Slow Down, Bike Path Racer!

d'accord!!

Well said! I avoid the trail at rush hour and on weekends for this very reason.
The BGT needs Greenlake style designated walk and bike lanes (mostly on the UW section) it's just too chaotic when crowded.

Riding on bike paths wouldn't be as harrowing for cyclists and strollers if everyone would simply keep to the right. But of course they won't, and SDOT can't be bothered to stripe trails and install signage that would urge people to take this simple step toward sharing the road. I always use my bell when I pass pedestrians, and always turn on my bike lights at night, but if baffles me why so many pedestrians insist on lollygagging several people abreast, taking their half out of the middle, etc. on bike trails when in many cases there is a pedestrian sidewalk available to them just a few feet away.

Josh, BPR is a great term of art. Thanks for inventing it. I sometimes want to have bike referees yellow card these guys (almost always guys). It's as if the rest of the world doesn't exist to them. I suppose it doesn't.

The Burke Gilman is a mixed use trail. It is not a bike only trail.

which would mean that the adminition to keep right except to pass applies just as well to pedestrian users, no?

One other item to mention about bike paths, Burke-Gilman being the finest example: there are quite a few people out there just enjoying a jaunt, and who are perhaps not in complete & confident control of their steed. Give everybody extra room and caution. If needed maybe spend a little time in an empty parking lot going over shifting and braking so you can do those things without looking down.

“but if baffles me why so many pedestrians insist on lollygagging several people abreast, taking their half out of the middle, etc. on bike trails when in many cases there is a pedestrian sidewalk available to them just a few feet away.”

You're kidding right? Wish cyclists on the road did the same.

1) If I could snap my fingers and rededicate the burke, interurban, etc. to light rail like they were meant to be, I would in a heartbeat. A linear park is not transportation infrastructure, and should not be counted as such, unless you are going to take seriously the proposition that people will attempt to use it for transportation.

I tend to avoid BGT from 5-6pm year round and all day form April through September. It is not an effective transportation corridor.

2) The reason you do not call “on your left” is not that you tire of it after ten times, but that you notice that three out of those ten times resulted in the other trail user hearing a noise on the left, or the word 'left', and instinctively TURNING LEFT in front of you. Bells work better but after much experience with undergraduates on the trail you realize that if you do not need the other trail user to actively move out of the way, safer (for them!) NOT to ask them to.

When driving, do you flash your high beams and tootle your horn before overtaking? This was the recommendation in well-intentioned but wrong drivers' manuals for many years. It's exactly as stupid as calling 'on your left.' What is taught today in driver's ed, and ought to be taught everywhere else, is HEAD CHECK before you move to the side or turn. I do this when driving, when motorcycling, when jogging, when walking, on a street, trail or sidewalk. As a corollary, I keep right except to pass. Even walking on a sidewalk.

3) I routinely facepalm at cyclists who pull out to pass without checking what's oncoming. If there isn't a safe passing opportunity, slowing down to wait for one and then accelerating again will burn you a couple extra calories, dig?

I and others have nearly been hit by racers on the way up 75th from Sandpoint. The trail is not a bike freeway. If you don't like to be impeded by pedestrians and slower recreational bikers, take your bike over to the Velodrome. Your need to get to work or home faster is not a civil right.

I bike and walk along the Soos Creek Trail here in Kent.

The path is often filled with bikers and walkers. A lot of families bring kids along in daisy chains, some of them on small bikes, Big Wheels and trainers.

It burns me up with some middle aged moron, stuffed into a Lycra bike outfit like a sausage and riding some $10,000 teflon road bike, comes zooming along, with no brakes, no horn and yells at people to get out of his her way. It's even more annoying when a whole pack of these 90s rock star style stretch pants fiends pummel through innocents because they think they're Greg LeMonde.

I've seen wanna-be Lance Armstrongs (and had them blow by me) every time I've ridden the trail, and most of my rides have been between Lake Forest Park and U Village. I've also seen them while walking other stretches of the trail, during rush hour and otherwise. Some of them call out to pass and some don't.

I think, no matter what sort of belligerence you see on the Trail, the take-away lesson is that, no matter where you are and what you're doing, you're always going to run into self-absorbed, dangerously belligerent assholes, and as always you should be cautious.

