burnthesheep

I care because I take my 5 y/o and 7 y/o out in this area. They keep to the right, but an interaction in a corner between two racer boy wannabes going 25mph and my kids.......yeah, that's not gonna fly.

The stop sign thing, that's their own safety. I just notice them doing little "crits" in their apartment complex's little roads. Someone asked about the stop signs in one of their posts, the guys replied "we just run em all". I have nothing to say over that other than if you lead our group for a turn, you better not jump a sign in front of a car.

I used to be opposed to the flagging segments on greenways, but, I kind of get it now. If it's not there, the thrill is gone.

Maelochs

If this actually works, it seems like the best way to control this unsafe behavior.

People rely too much on others to take care of problems. Calling the cops might not even work ... and if it did, it might create huge resentment in your group, lead to other problems, might even endanger you, and wouldn't necessarily stop the behavior---it ii got a ticket on a segment, i would assume the cop would never go back there, because s/he already wrote the ticket.

Direct confrontation---all the same downsides, very little chance of upside.

You feel a need to improve the town in which you live---you should, it is your responsibility, same as cleaning up your own home. Flagging sections might actually stop the behavior which you want stopped? Do it.

More so I suggest this because you are not some thin-skinned, self-righteous whiner. You came here admitting you had done it yourself, realized it was wrong, and decided to stop. You realize that other members of the community are at risk. You realize something should be done.

Flagging segments seems like the best option.

Riveting

CAT6 Strava Pathlete here. I ride MUP's fast (sometimes insanely fast, I've sustained 38 mph with nobody around), but I always slow way, way down (<10mph) approaching any blind corners, street crossings, or family oriented peds/cyclists/pets, and almost always ring my bell before passing anyone. I'm insane, not wreckless.

livedarklions

Please tell me the 38 mph was down hill with a tailwind!

I don't have a problem with riding fast on a path, and regularly hit the mid-20s on them. But it's always on a straightaway or a very wide turn with a lot of ability to look forward.

I love the Minuteman near Boston on weekends, and there are sections you really can't go more than 15 without endangering people because of multiple crossings and heavy foot traffic, but there is a section of about 3 miles at the northern end that pretty much goes through a swamp, has very little foot traffic, and no crossings. I always open it up there even if I can't get within 10 mph of 38 mph.

livedarklions

I always slow way down for kids regardless of how well they appear to be doing, and I've had a lot of parents apologize for that. I always feel so guilty about that I make it a point of explaining it's my job to watch out for kids, and that as far as I'm concerned, teaching kids to ride is what the path is for.

No matter how good a teacher a parent is, a 5 year old is going to make occassional mistakes, it's how they learn. I've had some 5 year olds do things that required some finesse on my part to avoid collision, and I find you can calmly talk to the kid about why that wasn't a good idea and the parents appreciate it because it reinforces what they're trying to teach the kids.

124Spider

+!

REDMASTA

Segments on shared greenways are dumb, just like segments that end right before a stop sign or traffic light, even more so when at the bottom of a hill.

chicagogal

Path in Philadelphia: speed limit 5mph https://bicyclecoalition.org/life-fa...g-kelly-drive/

Rail trail in upstate NY: 10mph https://www.vestalny.com/departments...rail_trail.php

This rail trail in VT has speed limits ranging from 15-35mph Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail

livedarklions

Thanks!

Guess we both learned something from this thread.

I would never ride on a 5 mph path, what's the point?

Trsnrtr

I did that on my local trail. Some people kept making segments that passed through street entrances. Obviously, they were blowing the stop signs in their attempts. Anyway, they make 'em and I flag 'em.

Riveting

Yes, 20 mph tailwind, downhill, and a clear view of the next 1/2 mile of MUP.

autonomy

Probably just local ordnances. I haven't seen any posted speed limits in New England. The only speed limit I've seen was in Quebec near Mont Tremblant (parc lineaire le petit train)

Here's what Strava will show next to a hazardous segment:

If you click through, you'll get a page of legalese. You'll have to accept the waiver for every single segment.

https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/...t-as-Hazardous

livedarklions

This would be a great debate topic--I actually don't have a fixed opinion--

"Strava leaderboards are ruining recreational cycling".

Slightspeed

I ride the Ojai Bike Trail from Ventura, Ca, and don't recall seeing any speed limit signs. A lot of the trail is straight with good sightlines, but there is a southern section that snakes thru an oilfield with several blind corners. One day I got caught up in a 20+mph paceline with several of our club's faster riders. We came around a blind curve with several guys 4 or 5 wide across the trail. Lots of squealing brakes, cursing, but no real contact. I did brush shoulders with somebody head on. No crash or injury, but it certainly cured me of bike path craziness. When we get to the twisty bits, I just let them go, and do my own ride, with lots of gap ahead.

