Originally Posted by canerods

We are fortunate to have an extensive, paved bikeway in our area. Because of that, at this time of year, there’s lots of activity from various users on these public pathways. Question: why is it that most of the rudest people seem to be road bikers geeked-up in their professional equipment and expensive bikes? I realize they’re in their ‘groove’ and perhaps stressing from physical exertion. No one expects waves and smiles, but how much does effort does it take to say “passing on the left” or simply ring a bell when approaching from behind? Can't they realize it’s in there own safety best interests to let people know they’re passing? I’m wondering if these are the same breed of folks who never use signals when entering a freeway or when changing lanes? Is this rude behavior normal or is it just me?

Originally Posted by canklecat

Every multi-use path devolves the same way. Always been that way. Always will be that way. Same in the 1970s in SoCal on the first MUPs I tried. Same now in Texas and probably everywhere else.

I minimize my use of the MUPs since my conditioning and speed have improved. But I do use it for convenience at times. I ride slower, leave plenty of room for pedestrians, and try to be aware of everything around me because many joggers and cyclists wear ear buds and are oblivious to their surroundings, and there will always be wannabe racers trying for personal bests and KOMs on Strava segments that should never be on an MUP -- but there's nothing we can do about that.

I use mirrors to watch for faster cyclists approaching from behind because many -- not most -- do pass without announcing. It's not just roadies on race bikes. There's no particular pattern. I keep my speed down to 15 mph or slower -- much slower when pedestrians are around -- so I expect to be passed by other cyclists.

So get a mirror. I can't turn fully to look over my shoulder due to neck and shoulder injuries, so the mirrors are a must.

I have Mirrycles on my hybrid handlebars -- not fancy or pretty but tough, functional and easy to adjust once set up properly. And I wear Take-A-Look mirrors on my helmet or safety glasses. Like the Mirrycles, the Take-A-Look is the most affordable, utilitarian and functional of the various helmet/eyeglass mirrors. There are many others but it's hard to beat the Take-A-Look. They come in two stem lengths. I have one of each -- the longer stem version is on one helmet; the shorter stem version goes on my clear or sunglass safety glasses. It's easy to swap and adjust, and the clamp holds securely on most glasses, although it can be too heavy and unbalanced on lightweight wire frames.

And to announce myself to pedestrians and cyclists I'm overtaking, I like continuous ringing trail bells. There are three popular models:
Coghlan's Bear Bell -- costs $5, more or less. It's the least loud of the various trail bells, but functional for MUPs.
The Timber Bell -- at $20 probably the best buy. Louder but not unpleasant, a better design than the Coghlan Bear Bell.
CBW Designs Awareness Bell -- Prices start at $40 (it's come down a bit over the past year or so), with additional fees for custom features. These are handcrafted beauties. I'm hoping to justify the cost someday.

All three can be muted for situations where you don't need or want the bell ringing. But continuous ringing awareness bells are the most practical solution I've found for crowded MUPs. Pedestrians and slower cyclists hear me approaching and gradually move over. No drama, startled or angry joggers, and the sound is reminiscent of an ice cream truck -- hard to get angry about that.

Around Christmas, I'll attach strips of jingle bells to my comfort hybrid for casual group rides. They're amusing.

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I also recommend Take-a-looks ... and that continuous bell is interesting but might drive me even crazier after a while.

I only use the local MUP early in the morning and traffic is exceeding light---I might see six people in six miles, and half will be cyclists coming towards me. Visibility is excellent and one can safely go pretty fast. Max speed is determined by how far off one can spot a dog-walker.

If there were much more traffic I wouldn't ever get on the thing.

Oh, and OP .... Have someone read your own post to you so maybe you can hear it. You might not call it "anger," but the tone is definitely "peeved."



You definitely come off as offended, (and it seems everyone else here got that same vibe) and really … the “rudest” people? Don’t ever get close to New York City.

“How much effort” is a pretty scornful question … “Too lazy or uncaring even to ring a bell, the brutes.”

“Can’t they realize … ?” The ignorant idiots …..

Then you posit that these people don’t use signals while driving, which is actually a much more serious charge …. “Those rudest of all people are probably the ones responsible for all the 40,000 deaths on the road each year.”

