Speeding Cyclists

[PacWestGS]

Just goes to show you can never please everyone ever...? :banghead

Story from local news.

http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_052007WABburkegilmanSW.8ae07d95.html

[larrydk]

As an avid cyclist I'll tell you that any competent cyclist has no business riding on those trails while training. If you need to workout at "speed" the road is available. I've used similar trails in Chicago as connectors and specifically ridden low to be safe.

[hlothery]

As an avid cyclist I'll tell you that any competent cyclist has no business riding on those trails while training. If you need to workout at "speed" the road is available. I've used similar trails in Chicago as connectors and specifically ridden low to be safe.

I agree completely, and have had similar experiences here in Texas. While I understand that to go aerobic on a bicycle requires speeds around 25-30 MPH at least, and I understand and agree with the need to do that, I believe cyclists should be very careful where they choose to do that. Like motor vehicles drivers driving 60 in a 35 zone, cyclists doing 30 with kids, dogs and pedestrians close by doing 5-10 are asking for injuries to themselves and others. Don't know about your experiences, but I have found many of my fellow cyclists to be very elitist and not easily convinced to think of others. I fear they will ultimately, if they continue, get bicycles banned from such trails.

[henzilla]

I also pedal...mostly road bikes. The Hike-N-Bike trails in the area , especially Town Lake in Downtown Austin have way too many walkers, kids & dogs to be zooming on two wheels. When I ride the trails, I am taking in all the scenery so no need to rush. I have been buzzed by people clueless to the danger they present, and have called them out...only to get blown off. Education alone won't change mindsets...unfortunately there have been incidents .

Some state parks ban bicycles from what used to be dual purpose horse/bike trails because said idiots buzzed too many horses and caused serious accidents. Hollering "on your left" at 20 MPH faster than the passee usually gets someones hackles up!

On larger road rides such as the MS 150 I have reached out and snagged speeders by the saddle to ask them nicely to slow down or give a larger space since there are various skilled riders in the large pack... They cannot believe PAPA greybeard can catch them...:wave and usually get the message. I held on to one 20 something for awhile, he kept on chugging and upshifting until he felt my presence on his left quad...he was not happy, but ended up laughing about it....:doh
In California, I laughed at the LEO on a bike w/ radar gun running the beach trails in Orange County...he was writing warnings or tickets since a speed limit is posted on the pathways...I "cruised" by slowly!

[rinty]

This is a big problem in my home city, as well, and the police are out all the time with radar guns. The bike trails are no place for the fast riders to be, anyway.

Rinty