Joe Bikerider

Teamprovicycle

This topic gets me all triggered.
where can a cyclist train ??

If we train on roads we can be harassed by drivers , pulled over by cops just for going down the road .

if we train on bike paths we are too fast or dangerous . even though on a bike path bikes are primary traffic and most pedestrians break the rules of path, block the path , take up both lanes . let their kids use the path as a playground . use the path as a dog park with 80 foot leashes . cause cyclist to move and weave rather than make way .

I train on all kinds of paths , but i see some of the dumbest people on bike paths . im literally going strait in a line , i have never got in anyones way but at least once a run i have to dodge a dummy breaking the rules of the path .
there have been so many people ive almost collided with because they have no clue what they are doing and they dont respect the rules.

Ive gone fast ive gone slow but no matter what i come across a person not respecting the lanes wondering around like a zombie , doing what ever they feel .

If every one has the right to use the path does that give them the right to do what ever they want . does that mean i cant ride hard and push myself .

livedarklions

Paths are primarily for traffic and recreation (kids included). They are definitely not primarily for high speed training. Harassed by drivers on the road, sure that happens, but who gets pulled over by cops "just for going down the road" ?!

I don't know about where you live, but if I get a little out of the city, there's plenty of roads and paths where I can ride fast for long distances. It's just unreasonable to expect that on a crowded urban path.

Teamprovicycle

Yes police will stop cyclists in groups for taking up to much space around my area .


Who decides what the paths are for and how they should be used . with nothing but light rules posted on signs ??the bf forums . ???

So its ok for people to block a path , be unsafe dangle their dog 50 feet all over the place. take up both lanes in both directions , not pay attention to anyone or anything , swerve in and out of the lanes , let the kids play on the path like its a play ground , roller blade in the center line , stop and talk in the lane back turned , , BUT I CANT GO FAST IN A STRAIT LINE .
OK got glad to be set strait from now on 8mph pro stravalypics speed !!!!!

By that logic i should be able to have a picnic in the middle of street naked and expect a medal of honor from every one who comes across my excellence .

If people will not respect the path and be safe , they shouldn't expect cyclist to be safe for them ,who has the right to have the right of way ??!!??

jefnvk

They're not overtly posted by me as a road would be, but if you look at the rules boards that tell you things like right of way and opening hours, linear parks are generally 15MPH here in Metro Detroit, and actual parks with paths 10MPH. Obviously there are plenty of areas one can safely do faster than that, and I do in those areas (think two miles from parking and clear straight trail for a half mile), but perhaps Strava should offer a way for legal speed limits to be uploaded, and any speed be capped at that.

+1000.

jasnooks

Exercise, fresh air, enjoy nature, spend time with family and friends, etc..
Better than sitting on a couch.
Different strokes for different folks

starkmojo

I think Steve Wright said "Everyone slower than you is a geezer, everyone faster is driving like a maniac"

I used to be a maniac but now I am a geezer.

Bang0Bang00

I second the anonymous call to the authorities idea.

If you were one of the hellcats before, you could try to relate to them, since it sounds like your change in habit has come from hindsight and experience.

Why not offer them some A group rides?

At the end of the day, if they're adults, they have a right to make their own bad decisions. If these bad decisions could impact others (kids/elderly), it's worth saying something... especially since they probably know but could use the reminder.

Gresp15C

It's one thing to train, and another to race. My impression is that "segments" are time-trial races organized by Strava. Nobody is forcing Strava to operate this service, but they could be held responsible for it. My view is that races should be held on closed courses, just like car races. It's illegal to race in a car on a public road.
I don't think anybody is entitled to any specific use of the path without reasonably co-existing with other uses. Depending on the conditions (congestion, other riders, etc.) you might not be able to push yourself as hard as you want to on the bike path.

In my view a compromise is to do it in a way that is conspicuously respectful of the other users, and expect that they will give you reasonable leeway. That's really how most shared resources work. If we had to have laws for every possible thing that somebody might think of doing, human life would grind to a halt, or the power would simply default to people who hold themselves above the law.

livedarklions

My apologies, I wasn't clear. If it's posted 5 mph, I would rather walk on it. That's an uncomfortably slow riding speed for what I would guess is the vast majority of riders.

livedarklions

I actually do read the boards where I ride, and I have yet to see one in Mass., NH, or RI that includes a speed limit. They all say yield to pedestrians.