Sullalto

Some in the A&S forum dislike MUPs/Bike paths because then people can say 'get on the bike path' while meaning 'off the road'. The argument being that bicycles should assert their right to the road, and drivers need to get used to us. It's a valid argument, but MUPs make cycling so much more accessible. In my purely anecdotally experience, comfort gained on MUPs has gotten several people cycling on the road, when they never would've ventured there before. And 3x as many people cycling, period. I think MUPs improve accessibility so much they're very worthwhile. They certainly were for me.

It's a multiple choice poll.

wolfchild

That's one of the reasons I avoid posting in A&S forum. Way too much BS. Gives me a headache and drains my energy just reading some of the stuff on that forum.

fietsbob

Used to have a Job North of GG Park and an apartment south west of it in the 80s, so I could Choose to Ride the Bridle trails around the Park.

onfloat

Lucky enough to have MUP. 13.5 miles each way with 8 miles of it on the MUP.

ItsJustMe

I'd use trails if they even existed around here, if they were a shorter path than the road or were better paved.

Buffalo Buff

Strictly street, no bike lanes, trails, sidewalks etc. It's the most efficient route to the places I need to go, and the area I ride most frequently lacks bike lanes or bike trails.

noglider 

There is merit to that argument (against bike paths) but not enough to advocate against them. Some people will believe bikes don't belong on roads, and the existence of bike paths reinforces that. But so what? There will always people with that (bad) attitude. Too bad for them.

Buffalo Buff

I've had plenty of drivers honk and yell at me to get off the road, when I'm riding a road bike with skinny slicks and the only other option would be to off-road it. Not even a sidewalk. Some people are just idiots about it.

fietsbob

NB: Road way improvements for bicycles preceded the Horseless Carriage..

kickstart

That's revisionist history, except for a few gentrified locals, road improvements were to get perishable goods to city markets and to improve community access.
Reference materials actually published in that time period rarely mention bicycles other then in cycling enthusiast publications as bicycles were a toy for the upper classes.

noglider 

Maybe. The League of American Bicyclist (then known as the League of American Wheelmen) claims to have been the first group to lobby for improvements. But it hardly matters. Bikes and motor vehicles got on the roads at about the same time. And even that barely matters. Roads are for people, not any particular type of vehicle. Most roads are designed and built mostly with motor vehicles in mind. That doesn't give MV users more rights most of the time, legally, but it does in a de facto way. And it needs to change. And it is changing. In some areas, drivers have become accustomed to seeing cyclists. That change needs to happen elsewhere, and it is happening in some places. Their attitudes need to change. Increasing numbers of people are choosing to ride bikes. Just today, I saw an interesting looking young man. He was obviously Orthodox Jewish, dressed in all black and shades of grey, with all the requisite coverings, plus a black helmet, plus hipster-looking glasses. I loved the combination of styles, and he pulled them off masterfully. There are all kinds of people taking to bikes now, not just us cyclephiles. And mind you, today is a cold and windy day in NYC, not a hospitable time to ride a bike.

grolby

Currently my commute is entirely on city streets. In the past, I've had commutes where substantial sections were on a path, and when we move this spring or early summer, that will be the case again. Sometimes the paths are more direct, sometimes they're just a more pleasant place to ride than the street.

ussprinceton

I ride for my commute strictly road

bbbean 

I travel a fair amount, and have offices on the farm and in 2 cities. If there's a MUP that offers a more direct route and isn't clogged with walkers/joggers/slow riders/dogs/etc., I'll opt for that over a busy road, but I spend 90-95% of my time on the road. As a general rule, I find that traffic is more predictable than casual MUP users.

CrankyOne

One key element in bike route design in The Netherlands is wind (and sun). For longer distance commuting routes they'll try to provide protection from winds, especially prevailing winter winds. They also plan for trees and buildings to provide shade in summer and allow sun through in winter.

CrankyOne

My wife and I spent several years looking for a new home. Being able to safely and comfortably ride to local places for groceries, cappuccinos, and stuff was critical. Fortunately several communities in the Twin Cities like Plymouth & Shoreview have extensive path networks (that go places, not just through parks) and are putting in a lot more so we had some good options. So, we'll be able to get to most places 100% on segregated paths and a few other places with very minimal riding on roads and these roads are 25mph low volume.

kickstart

Well said, the truth is a much more powerful argument than the double talk employed by some advocates as its an insult to ones intelligence, and makes cyclists look stupid.

CrankyOne

I am a huge proponent of segregated Dutch style bikeways. You're absolutely correct that they make bicycling more accessible. Most people are simply not going to use a bicycle for transportation unless they have a place to ride that feels and is safe and comfortable.

HOWEVER, I am a strong opponent of the must-ride-on-the-path laws. At least until we begin properly designing our paths like we do our roads — for safely, efficiency, and speed.

AlTheKiller

In my new place I use a MUP for about 1.5 miles, roughly half of my total commute distance. I'm torn on the subject. It's great for going slow, it's a no brainer when cycling to downtown with my gf and her son. However it follows the train tracks from our NW side of town, and then goes diagonally through the main grid towards downtown... This leads to some awkward crossings, though most of the streets on my portion of it aren't too high in traffic, as long as it's not right before or right after school starts. When it bisects the main traffic roads there is a pedestrian signal you can use...

I kind of prefer taking streets the whole way. I find it more efficient moving like a car, and hate all the blind stops before crossing, since the path is usually fenced on both side before abruptly coming out on a sidewalk to a street. from my old house I had more of a choice to use the MUP or strictly road, and I only used the MUP where it efficiently crosses a HWY and then used all road after that. It is a little less stressful in way not getting narrowly missed by passing cars constantly.

halcyon100

My commute is a mix of MUP's and roads. Occasionally take a fire road shortcut, but I am on a road bike.
I often regret not becoming a park ranger or pusuing a similar type of outdoor job. Mainly so I could work outdoors, but also because I would love it if I could mountain bike to work...

rhm

My ride includes a half mile stretch of the Delaware and Raritan Canal tow path. It's probably the nicest part of the ride. That route is also about a half mile shorter than the road route, so it's win-win. When the tow path is covered with snow, I take the road.

zacster

10 miles of NYC riding each way, almost entirely on bike lanes. So do these count as streets or as MUPs?

Torker

My commute is strictly roads, however it is 95% neighborhood so traffic volume is very low.

noglider 

No, MUP stands for multi-use path, though perhaps some people use the term loosely. The Hudson River Greenway does not officially allow pedestrians. It is only for bikes and roller skaters. There are many joggers on it, and I don't mind, because most of them behave very well, like vehicle drivers. They keep to the extreme right. Yesterday, one of them started a U-turn right in front of me. I swerved to avoid her, and she apologized. Her remorse was all I needed, and I smiled back at her. It's the slow meandering pedestrians who annoy me, and I'm grateful that they are not all that plentiful. There is a walking path near the bike/skate path, for god's sake!

Crawford53

I'm having pangs of jealously over this. There are no MUPs, bike lanes or thorough off road trails around here. The only trails are on preserves. Before I moved from Northampton, I did 8 out of 10 miles on MUPs. I miss the infrastructure so much!