MUPs, pedestrians walk against bikes
#1
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
MUPs, pedestrians walk against bikes
I just rode on Rhode Island bike paths for the first time this weekend (rode down through Mass. from NH). RI has pedestrians walk on the left side of the MUP and bikes on the right side. It's the first time I've experienced this system and I've got to say I found it vastly superior to having both on the right side of the path. The pedestrians on my side of the path could see me coming and see what I was doing to avoid them. I didn't have to say "on your left" anywhere for 15+ miles and I never startled anyone or had them step out in front of me.
I'm new here, so excuse me if this has been discussed before, but are there other places that do it the RI way? Having seen it in action, and having had to cope with the chaos of bike paths in Mass., it just seems to me it ought to be the system everywhere.
Thoughts?
I'm new here, so excuse me if this has been discussed before, but are there other places that do it the RI way? Having seen it in action, and having had to cope with the chaos of bike paths in Mass., it just seems to me it ought to be the system everywhere.
Thoughts?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
The most recent two MUPs I've been on didn't have signage to indicate what side to walk on. Walking left felt safer and more convenient, because I could see the cyclists approaching and step to the side to get out of their way.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 10,367
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Liked 3,474 Times
in
1,820 Posts
I have seen it and the pedestrians basically completely ignored the signage (Monterey, Ca)
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
This is what signs on the American River Bike Trail (our local MUP) say, but many pedestrians ignore it.
#6
Senior Member
I agree walking left makes much more sense, especially considering how many MUP users are listening to music with earbuds.
I rarely walk on MUPs, but while visiting family I walked a bit of the Ohio to Erie trail in Loveland OH. I was walking to the left until I saw signs that told pedestrians to walk right. Oh well.
I rarely walk on MUPs, but while visiting family I walked a bit of the Ohio to Erie trail in Loveland OH. I was walking to the left until I saw signs that told pedestrians to walk right. Oh well.
#7
Full Member
I just rode on Rhode Island bike paths for the first time this weekend (rode down through Mass. from NH). RI has pedestrians walk on the left side of the MUP and bikes on the right side. It's the first time I've experienced this system and I've got to say I found it vastly superior to having both on the right side of the path. The pedestrians on my side of the path could see me coming and see what I was doing to avoid them. I didn't have to say "on your left" anywhere for 15+ miles and I never startled anyone or had them step out in front of me.
I'm new here, so excuse me if this has been discussed before, but are there other places that do it the RI way? Having seen it in action, and having had to cope with the chaos of bike paths in Mass., it just seems to me it ought to be the system everywhere.
Thoughts?
I'm new here, so excuse me if this has been discussed before, but are there other places that do it the RI way? Having seen it in action, and having had to cope with the chaos of bike paths in Mass., it just seems to me it ought to be the system everywhere.
Thoughts?
#9
Senior Member
Around here, people mostly walk to the right. But, I'll ride through any hole that is available, whether it is to the right, left, or between two pedestrians, usually by saying HELLO, and waiting for a reaction, if there is one,
Yep... I can ride awfully slow, and frequently find myself matching the walking pace of pedestrians when waiting for an opening.
It could become far more complex on crowded bridges, for example (where people tend to loiter), and there is no diving into the bushes to get out of the way.
The truth is, the walking side doesn't really matter as long as the cyclists slow down and use courtesy.
It could become far more complex on crowded bridges, for example (where people tend to loiter), and there is no diving into the bushes to get out of the way.
The truth is, the walking side doesn't really matter as long as the cyclists slow down and use courtesy.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
That is pedestrian law most places in the US, so I suspect they just figured it would work well on trails too.
As [MENTION=61707]squirtdad[/MENTION] stated, getting people to follow it is a whole other story. They have bike and pedestrian lanes painted on a pathway near me, people will go wherever they please.
As [MENTION=61707]squirtdad[/MENTION] stated, getting people to follow it is a whole other story. They have bike and pedestrian lanes painted on a pathway near me, people will go wherever they please.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,279
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
Around here, people mostly walk to the right. But, I'll ride through any hole that is available, whether it is to the right, left, or between two pedestrians, usually by saying HELLO, and waiting for a reaction, if there is one,
Yep... I can ride awfully slow, and frequently find myself matching the walking pace of pedestrians when waiting for an opening.
It could become far more complex on crowded bridges, for example (where people tend to loiter), and there is no diving into the bushes to get out of the way.
The truth is, the walking side doesn't really matter as long as the cyclists slow down and use courtesy.
Yep... I can ride awfully slow, and frequently find myself matching the walking pace of pedestrians when waiting for an opening.