Yeah, there is a lot of anger revealed in your post …. Not to mention that this is a forum where bicycle lovers discuss riding bicycles, and your First post, was this one. What made you join a site was the desperate need to vent about all those cyclists who don’t ride the way you wish they did.

I don’t know you, Sir or Madam, and I am not pretending I do. But based on what you actually did as opposed to your later claims …. Yeah, that is an angry post.

Maybe you didn’t mean it that way, and hopefully you can see better how others see you, now. Or maybe you didn’t realize how upset you were by some guy blowing by you on a bike.

In any case …. Apparently there was no collision, so maybe the person who passed you had the situation well in hand and judged that disturbing you was not the best course of action. Maybe this rider saw you holding your line and riding steadily and figured you knew what you were doing and didn’t need someone shouting at you..

I know some car drivers think it is courteous to honk their horns to let me know when they are passing my bike on the road. They don’t realize that I am Well aware of them, and that when they honk, my first instinct is to scan for the emergency---What is going wrong that they have to honk? They think it is a courtesy because they are clueless about riding on the street.

Imagine if cars honked every time they passed another car?

In any case, when on any road where traffic is moving at a wide range of paces, one need to watch the mirrors.

Sorry if I offended you---I hate to offend angry people, never know how they might react (Just kidding.) But you know, it seems I am not the only person who felt a lot of anger and frustration in that post. You can only say “It’s not me, it’s the world” so many times before it isn’t funny any more.

Also … after you have been here a while you will know who to take how seriously. Don’t stress overly about my posts.

By the way … while I might be wearing a jersey, bibs, gloves, and cleated shoes, my bike is not that expensive. Can I still qualify as “one of the rudest people?” I have been trying really hard to make the cut.

Got anything good to say about cycling?

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I know some car drivers think it is courteous to honk their horns to let me know when they are passing my bike on the road. They don’t realize that I am Well aware of them, and that when they honk, my first instinct is to scan for the emergency---What is going wrong that they have to honk? They think it is a courtesy because they are clueless about riding on the street.

Originally Posted by canerods

Someday before getting too old, I'd like to be able to ride at the level of the Roadie dudes.

Originally Posted by big chainring

Yes rude behaviour by "cyclists" is normal.

I dont know, guy jumps on a bike, heart starts pumpin, adrenaline flowing, he turns into a real jackweed.

Originally Posted by canerods

Question: why is it that most of the rudest people seem to be road bikers geeked-up in their professional equipment and expensive bikes?

Originally Posted by canerods

Can't they realize it’s in there own safety best interests to let people know they’re passing?

Originally Posted by canerods

Someday before getting too old, I'd like to be able to ride at the level of the Roadie dudes.

Originally Posted by canerods

Even then, I think I'd still give enough warning ahead to avoid getting hurt or hurting someone else. It really is just as simple as that.

Originally Posted by Aubergine

Not everyone can hear, so it drives me nuts to think that the person in front has some responsibility to react to a bell or callout. It is always the responsibility of the passer to ride safely and pass safely. Period.

Originally Posted by Bandera

You have confused Cyclists with "Pathletes":

Definition: Pathlete
/pˈaTHˌlēt/
A narcissist who rides a bicycle at inappropriate speed disregarding the safety of other users on a Multi-Use-Path disguised as an actual Cyclist.

Originally Posted by canerods

Where did you hear any anger? Seriously anger? You are reading much more between the lines than actually exists. It was a simple question, meant to gain some knowledge of standard practices. It was about why MUP rules are observed by some and not by others – and why it's OK at some times and not others. Your opinioned amateurish psychological interpretation of my motives are incorrect. Being new to this forum I'll just leave it at that and finish by saying it was an honest question and was posed with little idea it would be misunderstood as it has been.

Originally Posted by Machka

This is one of the signs on our Cycleway.

It would be really nice if other users would follow the "Keep Left" and "Move Off Path When Stopped" instructions.

Originally Posted by boozergut

Does the farthest on the left emblem mean no Bogans or Westies :-) ?

Originally Posted by Pilot321

Most road bike riders I know, including myself avoid these type of trails due to the mixed use nature, and a lot of people walking with strollers, kids, etc.