MUPs, pedestrians walk against bikes
06-11-18, 07:34 PM
#26
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would love to see it in action
06-11-18, 07:47 PM
#27
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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?
06-11-18, 08:01 PM
#28
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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.
06-11-18, 08:21 PM
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There are no MUP's in Rhode Island. They are built and operated as bike paths. They are modeled after the road, where walkers should walk on the left side of the road facing cars. On the road bikes go the same direction as the cars. The first paths were built before the neighboring states had MUP's. Now at one point the path in RI is getting close to meeting a Mass MUP. Not a good arrangement but it's too late. I spend a little time on these paths every week year round, as I ride to the road so I can get some real exercise without having to stop and slow down all the time. Or just ride in the snow and ice away from cars. Since around 1991 I think.
There signs all over the place, on posts and painted on the ground with arrows etc. A few people follow the rules but mostly it's a confused mess. No better or worse than an MUP, just different. Sometimes I need to stop directly in front of peds coming at me because they don't know what to do. Some times they go to their right smack into cyclist passing on the peds right from behind.
The path from Providence out to Conn. can be ridden three towns into Conn. if you have a mountain bike. And can ride or walk sand mud, water, and some rocks. A few very interesting bridges one huge train trestle to ride over.
There signs all over the place, on posts and painted on the ground with arrows etc. A few people follow the rules but mostly it's a confused mess. No better or worse than an MUP, just different. Sometimes I need to stop directly in front of peds coming at me because they don't know what to do. Some times they go to their right smack into cyclist passing on the peds right from behind.
The path from Providence out to Conn. can be ridden three towns into Conn. if you have a mountain bike. And can ride or walk sand mud, water, and some rocks. A few very interesting bridges one huge train trestle to ride over.
06-11-18, 08:29 PM
#30
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Is that the Washington bike path? Can you provide more details? The Yelp reviews were pretty old but they were mediocre at best. Is there plenty of parking at the Cranston end? Is it well maintained? Good scenery? Places to eat? Crowded on the weekend?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
The Cranston end has places where tree roots have bubbled up the pavement, a sewage treatment plant and is kind of trashy. Not terrible just meh...
Things get better as you head west. You pass some old factories, one is a soap plant and smells like lavender, then on to Coventry which is nice. The trail gets smoother, fewer road crossings, less trash and prettier scenery.
Food will be easier to find near the Cranston end (Weinorama!) but there will be places to stop in Coventry.
The trail does continue into Sterling all the way to Moosup CT. The further you go over the RI line the more challenging things become as the trail turns to gravel, sand, a bare bridge, rail ballast, mud......
06-11-18, 09:02 PM
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You can park at the Police station in Cranston.
The Cranston end has places where tree roots have bubbled up the pavement, a sewage treatment plant and is kind of trashy. Not terrible just meh...
Things get better as you head west. You pass some old factories, one is a soap plant and smells like lavender, then on to Coventry which is nice. The trail gets smoother, fewer road crossings, less trash and prettier scenery.
Food will be easier to find near the Cranston end (Weinorama!) but there will be places to stop in Coventry.
The trail does continue into Sterling all the way to Moosup CT. The further you go over the RI line the more challenging things become as the trail turns to gravel, sand, a bare bridge, rail ballast, mud......
The Cranston end has places where tree roots have bubbled up the pavement, a sewage treatment plant and is kind of trashy. Not terrible just meh...
Things get better as you head west. You pass some old factories, one is a soap plant and smells like lavender, then on to Coventry which is nice. The trail gets smoother, fewer road crossings, less trash and prettier scenery.
Food will be easier to find near the Cranston end (Weinorama!) but there will be places to stop in Coventry.
The trail does continue into Sterling all the way to Moosup CT. The further you go over the RI line the more challenging things become as the trail turns to gravel, sand, a bare bridge, rail ballast, mud......
06-11-18, 10:20 PM
#33
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Seems like the pedestrian counter-flow (left side) method would work fine if there's not too much traffic so you don't encounter pedestrians on both sides simultaneously or if there's room (and a custom) for the pedestrians to temporarily step off the path. But with higher traffic density I could see an issue where you have pedestrians coming toward you and no where for either you or the pedestrians to avoid each other and therefore both having to come to a complete stop until the pedestrians or cyclists on the other side move out of the way.
At least when everyone stays to the right there's always the option for the cyclist (or runner) to temporarily slow down to the pedestrian speed while waiting for a passing opportunity. In practice I find that I can almost always make slight adjustments to my speed so as to time my passing of slower MUP traffic for a moment when there's no oncoming traffic. I think that would be harder on a heavily used trail with pedestrian counter-flow.
At least when everyone stays to the right there's always the option for the cyclist (or runner) to temporarily slow down to the pedestrian speed while waiting for a passing opportunity. In practice I find that I can almost always make slight adjustments to my speed so as to time my passing of slower MUP traffic for a moment when there's no oncoming traffic. I think that would be harder on a heavily used trail with pedestrian counter-flow.
06-12-18, 07:53 AM
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Is that the Washington bike path? Can you provide more details? The Yelp reviews were pretty old but they were mediocre at best. Is there plenty of parking at the Cranston end? Is it well maintained? Good scenery? Places to eat? Crowded on the weekend?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Bike Rhode Island - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation
The East Bay Bike path is more scenic and more things to see, Narragansett Bay, but only about 14.2 miles long.
06-12-18, 01:20 PM
#35
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I agree more food choices in Cranston, as you go into Coventry (well marked and a little over 13 miles for that segment) there is an ice cream place called Skips (Coventry MM10-ish) with a breakfast place next to it. If you head out in the morning that will be about 18-20 miles from the start, so a great time for breakfast. Then you can push on for another 10-15 and hit ice cream on the way back 
There is a pine tree woodsy feeling with a series of lakes along the trail, just the opposite from EB. Blackstone is more elm/maple woods. Hope that helps.
There is a pine tree woodsy feeling with a series of lakes along the trail, just the opposite from EB. Blackstone is more elm/maple woods. Hope that helps.
06-12-18, 02:08 PM
#36
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06-12-18, 02:14 PM
#37
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Maps, parking, bike shops, food, etc,
Bike Rhode Island - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation
The East Bay Bike path is more scenic and more things to see, Narragansett Bay, but only about 14.2 miles long.
Bike Rhode Island - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation
The East Bay Bike path is more scenic and more things to see, Narragansett Bay, but only about 14.2 miles long.
06-12-18, 07:31 PM
#39
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It is courteous to announce your passing from behind whether the pedestrians are walking on the right or on the left.
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.
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.
06-13-18, 02:23 PM
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yesterday I was taking some pics of a lake on my right side, w a hand held camera, rolling slowly on my side of the trail, when a guy coming from the opposite direction shouted "heads up" 3 times. I immediately thought I wandered over to "their" side, so I quickly scooted more to my side. my cam was on time-lapse, so before I turned it off, I got this frame of him. if he had time to shout 3 times didn't he also have time to brake & fall back behind his co-rider? they weren't going fast either. maybe the other person was an older guy, maybe his Dad? maybe this guy was being protective? not saying he was wrong to shout out to me, but was surprised to see his trail position
06-13-18, 03:16 PM
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Usually when I see someone taking a photo I go out of my way to avoid messing up their shot. I'd probably have just quietly slowed down and moved over and slid on by.
06-13-18, 10:51 PM
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This would be so much easier if the primitives were banned from hard surfaces until they evolve enough to use wheels. Tell them it's better for their knees to stick to grass and dirt.
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