# The BIKE path is for people on BIKES. That is why it is called the BIKE path! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 4, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965 "2005-07-04T00:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/21 "2005-07-04T13:13:27Z")
A man walks into a pub to find it filled with roads, sitting relaxing and having a drink. There’s an City Street over in the corner, sharing a quiet drink with a Winding Country Lane. Up by the bar a busy Motorway is taking a well earned break with a pint of beer and a pie. By the jukebox, a newly constructed Bypass is showing off his road markings to a glamorous Boulevard. “Wow”, says the man to the barman. “You get a strange lot in here.” “Yeah”, says the barman. “But they’re a good customers and always thirsty.” Just then the thinnest road you’ve ever seen walks in, dressed in red tarmac. The bar falls silent. A High street and a Dual-Carriage-Way by the door make a rapid exit. The Motorway edges to the far end of the bar. The thin red road gives everyone in the pub a mean glare, orders a pint of extra strong lager and retires to a table all by himself. Gradually the pub goes back to normal. “What’s up with the weedy red road?” asks the man. “Careful, you don’t want to mess with him”, says the barman. “He’s a cycle path.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/22 "2005-07-04T14:22:08Z")
> [@Fur Baby](#): > > I hate to disagree with you, but in Mentor, OH, the bike paths are for both pedestrians and bicyclists (NOT bikers). I can’t find the brochure online, but their flyer on the bikeway system even says that bicycles are required to yield to pedestrians. I dunno, maybe the rules are different elsewhere. Up here, it’s not so. In fact, in some areas, the paved path is divided into _three_ lanes: two with bicycles painted on them and one with a pedestrian painted on it. In this instance, it was a path with a bicycle on it and a lozenge symbol indicating a reserved lane. There were sidewalks all along the length of my route, except behind the hospital. There was just no damn excuse for being on the bike path if they weren’t on a bike. Also, I realized I forgot to emphasize that the people taking photos from their bikes? Were taking photos from their MOVING bikes. :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/23 "2005-07-04T14:32:46Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > **matt** … I am confused. Who are bike paths for? > ~escapes~ Not fraggle-rapers. They have to take the Metro. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/24 "2005-07-04T14:50:36Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Also, I realized I forgot to emphasize that the people taking photos from their bikes? Were taking photos from their MOVING bikes. :smack: :smack: :smack: Then it could be VERY convenient to be near the hospital ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/25 "2005-07-04T16:30:36Z")
I just got back from a nice bike ride. Although it was a little out of my way, I rode over to the lake to ride south on the lakeshore path. The lakeshore path, for non-Chicagoans, is probably one of the most pleasant places in this here city, and for that reason I do not mind that it is multi-use. It’s actually rather nice to see so many people out walking their dogs or pushing strollers, jogging, rollerblading, and, of course, riding their bikes. Everyone’s out, having a nice time on the Fourth of July, la la la, we are all happy and ALMOST everyone is considerate and thoughtful on the path. HOWEVER. If you’re going to be _walking_ on the path, please keep in mind that you are the slowest people on the path. DO NOT WALK FIVE ABREAST. Those of us on bikes cannot get by you! There is traffic in the opposite direction! The lakeshore path is not your private road! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/26 "2005-07-04T16:30:57Z")
Who is this MIKE guy and why is he so territorial? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/27 "2005-07-04T16:52:57Z")
Futile Gesture. Thanks for that bit of English colour. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/28 "2005-07-04T17:19:36Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > I’ve been going nuts lately. People walk their dogs on bike paths, and let their kids sit and play on them. And the kicker is that the part of the path I use most often HAS A SIDEWALK on the other side of the street, not 15 feet away! Bonjour tout’le monde a Montreal! As a inline skater in Ottawa & Calgary, my personal “favourite” has always been the dog walkers with those retractable leashes on a reel. Most of them get out of the way, but sometimes fido crosses the parth, and the leash becomes a tripwire. The resulting tangled tumbling mess of cartwheeling blader and half strangled terrfied dog all tied together is not a pretty picture… Thankfully, most rigid wrist protectors are bite proof. But I always pulled over to the right and got "narrow"as soon as I heard any bike warning bell. Well, as narrow as a 6’ 250lb guy can get, anyway… Happy riding. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/29 "2005-07-04T17:44:28Z")
> [@trupa](#): > > \As a inline skater in Ottawa & Calgary, my personal “favourite” has always been the dog walkers with those retractable leashes on a reel.\ That’s a whole 'nother rant, there, the oblivious retractable dog-walkers. It’s bad enough walking around them, but I pity the skaters and bikers that risk getting clotheslined with the leash. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/30 "2005-07-04T18:41:51Z")
I do my daily commute on a “multi-use” bike trail. I hear your pain and anger. Almost as bad as the dog walkers with the 20 foot retractable leash-tripwires are the dog owners who let their dogs walk unleashed. I have been chased by a pack of 5 unleashed dogs. When I told their dog owners that there’s a leash law in this section of the county, I was told “Too bad, we were here first”. I told the fucktard that I’d be back in a half hour with 3 pit bulls, so they’d better get their fucking dogs off my trail. OK, I only have one pit bull, and my buddy who lived nearby has one, but she’s definitely not game to other dogs. I just made up the third one… ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/31 "2005-07-04T19:50:10Z")
There’s a bike path that runs the length of my steet, and despite the feelings of the OP, I run on it every day. When there’s a sidewalk, I’ll use it, but the sidewalk only runs a fraction of the way. I’ll stay to one side to allow bikes to pass, but otherwise, the only choice is either the bike path, the road or ground that is mostly unsuitable for running. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/32 "2005-07-04T20:23:32Z")
What I don’t get is why joggers would want to run on the trails – pavement is ridiculously tough on the feet and knees. I have to say I really like how Calgary does it, with many stretchs of trail having two, completely separate, paths, one for bikes and bladers, the other for walkers and runners. I realize not every city will have the room for this. ---
**Author:** ![Fur\_Baby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fur\_Baby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fur_Baby)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/33 "2005-07-04T21:43:15Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > There’s a bike path that runs the length of my steet, and despite the feelings of the OP, I run on it every day. Out of curiosity, do you run facing the bikes, or with the bikes? I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m not sure which is better. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/34 "2005-07-04T23:15:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, you, asshole, you’re on foot. I realize you’re walking your bike. That’s the whole problem. If you’re not riding your bike, get off the path. Does this apply to those who are pushing their cars (due to mechnical problems), should they have to push them on the sidewalk? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965/35 "2005-07-05T06:37:36Z")
> [@Fur Baby](#): > > Out of curiosity, do you run facing the bikes, or with the bikes? I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m not sure which is better. I run on the same side of the street both ways. That way I don’t have to cross the main street at all, just side streets that have less traffic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bike-path-is-for-people-on-bikes-that-is-why-it-is-called-the-bike-path/310965.md?page=1)