Attention fuckwads of Minneapolis, I understand that we only get four non-consecutive days of sunshine here, so when decent weather makes its triumphant return, everyone heads out en masse to the lakes, rivers and parks. Got it. I do not understand why people would walk on the bicycle path instead of the pedestrian path. The bicycle path is marked by signs with pictures of bicycles, and the walking path is labeled with pictures of a man walking. Also, there are painted pictures of bicycles on the cement of the bike path, in case the signs everywhere were somehow missed. Oh, and the bicycle path is where everybody is riding their bicycles.
When I’m whipping around corners, I don’t want to have to worry about not running over your shitty kids. Get them out of the way. Do NOT walk where people are riding their bicycles. Do NOT stop and take pictures in the middle of the bicycle path. What are you taking pictures of, anyway? Do NOT walk four abreast in the middle of the bicycle path so that no one can get around you. In fact, don’t do this anywhere. This makes you an asshole.
For those of you who have learned the difference between bicyclists and pedestrians, good for you, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Do NOT have your dog take a shit on the middle of the walking path. There is grass everywhere, so why would you have Sparky drop a deuce on the middle of the pavement? Jogging by the river is like running through a dog shit obstacle course. Knock it off, already.
And to the rich old ladies with their million dollar prize dogs: What kind of dogs were those? Who cares, they were in my way. Get off the bike path.
To the guy with the toy collie: Your dog is an asshole. You know who has jerk dogs? Jerk owners.
Pretty much agree with one question and one comment.
Don’t these people pick up their dog poop? Why is it left in the pathway (or grass)?
And, as a dog owner, I can tell you that it’s very hard to interrupt a dog mid-poop to get it to move from where it has decided to poop (possibly the pathway) to somewhere else. But then, I pick up my dog’s poop, so it’s not a huge deal.
Are these paths signed as being bicycles only? I only ask because often, so-called bike paths are intended for both biking and walking. In the absence of some sort of signage saying you aren’t supposed to walk on the “bike” paths, then I would have to disagree with the rant. If there is such signage, or literature, etc., then I would agree whole-heartedly.
Heh, yeah. Plus the bike path is split by a dotted yellow line, with one side having pictures of a bicycle and arrows pointing north, and the other with bicycles and arrows pointing south. A few yards over, there’s a path marked by pictures of a walking person. That says to me, “Bike here going this way, bike there going that way, and get the fuck off the bike path if you’re walking. There’s a path designated for you thatway.”
Saturday I nearly ran over someone’s kid with my bike. Not only was it on the bike path, but then it darted out suddenly right in front of me. Stop chasing butterflies, and watch where you’re going. Then Monday, I didn’t so much jog as I did the Don’t-Step-In-Dog-Shit dance. It’s sort of like the hokey pokey, but with direr consequences.
As a biker who often shares the rail trails with walkers and dogs, I have a few things to add. If I am coming up on you and say in a loud voice “on your left” or somesuch. The good thing to do is move to your right, or at least maintain your current coarse. Do not move to you left, in from of me, or if in a group do not scatter like sheep into two or more groups that I have to run a slalom through.
If you have a dog on a leash, please keep the dog at heel or close to, rather than letting him go on one of those extendable leashes so that you are off the path on one side, and the dog is off the path on the other. With the leash spanning the entire width of the path.
How come you fucking Canadians get dedicated bike paths? Every “bike” path here is actually a “multi-use” path, which means joggers, roller-bladers, and sometimes even horses can use them. Assholes.
Right on. And if you’re ever in the Netherlands, pay attention, it works like this:
------------------store fronts ---------------------------------
sidewalk <--- you should be here
-----------------------------------------------------------------
bike lane <--- DANGEROUS HIGH SPEED ZONE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
car lane
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
car lane
The bike lane is for riding bikes and mopeds ONLY. It’s not where you consult your map, take pictures, unload your baggage or discuss the scenery. That ringing sound is to alert you that 200 pounds of metal, rubber and meat is coming your way at speed. Enjoy your stay in Amsterdam.
Thank you. If I say “on your left” it means that I will go to your left. It is my job to go around you. I’m totally ok with that. I don’t expect anything from you except not to move directly into the space that I just loudly announced I was going to be passing through.
Two thoughts. First, I was wondering if this was some sort of uber-disguised rant about bicycles on roads, substituting bicycles for cars and pedestrians for bicycles.
Second, is there actually a law that prohibits walking on a bike path? My google-fu has failed me on that one. If there isn’t, then this actually is a disguised car/bike rant, only unintentional.
We have multi use trails here, so we have to live the the Peds in the road.
But dog owners- please. If you walk on one side of the trail and your dog walks on the the other side, sure you are off the trail but have you considered what it means when you are connected by a leash? I’ll tell you what it means - you are an idiot!
I think the problem is the “on the left” people think that means “move to your left”, or just hear left and think it’s a command. Yes I know it’s stupid but it is what it is.
When on my bike my personal rule is “pedestrians, cars, and other bikers are dangerously incompetent morons and will do the worst possible thing”. As a result I ride very defensively and don’t have any trouble with bikers and pedestrians.
Drivers on the other hand need to fucking back off. Yes I know it’s rather silly I seem to think I’m a car when riding my bike, but that’s what the law of the land thinks I am so who are you to argue? Don’t fucking honk at me. I know your car is 500 times heavier than my bike and faster, but my middle finger is about the same size as yours. As you’ll see anyway.
Don’t be pulling that pass at 60 mph half a foot away crap either. I have full use of the lane. So when I ride near the shoulder I shouldn’t feel the breeze of the passenger side review mirror on your shitty 1981 redneckmobile zooming by and nearly close-lining me.
You folks are the biggest advertisment for Smith and Wesson I’ve ever seen.
I have this problem all the time on the bike paths out here - in one area the bike paths are physically separated from the pedestrian paths but people like to walk on the bike paths. Along the bay front it’s one strip of asphalt with two lanes for bikes and one for pedestrians.
Regardless of who is where I figure that a collision between me and someone else is going to result in nothing but injury (potentially severe), bike repairs and bad feelings so I have a nice loud bell, I slow down when I’m coming up on people from behind (or if I see kids, dogs, etc since they are likely to dart in the wrong direction suddenly) and rather than just say “On your left” I’ll call out “PASSING on your left” so they know exactly what I’m trying to do.
And lest anyone think the ranting is reserved soley for pedestrians, to my fellow cyclists, if there are two bike lanes and you see me coming in the opposite direction, get in single-file with your buddies. Don’t just ride 2+ abreast thus forcing me to swerve off the path (or onto the pedestrian walkway).
Also, while saying “On your left” to the person you’re about to pass is a good idea, it’s EVEN BETTER to say it BEFORE you’re three inches behind him/her. No matter how shiny the spandex you’re wearing is.
I can assure you that over here in the Netherlands, there is such a law. From looking at the bike/car pit threads I don’t think the US even has bike lanes
To be fair it’s sometimes the intention of the driver to alert you to their presence, not “Get out of the way”. I appreciate a quick toot of the horn in certain circumstances but this is definitely not the same thing as someone zooming up behind me and laying on the horn full blast (I’ve almost been startled right off my bike a couple of times).
A friend of mine was rewarded for trying to alert a bike messenger to his presence (to avoid an accident) by the guy breaking his mirror and riding off.
Just out of curiosity, who are the assholes in this equation? The joggers, roller-bladers and horses? The people who design multi-use paths? The fucking “Canadians” who have dedicated bike paths? Or just people in general (my choice)?
