PSA: "Bike paths" (that are shared with pedestrians) are dangerous.
07-25-18, 05:27 PM
#76
Senior Member
In Alaska, the engineers designed & built the MUPs 10- 20' off the road & then bring them
to the road shoulder at every intersection. (Guessing they are not bike riders & dislikes cyclist )
I ride the MUPs that have little use with few intersections, & have learned where I need to
ride the road shoulder
One big problem is if the MUP is on the Left side of the road, Drivers at intersections
turning Right.. never look right.( Staring Left, waiting for a traffic opening)
Been almost taken out a few times , now I only ride MUPS that are on the right,
(road shoulders on the right are much safer, drivers at least see me).
The only maintenance is they get swept once in Spring , usually in April.
ATV not allow to ride on them, so they ride alongside & kick up lots gravel, gravel is rocks at some intersections.
Tree roots are growing under them & so bad in some areas are like riding cobble.
Most arte full of cracks filled with weeds, grass & tree sprouts, crack are getting wider every year.
Some have brush overhanging, the sides that they are one lane.
Federal $$ was used to build them, no State/Federal money budgeted to maintain them
IMO, find routes with decent road shoulders, & remote MUPs with no Peds.
you'll be safer & have a smoother ride
As you ride, You'll learn that some of the MUPs are good.
Use it to your advantage
Get the best of both, ride MUPs where they meet your style, & roads the rest of the time.
to the road shoulder at every intersection. (Guessing they are not bike riders & dislikes cyclist )
I ride the MUPs that have little use with few intersections, & have learned where I need to
ride the road shoulder
One big problem is if the MUP is on the Left side of the road, Drivers at intersections
turning Right.. never look right.( Staring Left, waiting for a traffic opening)
Been almost taken out a few times , now I only ride MUPS that are on the right,
(road shoulders on the right are much safer, drivers at least see me).
The only maintenance is they get swept once in Spring , usually in April.
ATV not allow to ride on them, so they ride alongside & kick up lots gravel, gravel is rocks at some intersections.
Tree roots are growing under them & so bad in some areas are like riding cobble.
Most arte full of cracks filled with weeds, grass & tree sprouts, crack are getting wider every year.
Some have brush overhanging, the sides that they are one lane.
Federal $$ was used to build them, no State/Federal money budgeted to maintain them
IMO, find routes with decent road shoulders, & remote MUPs with no Peds.
you'll be safer & have a smoother ride
As you ride, You'll learn that some of the MUPs are good.
Use it to your advantage
Get the best of both, ride MUPs where they meet your style, & roads the rest of the time.
Last edited by bogydave; 07-25-18 at 05:34 PM.
07-26-18, 02:41 AM
#77
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SF, it’s actually a nice PSA thread about cycling on MUPs, and I’m glad you posted it.
Funny thing about the timing is, Summer is the safest time to ride the MUPs(in this area). At this time of year, very few people use them during the daylight hours. Yesterday it was 115F(in the shade), and the pavement was 188F. My Garmin said it was 126F @ 3ft above the pavement.
Very few people will take their dog out for a walk in those conditions.
Funny thing about the timing is, Summer is the safest time to ride the MUPs(in this area). At this time of year, very few people use them during the daylight hours. Yesterday it was 115F(in the shade), and the pavement was 188F. My Garmin said it was 126F @ 3ft above the pavement.
Very few people will take their dog out for a walk in those conditions.
07-26-18, 01:31 PM
#78
☢
I believe Arizona has not surpassed Florida as the nation's # 1 retirement state. Think of it this way, if she had retired to Florida you'd have a lot more than just the summer heat to content with. You should be thankful.
10-19-22, 10:54 AM
#79
Full Member
I understand the original post was directed toward new riders. I can also appreciate that cyclists who want to ride fast and hard are going to avoid MUP's with all the grannies and their little yorkies and pedestrians distracted on their phones.
Personally, I love the MUP as well as the street where there is a ton of congestion of all types. I don't always seek out the outdoor miles-long velodrome where I can cycle unimpeded. It doesn't bother me to occasionally slow down and ride at the pace of pedestrians or even wait a moment at a standstill. That does not irritate me. I like to enjoy my ride and traffic and congestion does not hinder that in any way. That's one of the reasons a bicycle is much better than an automobile in which traffic can be bothersome. For me, a bicycle is not just a slim vehicle with access to additional lanes. It's a completely different experience that is compatible in almost any environment where people move. Skating is pretty cool too. Only pedestrianism is cooler than biking and skating.
Personally, I love the MUP as well as the street where there is a ton of congestion of all types. I don't always seek out the outdoor miles-long velodrome where I can cycle unimpeded. It doesn't bother me to occasionally slow down and ride at the pace of pedestrians or even wait a moment at a standstill. That does not irritate me. I like to enjoy my ride and traffic and congestion does not hinder that in any way. That's one of the reasons a bicycle is much better than an automobile in which traffic can be bothersome. For me, a bicycle is not just a slim vehicle with access to additional lanes. It's a completely different experience that is compatible in almost any environment where people move. Skating is pretty cool too. Only pedestrianism is cooler than biking and skating.
10-19-22, 06:29 PM
#80
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10-19-22, 06:52 PM
#81
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The site redesign dredged up every bad thread from 2018 and decided it was trending. Don't ask me. But I'm closing them all until we know what's going on.
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