Club blocking the MUP
06-19-19, 07:44 AM
#51
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And there you have it. By not stopping, making eye contact, greeting and then discussing the courtesy issue, the OP incited an anonymous reaction from somewhere within the group. By personalizing and engaging an individual who would speak for the group, you'd get a better, more cooperative response. It's unlikely that the group comprises all sociopaths. They're likely husbands, brothers, and sons to someone with whom they've been cooperative before.
Referees and law enforcement folks know this...
Referees and law enforcement folks know this...
I’m sure in the same situation you would stop and first ask which individual is available to speak for the group. And at that point then open a discussion with him.
Of course not until as you say, you would personalize him by exchanging names
06-19-19, 08:46 AM
#52
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About 45 minutes ago I was getting onto our local MUP from the park. As I approached I saw a big clot of cyclists, I guess a club ride, stopped on the MUP. Some of their guys had apparently stopped to use the restrooms in the park and this main group was waiting for them. There was plenty of room off to the side that they could have occupied. I couldn't actually ride onto the MUP and had to stop and push my bike around this mass. I made a comment about stop blocking the whole MUP and was rewarded by some rude comments and then finally as I got loose and rode away the ever popular "F U" was heard from behind. Well, thanks for making the tail end of my pleasant ride part of your anger. Sigh.
The point is you were thinking like a person operating a vehicle, but had the ability to navigate the obstruction without incurring or causing others an injury by also becoming a pedestrian yourself. They were pedestrians on a trail that is to be shared for walking and riding. Granted, they shouldn't have been standing or parked in the middle but I believe we're all taught what to do when we learn to drive: yield to pedestrians.
FWIW I've done just about the same thing when passing or coming head on toward people walking or riding 2 or 3 abreast. I see now I was being an @$$#0!3. Thank you for educating me.
06-19-19, 08:51 AM
#53
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I meant for standing off the paved trail. I learned last year that the grassy area off the pavement can and does hide hard deep ruts left over from utility trucks driving along when the adobe soil is soaked after a rainstorm. That clay is very soft when wet but hardens up when dry as I learned by riding off the pavement slowly to avoid a toddler who was, well, toddling. Down I went. That was last year, this year I wanted to avoid doing that again.
06-19-19, 09:30 AM
#54
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There is some first rate wacky reasoning going on in this thread. Allow me: DON'T BLOCK THE PATH.
This scenario has already been visited as there are posted fines, and police give tickets when someone blocks the roadway. Even in the event of an accident, you're still "required' to clear the intersection. Similar laws apply to sidewalks and paths.
This scenario has already been visited as there are posted fines, and police give tickets when someone blocks the roadway. Even in the event of an accident, you're still "required' to clear the intersection. Similar laws apply to sidewalks and paths.
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06-19-19, 11:20 AM
#55
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Not only clubs do this, recreational cyclists just stop in the middle without pulling over and so do drivers.
How many times have I seen a car pull into a driveway of a parking lot and then just stop? How many times have I seen cars stop in the middle of a parking lot right on front of parking spaces? How many times have I seen cars parked with their harzard lights on at the no parking/ fire zone sign in front of a store blocking the path for all the other motorists when there are parking spaces feet away?
How many times have I seen a car pull into a driveway of a parking lot and then just stop? How many times have I seen cars stop in the middle of a parking lot right on front of parking spaces? How many times have I seen cars parked with their harzard lights on at the no parking/ fire zone sign in front of a store blocking the path for all the other motorists when there are parking spaces feet away?
Do you always, usually or never chastise those evil motorists for stopping somewhere that is outside the approved lines.
06-19-19, 11:36 AM
#56
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Did you ring your BELL?? 
Do you even carry a bell?? Pffft
Do you even carry a bell?? Pffft
06-19-19, 11:52 AM
#57
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Expecting a group of humans to act in a manner consistent with 'appropriate protocol' is likely overly optimistic. Cyclists or otherwise. Elitist or slobs.
Wanting to 'spank' an unknown couple of individuals on the Internet for inhibiting progress around the public restroom area on a MUP seems juvenile.
First world problems of privileged people...…….. sheeesh.
YMMV, and that's ok, too. Some people want join in on a public spanking.
Wanting to 'spank' an unknown couple of individuals on the Internet for inhibiting progress around the public restroom area on a MUP seems juvenile.
First world problems of privileged people...…….. sheeesh.
YMMV, and that's ok, too. Some people want join in on a public spanking.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
06-19-19, 06:14 PM
#59
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I'm going to defend human nature a bit here because there always seem to be a bunch of posters who go on about MUP behavior being ***versally bad. Every once in a blue moon I encounter something like that described in the op, but for every one of those, I have hundreds of people who will thank me for announcing my pass. Once in a while, I even have to tell someone they don't need to apologize for walking or riding two abreast, I am just letting them know I'm there so they won't go to the left in front of me. Most people are either nice or just cooperative without any fuss. This is true on urban, suburban and rural paths I have been on.
06-19-19, 06:32 PM
#60
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sounds like Iron Horse..
Occasionally I get lost in the laf/morinda (sp?) area and spot the trail and use if briefly until I remember where I am... I have seen the samething... peloton of riders going 20+ on a weekend.. I was like ..really dude crazy.
Occasionally I get lost in the laf/morinda (sp?) area and spot the trail and use if briefly until I remember where I am... I have seen the samething... peloton of riders going 20+ on a weekend.. I was like ..really dude crazy.