And to be respectful and courteous, something that BPR don't seem to understand.

I can only hope that some of the BPR's read this as well. I am a frequent Burke-Gilman rider, and what galls me the most is people who insist on passing me during the stretches where the trail splits into two narrow trails, such as along Sandpoint Way. I try to speed up during the narrow sections since it is unsafe to pass there, with or without proper warning, but the fact is that I cannot keep up with the speed demons. I've been run off the trail there more than once, and I must ask if they can't just wait for the 30 seconds or so until the trail widens again.

Now, how about those drivers who pull into crosswalks?

There is a 15 MPH speed limit on the trail that should be enforced. Also if riders ride in manner that is dangerous to others they should be cited at whatever speed. If they injure a ped they should be charged with a felony.

The tone of the pro BPRs on this thread is significant. They are now complaining about pedestrians. Peds should not use the beautiful trail if there is a sidewalk nearby. Peds should walk in single file as far right as possible (sound familar?) notwithstanding their rights.

BGT critical mass walk anyone?

Is there a speed limit on the Burke Gilman trail?

No, there is not.

If you don't like fast moving bikes, find an alternative route.

BPRs don't bother me as much as the STP Training Pacelines. Especially when they're all dressed the same.

uhh… yeah there is. It's 15mph in City of Seattle limits. I think you might need this http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/biketrail…

Actually, there is a speed limit on all trails in Seattle and the Burke Gilman is both a pedestrian and a bike trail (and roller blades, etc). I am pretty sure the speed limit is 15 MPH.

Is it the dopamine?

No motor vehicles are allowed.
Speed limit is 15MPH is most areas, 10MPH in others

http://staff.washington.edu/jasononi/maps.html

Karma bit a friend of mine on the trial out by the downtown waterfront. She was commuting home on her bike, and had to wait several times for 3-wide pedestrian walkers to move out of her way (yes, she uses the “on your left”, but pedestrians take time to move). Pulling up behind one large pack of ped's, she was swearing at them in her head. Instead of waiting this time she saw a path around to the right and took it. Turns out there were old abandoned train tracks there and she went down, scraping the hell out of her knee.

She's not a BPR, but still learned a lesson about having patience while on mixed-use paths.

You're right, but does this excuse the pedestrians? This is not just an issue on city trails, but trails in the hills as well where people can somehow walk 3-wide on a two person wide trail and not even consider moving over for oncoming traffic. I think that everyone out there, cyclist or pedestrian, needs to be aware of their surroundings, get over themselves, and learn to play together.

I am a biker who rides the Burke, admittedly faster than 15mph at times. My real distaste for these guys boiled over when I two guys blew by me and continued swerving through packs of people. The lead rider ran over a small, hyper dog on a leash that had darted out from a people pack. The second guy couldn't avoid it either and hit it as well. They didn't even stop, but accelerated away while the people could only stand there and clean up the mess that was their dog. Hit and Run on the Burke

The thing is, bikers should see the situation ahead of them, like when 3 people are walking abreast, or parents are walking with their kids in strollers, the biker should slow way down as they approach the pedestrians, announce their intention to pass, and then to pass slowly when the way is clear. I bike the trail daily, and encounter this situation often. It's not that hard to see congestion potential well in advance and to adjust speed accordingly.

I saw or read somewhere, Streetfilms maybe, where in Europe the rule of thumb is that the larger, more dangerous mode of transport is responsible for the lesser. So, bikes are responsible for pedestrians, cars are responsible for bikes, trucks are responsible for cars. On the trail, that would mean that bikers are responsible for pedestrians, which makes sense to me.

I use the path from time to time for commuting in the morning and occasionally for recreation, and even for walks with my little kids. There are alot of obvious things I do for safety when on a bike: slow down, potentially wait for a good stretch when passing children, dogs, rollerbladers, always check who's behind you before going into the middle of the lane, warn others when passing etc. However, there are always some gray judgement zones on whether to pass when another cyclist is coming the other way and you're not quite sure when you'll cross. I like to think about that when I see others making bad decisions. First sometimes what seems egregious from one perspective may not have been intentional or seemed dangerous from the other. Secondly, folks make mistakes on the path. Its not a road and lots of people let their guard down and don't treat it like a MUP. There are exceptions but I like to think that for the most part folks aren't trying to mow down pedestrians or force the cyclists off the road. My point is that I think safe/defensive cycling should be taught and encouraged, pedestrians ought to obey the rules of the MUP, and that its less constructive to spend time blaming others for every incident one sees. (There are some exceptions to this rule but they really are generally exceptions not the rule)
Ben

The BPRs ought to appreciate that when their sprints and momentum are interrupted by the need to slow down for others, this is known as “interval training.”

