Speed limit on bike paths' in NC
#1
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Speed limit on bike paths' in NC
I am looking. Because, Unless I am wrong, it is 15mph. If anyone knows' different, I would appreciate you letting me know.
TIA
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If you're asking if there's a state law, that should be easy to find in the state statutes. However, I'm guessing that most localities will set their own speed limits on their local trails, so there may not be one single answer.
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Why do you think there is a speed limit?
Unless there is a posted sign, I always assume that there's no limit on a path other than what's reasonable for the traffic.
From my experience, I would say Milton Keynes is right, typically the path speed limits are by local ordinance, not state law. They could also be by state regulatory agency. Either way, there are generally signs when they exist.
I have seen 15 mph, 20 mph and even 25 mph limits posted, so there wouldn't seem to be any reason to assume 15 is correct even if the limit exists.
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It varies on the city, but it's usually not enforced and common sense is the rule. The Neuse River Trail from Raleigh to Clayton is 10 mph. No one should be doing over that when passing walkers with kids or pets or when the trail is congested. In open areas with no traffic I've never heard of anyone being stopped for going over 10 mph.
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I learned about the 15mph statute when it was brought to our attention during a charity ride. What's cool is that they gave us the option of using the actual freeway if we wanted to go faster 😊.
OP: It shouldn't be a problem to research NC statutes.
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You are probably wrong assuming it's 15 mph. You need to find out what entity controls the bike path and what jurisdiction it belongs to if entirely public.
Otherwise I'd think you are good up to the 55 mph speed limit the state of New York has for roads with unposted speeds.
Edit.... oh re-reading I see it's North Carolina that is in question... so lets just go with 35 mph in municipal districts and 55 mph outside.
Still if your MUP is owned by a private organization but lets it be used by the public, there may actually not be an enforceable speed limit even if there is one posted.
https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/ne...t-enforceable/
Otherwise I'd think you are good up to the 55 mph speed limit the state of New York has for roads with unposted speeds.
Edit.... oh re-reading I see it's North Carolina that is in question... so lets just go with 35 mph in municipal districts and 55 mph outside.
Still if your MUP is owned by a private organization but lets it be used by the public, there may actually not be an enforceable speed limit even if there is one posted.
https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/ne...t-enforceable/
Last edited by Iride01; 06-11-21 at 12:19 PM. Reason: Didn't read well the first time... add new material.
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Some states (or counties/cities) have speed limits on paths that are not posted on signs. For example, the stretch of bike path going east from Copper Mountain in Colorado along I-70 is 15mph, and the path from the top of Vail Pass all the way down to Avon. But to my knowledge there are no posted signs (or, rather, there weren't when I lived in the area). It's up to us to know local statutes.
I learned about the 15mph statute when it was brought to our attention during a charity ride. What's cool is that they gave us the option of using the actual freeway if we wanted to go faster 😊.
OP: It shouldn't be a problem to research NC statutes.
I learned about the 15mph statute when it was brought to our attention during a charity ride. What's cool is that they gave us the option of using the actual freeway if we wanted to go faster 😊.
OP: It shouldn't be a problem to research NC statutes.
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Best thing to do is to check the trail map/brochure online.
The "Thermal Belt Rail Trail" (Rutherfordton to Forest City, NC) specifically states that the speed limit on the trail is 15 MPH.
The "Thermal Belt Rail Trail" (Rutherfordton to Forest City, NC) specifically states that the speed limit on the trail is 15 MPH.
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#10
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Why do you think there is a speed limit?
Unless there is a posted sign, I always assume that there's no limit on a path other than what's reasonable for the traffic.
From my experience, I would say @Milton Keynes is right, typically the path speed limits are by local ordinance, not state law. They could also be by state regulatory agency. Either way, there are generally signs when they exist.
I have seen 15 mph, 20 mph and even 25 mph limits posted, so there wouldn't seem to be any reason to assume 15 is correct even if the limit exists.
Unless there is a posted sign, I always assume that there's no limit on a path other than what's reasonable for the traffic.
From my experience, I would say @Milton Keynes is right, typically the path speed limits are by local ordinance, not state law. They could also be by state regulatory agency. Either way, there are generally signs when they exist.
I have seen 15 mph, 20 mph and even 25 mph limits posted, so there wouldn't seem to be any reason to assume 15 is correct even if the limit exists.
I hope it is that simple.
It varies on the city, but it's usually not enforced and common sense is the rule. The Neuse River Trail from Raleigh to Clayton is 10 mph. No one should be doing over that when passing walkers with kids or pets or when the trail is congested. In open areas with no traffic I've never heard of anyone being stopped for going over 10 mph.
Some states (or counties/cities) have speed limits on paths that are not posted on signs. For example, the stretch of bike path going east from Copper Mountain in Colorado along I-70 is 15mph, and the path from the top of Vail Pass all the way down to Avon. But to my knowledge there are no posted signs (or, rather, there weren't when I lived in the area). It's up to us to know local statutes.
I learned about the 15mph statute when it was brought to our attention during a charity ride. What's cool is that they gave us the option of using the actual freeway if we wanted to go faster 😊.
OP: It shouldn't be a problem to research NC statutes.
I learned about the 15mph statute when it was brought to our attention during a charity ride. What's cool is that they gave us the option of using the actual freeway if we wanted to go faster 😊.
OP: It shouldn't be a problem to research NC statutes.
You are probably wrong assuming it's 15 mph. You need to find out what entity controls the bike path and what jurisdiction it belongs to if entirely public.
