themp

On our local Greenways/MUPs, the city has decided to paint a yellow line down the center of the Greenway so users know which side to stay on. They have done solid yellow and dash lines. I am not sure why they did the dash, maybe to save paint. The lines have helped with dog walkers and families as they see the line and know they should all be on one side. It also has helped on blind curves. However, there is a 30+ mile segment that is heavily used by groups of cyclists riding in packs. Prior to the lines when on this segment I always just stayed on the far right side next to the grass. Groups passing or on coming always moved. They usually took 3/4 of lane as I had the other 1/4.

Because of the yellow line, I decided to try and just ride in the middle of the right side of the yellow line and not move from this position. What happened is that groups of cyclists coming at me taking 3/4 of the lane, had to move to single file and they were not really happy about it. Dirty looks was usually what I got as they flew by. But, on a group of riders trying to pass me they started shouting, "on the left". When I stayed in the middle and did not move they just kept shouting "on the left" and a few ask me to move to the right please as they passed me. After a while I just gave up and moved back to the far right. So, for group riders the yellow line was basically being ignored.

Here is what they city stated on their website:

"The goal of this effort is to increase awareness of trail users traveling in opposite directions, to regulate, warn and guide users; and to increase the number of users that stay to the right, allowing other users to pass on the left. Pavement markings will primarily consist of solid or dashed centerline striping as well as markings around bollards and text markings such as “Stop Ahead”."

Troul 

I'd not be irritated by the way you respect the Yellow line. It's there for a reason.

Rolla

I generally ride in the center of the lane, but if a rider or a group announces themselves I'll give 'em some room to pass. It's just a courtesy to them and to any oncoming riders. Ain't no biggie to me.

Airfehr

I like the lane marker we have on most of the paths here. It does help a lot with walkers. When I know someone is passing I try to hug the right for my own safety. But I have no issue with passing someone who uses their lane. That's what it's for. I do have issue with many cyclist group rides that feel they must use the maximum with of the trail. Not sure if it's a herd mentality thing our just self entitled asshats. One of these days I'm going to lose my s**t when someone riding the opposite direction passes an inch or two from my bars. Seems to happen way to often on weekends.

Kevinti

People saying, "On the left" (or right) is done out of a curtesey to you...so you are both safe by knowing where everyone is.

wolfchild

What you're just described sounds like a typical elitist roadie club riders who seem to believe that their ride is more important and that they have a right to take over an entire path to themselves and do their unsanctioned imagineay races.

Steve B.

Agree. I question how safe it can be for a group of roadies wanting to maintain speed can be on a MUT. Seems like a really bad idea. Too many chances for a collision.

mstateglfr 

It's almost as if fast groups shouldn't use MUPS. I can't imagine a late group of fast riders actually wanting to use a MUP.

tomato coupe

So, you're complaining about oncoming groups of riders riding single file and passing groups letting you know they're passing on your left?

rsbob 

One the rare occasion I do take a MUP with or without a center line, I keep far right as a courtesy to those who coming up behind me that want to pass and to provide a margin of safety from oncoming groups. I don’t see an issue with staying to the far right. I also agree that announcing “On your left” is the correct thing to do while passing, thus keeping everyone safe.

Steve B.

No. He's complaining that he seemingly gets attitude from roadies who are annoyed that he's not all the way to the right of the lane when they pass. Likely he could not possibly move over fast enough for them if and when he hears "passing on left', even if he was inclined to do so, which he is not. The pack in turn, seems to want everybody out of their way so they can use more of the width of the trail and not have to bother going single file. The roadies need to not be riding fast paceline riding on a MUT is bottom line.

tomato coupe

OMG, they announced they were passing on the left and asked him to move to the right please, and he thinks they gave him dirty looks.

gringomojado

Just ride!
gm

dedhed

Oncoming traffic needs to respect your lane, overtaking traffic, when announced, you should move right if possible to allow the pass.

skidder

I see those groups on the local MUP all the time on weekends if I go out later than @9AM. Crazy to do that on a weekend with so many casual riders who probably don't clearly hear 'On your left', don't know what it means, or they are wearing earbuds and don't hear anything at all, and while going w-a-y faster than the average MUP user. It sounds like you weren't doing anything wrong by riding in the middle of the right side of the path.

Idea for some fun: If you see it all the time, why not bring a small checkered flag on your rides and pull it out and wave it when you see a group coming towards you.

jon c. 

I don't see why paint should make any difference. Common sense and common courtesy dictate one should stay to the right* and allow faster traffic to pass more easily.

(* allowing for local custom, of course)

TiHabanero

These "wolf packs" should not be humping down the MUPS. Inappropriate for the narrow lanes.

In Seattle not once did I encounter packs of riders haulin' the mail. Every group of riders were exercising common sense and rode at appropriate speeds for the lanes. In my neck of the woods I stay off the MUPS due to riders moving too fast, walkers walking 4 abreast and dogs on long leashes. It simply ain't safe for bicycles. Stay on the roads or off road if it suits you.

Rolla

Driver Karen: "Get off the road!"
Hiker Karen: "Get off the trail!"
MUP Karen: "Get off the path!"
Bike Forum Karen: "Ride when, where, and how I tell you to!"

greatscott

Not to be a prick, but I don't understand why people can't ride their bikes on a bike path like they drive their cars on the road. If you drive on the right then you should ride your bike on the right, not the center, and not on the left, it's common sense. I bet that's why your city painted the dashes, because they were having complaints, and accidents, because people lack common sense as to how to ride a bike properly on a bike path. Of course if you are riding with another rider and one of you is on the right and the other is on the left, then it's the responsibility of the person riding on the left to move over to the right, not the center, to let another cyclist pass, and to move over quickly, it is not the responsibility of the oncoming cyclist to squeeze more over to their right or run off into the grass, or to slow way down! Also, if the path is curvy and you can't see around turns to see if another cyclist is coming at you then you need to be in single file and not hogging the path. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

Steve B.

We only have the OP's recall of the situation. He never stated anybody said "Please" It's not really hard to see a scenario where they did indeed give attitude as result of having to move around him, roadies in a fast group can be like that. I agree that he should be riding as far to the right as possible. I see situations all the time on MUT's where you need to pass somebody riding in the same direction and you cannot move into the oncoming lane due to it being occupied. Riding to the right of the lane does make it safer for others to pass and is where the OP is wrong, he needs to keep to the right, just like in a car, as others have stated.

tomato coupe

Ummmm ...

mtnbud

What is a MUT? I know MUP stands for multiple use path, what does MUT stand for?

Steve B.

Maybe. I read the "please" part as has his interpretation of what they wanted. I never add "please" to the line "passing". Only the OP knows what was said. This is now getting silly.

spelger

the way I read the OP is the dirty looks came from riders approaching from the front.

Steve B.

Multi-Use Trail.