06-19-19, 08:21 PM
#63
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I dunno, just how many times have you seen this terrifying, life threatening behavior? I hope you were were able to avoid a crash or at least were wearing your helmet properly to save your life under such an unexpected threatening scenario if not.
Do you always, usually or never chastise those evil motorists for stopping somewhere that is outside the approved lines.
Do you always, usually or never chastise those evil motorists for stopping somewhere that is outside the approved lines.
I figure the least I can do is remind them that they're "out of line", and doing something either illegal and/or dangerous.
Besides, the more times someone gets away with something without chastisement the more likely they'll will be to repeat it. That's just human nature. The negative reinforcement helps to curb that behavior.
Last edited by KraneXL; 06-22-19 at 09:15 PM.
06-20-19, 05:57 AM
#64
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06-20-19, 06:04 AM
#65
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If those were motorcyclists they would all be on Harleys.
06-20-19, 06:14 AM
#66
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Just ride through and knock over a few bikes as you do it.
06-20-19, 07:09 AM
#67
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I'm going with they "don't know any better" because I've seen it so frequently that it doesn't really warrant remarking on. And it truth, if the MUP is a nominal park shared with pedestrians, they're sometimes just doing the same thing they'd do in any other park. Standing around, oblivious, wrapped up in doing their own thing and not even thinking about blocking someone's thru-way. I can't get annoyed at them.
An organized group might be expected to know better, if the group has any real leader, but the individuals maybe not. I'd be tempted to roll up slowly and ring my bell, or call out "bike coming through please", and likely as not those blocking will be embarrassed as they realize what they're doing. It works like that with the vast majority of small groups of people, even when they're not actually blocking the full path. I suspect that after a few times of that happening, the offenders either learn better or abandon the area, because you see less and less of it later on.
An organized group might be expected to know better, if the group has any real leader, but the individuals maybe not. I'd be tempted to roll up slowly and ring my bell, or call out "bike coming through please", and likely as not those blocking will be embarrassed as they realize what they're doing. It works like that with the vast majority of small groups of people, even when they're not actually blocking the full path. I suspect that after a few times of that happening, the offenders either learn better or abandon the area, because you see less and less of it later on.
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06-20-19, 07:25 AM
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Never had much of a problem with groups of cyclists blocking the MUP, it’s usually families with several children riding assorted toys/bikes. However, I frequently experience peletons of wannabe TDF riders bombing down the MUP at speeds too fast for conditions, usually 20+ mph. Got bad enough to where the local heat started zapping em with lidar for exceeding the 15mph limit. From what I saw they didn’t often pick on lone riders unless they created a hazard, but focused more on the peletons of hammerheads from local groups, complete with TT bikes and aero costume.
06-20-19, 07:50 AM
#69
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Much better than having them riding towards you taking up the whole path, like a local MTB group that is generally 30 riders strong likes to do while staring at their front tires.
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06-22-19, 06:11 AM
#71
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06-22-19, 07:04 AM
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Club blocking the MUP
Or conversely as described on this thread, “Fewer Riders Announce?”
From the now closed thread. “On Your Left”:
I have noticed that when i am out riding and get passed by a 'serious' rider, they rarely announce. I have also seen them buzz past unsuspecting walkers without a word.
This past weekend i spied a 'serious' rider approaching fast in my rear view and they ended up zipping by without any word...and quite close as well.
This past weekend i spied a 'serious' rider approaching fast in my rear view and they ended up zipping by without any word...and quite close as well.
I just headed out to our local-ish MUP for the first time this year a couple days ago. I love riding it, because it's a welcome break from my hilly and traffic-filled neighborhood, but the number of "serious riders" buzzing us on road bikes without announcing is irritating as heck.
It takes so little effort to announce, or to ring a bell - just have a touch of courtesy. I tend to be about mid-paced for the trail - I pass a lot of slower riders, and I get passed a lot. I always announce, and usually get thanked for it.
Ride fast, ride your ride, but be courteous. My favorite was on a ride last year when not only did he buzz me with about a foot to spare, and no announcement, he spat to the side after he got in front of me and it blew into my face.
It takes so little effort to announce, or to ring a bell - just have a touch of courtesy. I tend to be about mid-paced for the trail - I pass a lot of slower riders, and I get passed a lot. I always announce, and usually get thanked for it.
Ride fast, ride your ride, but be courteous. My favorite was on a ride last year when not only did he buzz me with about a foot to spare, and no announcement, he spat to the side after he got in front of me and it blew into my face.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
As a mirror wearer, I like to wave if I see a cyclist coming up from behind, and say hello when they get close, with the intention of (gently) surprising them before they surprise me.
An upcoming paceline makes me think of a school of piranhas.
An upcoming paceline makes me think of a school of piranhas.
… Rte 4/225 from Lexington westward is one of my favorite long (about 70 miles) training rides from Boston; and then I return by way of Harvard.
Last year, for about 3-4 hours along the route, starting in Boston, I was passed by wave after wave of strong riders on the B to B Harpoon ride going up to Vermont.
Last year, for about 3-4 hours along the route, starting in Boston, I was passed by wave after wave of strong riders on the B to B Harpoon ride going up to Vermont.
06-22-19, 05:38 PM
#74
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So I need a weapons belt in order to ride the MUP? A taser for 1/1 and a selection of chemical agents for negotiating the pack? Or, I wonder if Cabela's is selling tactical handlebar bags?