Otherwise I'd think you are good up to the 55 mph speed limit the state of New York has for roads with unposted speeds.
Edit.... oh re-reading I see it's North Carolina that is in question... so lets just go with 35 mph in municipal districts and 55 mph outside.
Still if your MUP is owned by a private organization but lets it be used by the public, there may actually not be an enforceable speed limit even if there is one posted.
https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/ne...t-enforceable/
Otherwise I'd think you are good up to the 55 mph speed limit the state of New York has for roads with unposted speeds.
Edit.... oh re-reading I see it's North Carolina that is in question... so lets just go with 35 mph in municipal districts and 55 mph outside.
Still if your MUP is owned by a private organization but lets it be used by the public, there may actually not be an enforceable speed limit even if there is one posted.
https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/ne...t-enforceable/
Ah, ok
#11
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Like others have said, if there is no sign, no by-law etc, then go as fast as you like. But unless there's something in these park trails that make pedestrians and animals avoid them, I would prepare to slow down or stop if one of them suddenly appears.
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There is no State Law in NC that sets speed limits on trails. These are set by the governing county or municipality. For instance, all of the greenways in Raleigh have a limit of 10 mph. Greenways in Cary have a limit of 15 mph. I don't believe there is an official limit on the American Tobacco Trail, but I think a suggested speed limit is posted on some of the trail signs. I've not heard of any enforcement activity, but that does not mean that you should not always strive to be a prudent and courteous rider.
Is there a particular reason you're asking?
Is there a particular reason you're asking?
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#13
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There is no State Law in NC that sets speed limits on trails. These are set by the governing county or municipality. For instance, all of the greenways in Raleigh have a limit of 10 mph. Greenways in Cary have a limit of 15 mph. I don't believe there is an official limit on the American Tobacco Trail, but I think a suggested speed limit is posted on some of the trail signs. I've not heard of any enforcement activity, but that does not mean that you should not always strive to be a prudent and courteous rider.
Is there a particular reason you're asking?
Is there a particular reason you're asking?
Last edited by Chistophe516; 06-11-21 at 08:04 PM.
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Srsly? This is bike skill issue, or lack of skill in this case, because even a super twitchy criterium bike can be ridden at a walking pace without tipping over or wobbling around.
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
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Srsly? This is bike skill issue, or lack of skill in this case, because even a super twitchy criterium bike can be ridden at a walking pace without tipping over or wobbling around.
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
I've lost my temper exactly once on a MUP. A Strava-obsessed guy was close passing little kids on the Minuteman. I actually chased him down after we got on a less crowded part of the path to yell at him. It really was just about the worst thing I've ever seen a cyclist do, and it was just luck that a kid didn't get twitchy during a close pass. I'm talking about 3 and 4 year olds.
And if you want to get really good at controlling your bike at low speed, ride behind a 3 year old while waiting for the passing lane to open.
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#16
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Srsly? This is bike skill issue, or lack of skill in this case, because even a super twitchy criterium bike can be ridden at a walking pace without tipping over or wobbling around.
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
And if you're on a MUP its actually needed skill you should learn.
How to ride slow without wobbling about
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If you can't balance at 15 mph, I don't see how you can ride on a road. There's these things called stop lights and stop signs, and there's traffic, all of which require slowing from time to time.
#18
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Stopping/starting is the easy part. It is steady speeds at -15mph, that cause a problem. I counter the problem by going faster.
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Balance problems are really hard to describe. It's hard for me to imagine how you could keep your balance getting to speed, but I'm sure you have your strategies, I just won't be able to understand them if you tried to explain. The truth is no one really understands how their own body keeps balanced, it's mostly an unconscious process.
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My dude, if you have a condition where you can’t control your bike under all conditions then you have no business riding it, especially on an MUP. Please take up a different sport like walking before you injure someone.
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I'm not reading him the same way. I think he's saying he can ride slowly when needed incidentally, but can't sustain it over long rides. I also think he's actually trying to determine whether he does have "any business" riding on a MUP.
Apparently he's been riding safely with this disability on roads for decades. Don't see why he should give that up.
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I'm not reading him the same way. I think he's saying he can ride slowly when needed incidentally, but can't sustain it over long rides. I also think he's actually trying to determine whether he does have "any business" riding on a MUP.
Apparently he's been riding safely with this disability on roads for decades. Don't see why he should give that up.
Apparently he's been riding safely with this disability on roads for decades. Don't see why he should give that up.
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I don't have a balance problem when slow, but at ambient temps over 90° F going slower than 14 mph starts me getting uncomfortably hot. I'd have a problem with a path that had a max speed of 15 or even 17 mph. At 10 mph for prolonged climbs and high efforts, I might start to get heat exhaustion and that can lead to a serious balance problem.
The OP seems to have figured out what they need for their issue. It does sort of bring to light an issue though. Speed.... Should it be limited to a max speed even when there are no others around? I might can see a speed limit of sorts when around others, particularly those engaged in other activities. But not for times you don't even have others within sight, unless of course you are at a blind curve.
AFAIK, the local MUP here has no speed limit. Certainly none posted. In literature they just ask that you maintain a safe speed for what ever you are doing when around others.
The OP seems to have figured out what they need for their issue. It does sort of bring to light an issue though. Speed.... Should it be limited to a max speed even when there are no others around? I might can see a speed limit of sorts when around others, particularly those engaged in other activities. But not for times you don't even have others within sight, unless of course you are at a blind curve.
AFAIK, the local MUP here has no speed limit. Certainly none posted. In literature they just ask that you maintain a safe speed for what ever you are doing when around others.