It could become far more complex on crowded bridges, for example (where people tend to loiter), and there is no diving into the bushes to get out of the way.
The truth is, the walking side doesn't really matter as long as the cyclists slow down and use courtesy.
It seems like it would become an unworkable mess with pedestrians filtering around each other and the bikes trying to force their way through.
#12
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Not sure which path you were on, but in RI the peds are instructed to face the oncoming bicycles aka always walk to your left. Ped and cycle traffic is in both directions. Of course like many MUP's the peds tend to walk where ever they want. My favorites are the 2-3 abreast forcing you to stop and wait for the opposing lane to pass. Because they face the bicycle, they don't realize if a situation develops that could be avoided if they moved to single file.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Liked 3,680 Times
in
2,381 Posts
I just rode on Rhode Island bike paths for the first time this weekend (rode down through Mass. from NH). RI has pedestrians walk on the left side of the MUP and bikes on the right side. It's the first time I've experienced this system and I've got to say I found it vastly superior to having both on the right side of the path. The pedestrians on my side of the path could see me coming and see what I was doing to avoid them. I didn't have to say "on your left" anywhere for 15+ miles and I never startled anyone or had them step out in front of me
#14
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I don't find this hard to do. I ride fast, but I have good brakes and look far enough ahead to see the jam without having to slam.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Liked 3,680 Times
in
2,381 Posts
#16
Full Member
Yep Blackstone is a joy...traffic is usually very light. If it's a weekend I try to get on EB before 9am...it quickly becomes a nightmare later in the day. Very common for kids under 5 to be all over the place. It is beautiful though!
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Liked 3,680 Times
in
2,381 Posts
are pedestrians moving back and forth from one side to the other constantly to follow this rule depending on what bikes are approaching? that would be crazy. what bike flow are they supposed to be responding to? it just doesn't make sense. what if bikes are coming toward them from both directions?
#18
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
No, no! Bikes in the right lane, pedestrians in the left. So when you're riding, the pedestrians in your lane are walking towards you no matter which way you're going on the path.. Your diagram is wrong.
Last edited by livedarklions; 06-11-18 at 02:56 PM. Reason: clarification
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Liked 3,680 Times
in
2,381 Posts
er, OK, but ... how wide is this trail? that would not work on any of the paved trails I've ever been on ... what if there are 3 abreast walking toward you blocking that "side" entirely? same with two bikes riding side by side
#20
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
are pedestrians moving back and forth from one side to the other constantly to follow this rule depending on what bikes are approaching? that would be crazy. what bike flow are they supposed to be responding to? it just doesn't make sense. what if bikes are coming toward them from both directions?
It may be counter-intuitive, but I'm converted having seen it in action--everything went easier when the pedestrians could see me coming.
#21
Tragically Ignorant
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
My experience was that three abreast facing me was more likely to get into line when they saw e coming than when I approach them from behind. The going in the same direction system requires me to constantly announce my presence.
#22
My bike club did the Blackstone path this past Saturday. I've never seen it so empty so that isn't really a good test case.
I'm in the process of planning a rail trail and I've been trying to figure out which pedestrian pattern is better. So far, I can't see much difference. You're either passing pedestrians coming toward you by moving left or you're passing pedestrians who are going the same direction you are by remaining right. In the latter case, don't you still need to say "passing on your right"?
The problem I see with the "pedestrians keep right" rule is that most people are more accustomed to walking on the right side. Even this past Saturday, we saw plenty of people using both sides of the path.
One benefit of the people walking towards the cyclists was that they were more likely to step completely off the path as we approached. Bottom line, though, I don't see much difference either way.
I'm in the process of planning a rail trail and I've been trying to figure out which pedestrian pattern is better. So far, I can't see much difference. You're either passing pedestrians coming toward you by moving left or you're passing pedestrians who are going the same direction you are by remaining right. In the latter case, don't you still need to say "passing on your right"?
The problem I see with the "pedestrians keep right" rule is that most people are more accustomed to walking on the right side. Even this past Saturday, we saw plenty of people using both sides of the path.
One benefit of the people walking towards the cyclists was that they were more likely to step completely off the path as we approached. Bottom line, though, I don't see much difference either way.
#23
Senior Member
I've had pedestrians on one side of a 20' bike path suddenly dart across the entire path without looking.
I've had an old lady with a walker turn and swing the walker directly into my path.
#24
Full Member
I just have bad luck because it is rare that they move over, at least on east bay. Never have that issue on the Blackstone. I would also recommend that Cranston bike path, which extends down towards Connecticut.
#25
Any info would be greatly appreciated.