MUP Etiquette
 

Time for my annual rant.


MUPs Segment Seekers etc. Dogs off the leash, kids off the leash (joking) 4 wide walkers, people with headphones zig zagging all are annoying.... (and so is the cyclist that passes the 4 wide walkers and squeezes in between them and a bike traveling in the opposite direction!)

But please remember these are MUPs not raceways.... Its frustrating but please do not force a pass, not only are you jeopardizing those around you, but you're also jeopardizing your own safety. Long summer ahead, cooler heads will prevail. Lets try to get along on the MUPs

:popcorn

I'm having some crazy deja vu right now. We may have been down this MUP before.

If one has the presumption that MUPs were paved for cyclists, there is no help available to cope with the cognitive dissonance. :crash:

I love MUPs .... keeps the idiots cyclists off the road and out of my way. I have to deal with enough debris in the bike lane without having to avoid human debris.

+1000

I avoid MUPs. But in the rare occasion that I use an MUP, a bike bell does wonders.

I think one issue is that the jerks won't read this thread. If they do, they will agree with it completely (because it's always that other guy who's being the jerk).
@Maelochs, what's your point? The post clearly does not apply to you (everyone raise your hand if Maelochs' resolve to ride only on roads impressed you...).

I live in a city where hit-and-run is more a like hobby than a crime. If I have access to a MUP that runs close to where I'm going, I'll use it. I gotta deal with moronic meat-bags one way or another; I chose to deal with the moronic meat-bags who are slower than I am and are not encased in a couple tons of metal.

This.

As a cyclist amongst children, pets, etc.. YOU are the problem. Not them. Learn to be more sociable - slow down to a suitable speed for the conditions and situation, be prepared, be ready, and have a positive, decent, caring attitude.

The OP is exactly right. Look at the first word in MUPs, it is multiple. That means you will meet almost any kind of user. It is NOT a race course. Even on some good down hill with the wind sections on our MUPS I try never to exceed 15 MPH because I never know who or what may pop out.

Not all MUPs are created equally. Some I can go for miles without encountering anyone. Some are rife with hazards. Just like the roadways are when I drive. We will never rid the world of inconsiderate, ignorant or dumb people. They are part and parcel of the human experience. I guess there is some therapeutic value in venting.

Serious Cyclist™ bad mouthing cyclists on the the MUPs as "idiot cyclists" and "human debris" and happy that they stay off the road and out of his way, where presumably the Real Cyclists are riding the Right Way.

Poster Boy attitude for BF A&S brand Bicycling Advocacy!:rolleyes:

You don't like the MUP PETS?

MUPs are great for riding like a maniac when they are empty. When they're crowded, just consider it like mingling at a party, and it's actually pretty enjoyable.

It's really hit or miss. There are always the folks who are oblivious - even when they aren't rocking ear buds.

Rode a sort of "temporary MUP" today where the county closes 6 miles of a parkway for recreation. With two lanes in each direction all for human powered endeavor it mostly worked out pretty well, that said:

1) Parents letting their little training-wheel and just-free-of kids ride in the passing lane, sometimes with mom or dad jogging in the right lane. I'm slow enough it's not hard to deal with, but going by on the right is disconcerting, and there were some roadies out who were really booking. And "keep right" doesn't work on kids even if you're not a strange adult disconcertingly yelling, because left/right is still a real puzzle. Also someone who decided to climb the median guard rail, not unreasonably in the circumstances, but one parent ended up holding a bike with occupied baby carrier perpendicular across the left lane while the other lifted the second bike over. Really, if you're going to "park" there, do it lengthwise along the guard rail, and exercise situational awareness.

2) Passing on the right. Last year it was folks who insisted on cruising up the right edge when there was half the right lane and the entire left lane available. This year it was a guy who decided to weave and do so right after we all went under a bridge - he came past me and some others on the left then inexplicable swerved to the right and tried to pass someone just ahead on that side when he could have just as easily stayed on the left. It got close for a second and he yelled, but it all worked out.

I believe the correct term is...MUPiquette.


-Matt

I was sort of involved with a crash yesterday while on a crowded stretch of MUP finishing an overnight tour. Large swarm of at least two dozen was going way too fast in an area with several road crossings in a row. Mid-trail bollards had recently been installed. I am taking it easy as far right as I can keep my loaded bike. Came to a road crossing. Car was approaching. I slowed down. Car stopped to let us go even though we had the stop sign. One woman in the swarm does not seen the bollard until it's too late. Clips it and falls right towards me. I saw able to avoid running over her but I had to put down my left foot on her rear wheel. No damage done.

Control your roll, folk.

I wonder about all the traffic if I see 6-8 cars in 20 miles, I can't even imagine riding that MUP that Goldensprocket posted.

If you think video that is in any way typical of a MUP, let alone that MUP, I have a big ole bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

It was an example of how even during an organized walk, with participants being warned in advance about etiquette, some folks are oblivious to a loud bell ringing behind them.

I think you are describing that bridge, not selling it.

You know what's bad is I watched the video on my cheap laptop and I didn't hear the bell either. I'm going to blame job related hearing loss for that though. I can't hear watch alarms either.

I hate everything about that video. Speeding everything up like that makes it look like every pass is ridiculously dangerous. A lot (most?) of the bell rings seem to be at people who are about where they ought to be.

I don't think those people come here.

This.

Some MU have mile long open stretches past protected marshes or reserves where rarely a pedestrian would tread. However, your speed (unless otherwise posted) should be what's safe and prudent.

In any event, you don't need speed to be a hazard and to cause injury and harm.

Allowing your dog's leash to extend across the entire MUP for example. Or simply not being attentive to others around you is what produces the greatest potential for accidents. Some people seem to forget that.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Normal folks ring bells on MUPs even when people are "about where they ought to be" to let them know that someone is passing. This can help prevent people from being startled by a bike coming by "out of nowhere."

This is basic stuff.