chaadster

No, that was a typo…serious stuff on the left will be called out with the left hand. I’ll edit my post to correct.

Rdmonster69

Different stroke for different folks. Why do you dislike MUPs so much .... not being judgy or anything just genuinely curious. I hate idiots in cars. I had one lock up his brakes years ago when bearing down on me just to scare me ....thought I was dead as his high beams spotlit me before he nailed the brakes ..... was laughing his hillbilly ass off, also had a couple of chuckle heads follow me for a few miles revving thier engine and yelling at me ....both several years ago. Sticking to the paths has been enjoyable the last few years when I returned to cycling for exercise.

genejockey 

I stopped riding on MUPs completely after encountering a young couple coming toward me, who were obviously out on their new Rollerblades for the first time and doing that thing where you almost fall on your backside, while walking their dog on an extendo-leash. The dog was happily wandering in the bushes ON MY SIDE OF THE PATH, and they were unable to control themselves, let alone him. I had to go all the way around him to get past.

Where I live now, the roads are really the only way to get anywhere. Drivers are what drivers are, but fortunately there are so many cyclists here that it keeps the drivers more on their toes. Drivers are far more likely to overdo giving space when passing than cutting too close. Just go halfway into the opposing lane and gun it so you pass quickly and in less space - how hard is that?

WhyFi

Because of walkers, runners, errant kids, dogs on zippy leashes, inline skaters and casual cyclists, all traveling much more slowly than me. There are often poor sightlines and the width can be inadequate at speed. While there may be fewer street crossings, I find that they're more dangerous. If I'm with my kids and/or wife, traveling at 12mph, sure - MUP. At 20+? Not a chance.

Rdmonster69

Driver's are not that way around here ....however MUPs are a big draw and I would say a solid majority of people are good about their manners on the trails I frequent. I probably will get to the point (after I get a new bike, some new legs and a new set of lungs !!!) where I need the open road to get what I need out of a ride. For now I am a courteous steward of the trails and do my best to be careful and watch for others. On low traffic days they are an absolute joy to me.

genejockey 

There are a couple MUP/trails nearby that are pretty beautiful - 4 miles through the Crystal Springs Lake watershed, not a house or car to be seen! But there are SO MANY WALKERS on it that it's just miserable on a bike.


There's another part of the same trail that bypasses part of a climb, but I like the climb, so I stick to the road.

Rdmonster69

Makes sense to me .....If I am ever in good enough shape to average 20+ MPH I may feel the same way. The main one I ride (at least 2 days a week) has tons of foot traffic etc in certain areas but is pretty open in others. Good sight lines too since it is a converted rail bed.....mostly straight. The new sections are very wide and rural .....very little traffic ....had a good tail wind Friday and averaged about 20 MPH for a few miles lol.

At this point being on the bike and putting in miles is all that matters to me. 8 months ago I was in the ER with a broken neck and leg and at significant risk of being permanently disabled. I actually am in some respects but I've adapted. With the help of a few brilliant surgeons we managed to avoid the worst of it and honestly .....that lit a fire under me like you wouldn't believe. I'm probably in the best shape of my life right now. I was in decent shape before my accident but in all seriousness ...... All I know is that I was staring right at it and that changed my perspective on life ..... Between the bike and the gym I had 25 workouts in July and have been that way since I could start weight bearing again in March.

Paul Barnard

His use of a signal seems to be unnecessary, and even confusing in this case. If he had pointed in the direction he was going to turn, what would you have done differently?

Paul Barnard

You speak of MUPs as if they are all the same. Not all MUPs are created equally. Some are very good.

spelger

and the relative flatness is really quite boring.

Eric F 

Props for your battle back to fitness.

genejockey 

He lives in Minnesota, so I think the relative flatness is darn near inescapable.

Paul Barnard

I was getting ready to type "nope" then I remembered. There are times I am southwest bound on the MS River Trail and need to make that hard right onto the exit ramp. If someone is close behind, I'll signal to let them know that I am going t be slowing way down and drifting toward the center. That turn is way too tight to take with any speed.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Je...!4d-90.1673448

In the scenario the OP laid out, a hand signal doesn't seem like it would benefit anyone.

Iride01 

Relative flatness of the MUP or the roads? Here, many of the regular cyclist actually avoid the MUP because it's constantly rolling 4% to 6% grades. Not long climbs though 80 feet vertical at the most.

Yes I agree with Paul Barnard MUPs are not created equal.

WhyFi

No, I speak of my MUPs, specifically. If yours are wonderful and you're content to be a pathlete, by all means.

WhyFi

Sustained climbs are non-existent, but I wouldn't call it flat. It's certainly not FL, coastal VA, or the great plains states (well, unless I go really far to the west of the metro). NYC was much, much flatter, too.

urbanknight

I do when I feel it's necessary. The MUP closest to me is a network of paths that is well used, so if anyone is around where I think they need to know my intentions, I will signal.

genejockey 

My nephew, who grew up and still lives in the Tidewater part of Virginia, came out to SF for a conference. He told me he found our hills 'intimidating', and was in awe of me for riding a bike up them.

Eric F 

There is an MUP loop that a lot of roadies in the area use pretty frequently. Nowhere else in the area can you get an 20+ mile segment of uninterrupted pedaling. It's not something I want to do all the time, but it's nice to mix it in. That loop could be extended into the 60+ mile range, if one wanted to do such a thing.

Rdmonster69

Pathlete !!! That's awesome !!!

There is a MUP in my state I want to try ......It is about 65 miles one way and goes through several counties .... I may have to do a thread just on it if it's awesome !! I will update here if hand signals are required !!

gregf83 

I see it fairly often around here, generally older, inexperienced women.

WhyFi

Oh, I get it. Like I said, they're sometimes a lesser evil. Most of them, though, are going to be in areas that are more densely populated and those are to be avoided if you're looking for a workout... but then there are going to be the odd ducks. When I'm in VA, I'll do the Cap Trail sometimes - it's long (~100 miles out and back), relatively uninterrupted, runs through (mostly) sparsely populated areas and isn't heavily trafficked. It's also uninspiring as hell. But the infrastructure isn't all that great for cycling, otherwise, so I'll throw that in every once in a while.

livedarklions

Yeah, this is one of those things where people have very different images of paths in their heads. I just rode on paths in Virginia, PA and MA where going 20+ was not a problem at all, and actually easier to do than on the nearby roads. These things are a lot more fun between cities and towns than in them.

Eric F 

Valid. The MUP in I'm talking about isn't very interesting, but also doesn't have a tone of people wandering randomly. It's indicated as a "bike path", which probably helps, as well. It's at its best when you can roll side-by-side with a friend who is good at conversation.

livedarklions

When I was growing up there, I'd ride up the big hill from the Walker Art Center to Mount Curve repeatedly just to get some climbing practice. I haven't been there in about 25 years, but it looks on Google maps like that hill has become victim to landscaping, that street whose name I no longer remember is gone.