew my horn, they ran all over the street, like I was going to hit them. It's like they "own" the road when they refuse to walk single file. I know there's cyclists who refuse to ride in a single line and they always get bad publicity around here. I understand how motorists feel because of these ladies who think they can just take up the whole road.

Robyn

[Eden]

Yeah - I have to agree with most of the people here. Unless you go out in bad weather when no one else is on them, multi use paths are asking for trouble if you want to go at more than a walking pace. Walkers and especially baby strollers two and three abreast often blissfully ignore the others on the trail and then totally freak if you even pass them at a creep. We have a fair amount of trail ettiquete education and sometimes even striped lanes, but it makes little difference. We even have one trail and a part of another that has completely separated walking and wheeled trails and walkers still insist on taking up the bike path.
And of course to add to it you have to watch out for other bicyclists who are being bone headed as well. The only time I've ever gone down and gotten road rash was on a trail - it was actually caused by another bicycle - the trail was coming to a T-type intersection - dumb dude decided to cut off the corner and came around on the wrong side of the trail. Hubby had to slam on his brakes to not hit him and I close behind touched his wheel and went over over. I also heard about a bad bike-bike accident out here last year. Some poor woman broke both wrists when she was hit head on by an earphone wearing cyclist riding on the wrong side of the trail.

[Jo-n-NY]

Thank you BikeMomma for those links of great info. It is perfect timing as I am trying to put together a letter to a couple of politicians here on Long Island about Road Bike Safety and maybe having a "bike path" at the most maybe extend it to roller bladers, built from Jones Beach to Robert Moses Causeway. I don't know if any of you are familiar with this area on Long Island. This would be flat and I can't say how many miles, but it is long I know that much. But it should not be meant for walkers or walking dogs.

I have begun to feel that no place is safe, road or path. My girlfriend has found that actually riding on the service road of the Long Island Expressway was pretty good. More people will drive on the actual expressway than the service road. This I will try riding when I take a day off in spring time.

The path mentioned above I think would be a great idea because forget about putting bike lanes on long island even shoulders for that matter. There is just too much traffic no matter where you go any time of the day. I know what you mean about people walking on paths and not getting out of the way. I ran into 3 ladies walking abreast and when they heard me for the third time, they just looked at me and did not budge. grrrrrrrrr

Anyway, like you, Carm, I feel the need to do something.

Again, thanks for the links, the info is great to include with my letter.

~ JoAnn

[susiej]

Recently, I have had problems with walkers (with dogs) walking 3 or more abreast on the road. While, this has been in the car, I think it would be scarier on a bike. They refuse to move over and when I lightly blew my horn, they ran all over the street, like I was going to hit them. It's like they "own" the road when they refuse to walk single file. I know there's cyclists who refuse to ride in a single line and they always get bad publicity around here. I understand how motorists feel because of these ladies who think they can just take up the whole road.

Robyn

I've seen people walking or jogging alone in the street with a perfectly clear sidewalk not three feet from them! These are residential streets but often with lots of traffic and either no shoulder or a shoulder of parked cars. Once was a few days post-blizzard, with the snow turning to muck in the street, but the sidewalk (for the few yards that I could see, granted) was shoveled and salted.

Makes me cranky and convinced I wasn't meant to live on the same planet with other people.

SJ

[Nanci]

The reason people run on the street with a perfectly good sidewalk three feet away is the diference in surface. If you aren't a runner, both seem like they would be hard, but the asphalt is super-soft compared to the sidewalk, and you can _really_ feel a huge difference. Not to mention the cracks! I had my absolute worst fall ever on a sidewalk, even counting the several times I've gone head-over-heels on a trail. Probably at a walking pace, it wouldn't matter as much.

Really better and easier on your body to stick to (dirt) trails, though.

The paved bike trails in Florida are nice and wide- rails to trails, usually plenty of room for everyone. Lucky, I guess.

Nanci

[bcipam]

I live in an area where there are many wonderful multi-use paths. I like to use them because they tend to go into areas that are quite beautiful but when I do use them I shift into "Bike Path" mode. I ride slower, and watch for foot traffic and other cyclists. I would generally use a bike path if riding alone or with only 1 or 2 other riders and we aren't in a hurry, otherwise, I'm on the street.

Even if the marked yellow lines, walkers (and yes mommies with strollers are the worse - the world does revolve around them!) tend to use the entire path. I don't get angry, I call out and make sure I'm heard and ride passed. Sometimes, I don't call out. It's been my experience if I say "On your left..." the walker tends to move to the left, a strange phenomenon. Anyway we are all entitled to use paths but you can't be in a hurry and you have to be watchful.

And my one beef: Using MP3 players - this goes for walkers, runners, skaters and cyclists. Sorry even with one ear pod in, you are unattentive. MP3 players are for stationary bikes. I just think it's too dangerous to ride using an iPod or other MP3 player. Walkers can't hear bicyclist coming up so imagine what bicyclist can't heard travelling at a faster speed. Just too foolish I say.