Good comments, Ben.

So what's with the crosswalks AND stop signs (BGT at 65th, 70th, others)? Does the bicyclist stop at the stop sign and vehicles get to zip through unless the bicyclist is in the crosswalk? One issue is when cars stop for the bicyclist who hasn't yet entered the crosswalk. Bikers often wave the car through without head checking behind to see if any other bikers are coming. It's safest to keep going. Don't take breaks at the intersection.

Let's also add if it's Easter or a warm sunny weekend afternoon,

BPRs JUST STAY HOME!

Living in the Southend I'm more familiar with Seward Park and Lake Washington Blvd than Burke-Gilman. Every family is going to be out walking on the paths and every classic or customized car is going to be cruising the boulevard*. You're not going to get your race training in, you should have thought about it before noon.

*unless it's a Bicycle Sat or Sun, no cars but all kids.

Point 2 is critical. It's actually a safetry hazard to call out “on your left” when passing someone other than an experienced cyclist. An unexperienced cyclist is likely to look over their left shoulder rather than shift over. At minimum, they will inadvernently shift their weight, pulling their bike to the left and into the passing cyclist. More likely, they will also push/pull their handlebars as well, turning the bike harder to the left.

This is all well and good, I avoid trails when trying to maintain any speed for my own safety and the safety and comfort of others. The other day, though, I was riding down the street immediately adjacent to a MUP and a guy in a car pulled up alongside me and yelled at me for not using the trail.

Why can't we all just get along?

Just like driving a car, sometimes “what seems egregious from one perspective may not have been intentional or seemed dangerous from the other”. Funny to read the excuses bikers give themselves that aren't considered for car drivers.

It seems there is a bigger percentage of bikers than car drivers that don't give a hoot about others using the same space.

“My point is that I think safe/defensive cycling should be taught and encouraged, pedestrians ought to obey the rules of the MUP..” – safe cycling should be encouraged – pedestrians ought to obey..

This is key—pedestrians are to bicycles, what bicycles are to cars. If we are every going to make any headway through the transition to a truly multi- model transportation culture, bicyclists have to avoid the “do as I say, not as I do” implications of recklessness anywhere.

I call these egocentric, aggressive, road-ragers “Carcyclists.” They behave like most American drivers: as if they “own” the patch of pavement, insulated and protected by their 2 tons of steel, glass, and music and cell phoning noise.

Yup. That's why I have a bell.

Drivers aren't supposed to stop at crosswalks unless there's a stop sign or someone is trying to cross. There are no stop signs for cars at those crossings, and peds go slow enough that they can be seen before they enter the crosswalk and drivers (if they're going the speed limit) have time to stop for them. Cyclists, however, go too fast for any driver to see them and stop for them if they just keep going the same speed right through the intersection. So, yeah, you're supposed to stop, wait for a driver to yield, then go.

As for not waving cars through, I agree in places like crosswalks, where the driver is obliged to yield. They've properly ceded the ROW, and cyclists should take it. But take a four-way stop, when the cyclist is actually in the roadway. Far too often drivers who have the right of way (they're to my right, or they got there first) don't go because they think I'm going to pull some stupid biker crap like not stopping. So when I do stop, I wave them through, because they have the right of way and I'm supposed to yield. At certain locations (34th & Evanston, by the Fremont PCC, is a big one), cyclists behind me will blow right past me, and I've seen a lot of near hits. And as a cyclist, when I finally see an accident, I'll call 911 and give aid, but I will be laughing on the inside, and I'll make sure the cops know that the cyclist was in the wrong.

Share the road. Share the trail. Respect others. Go only as fast as is safe for you and all others. Pay attention to your surroundings. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy others. Enjoy! It is pretty simple. This is not rocket science.

And.. if you must text pull off to the side of the trail. Walkers who are texting weave like drunken sailors.

I have often thought a pedestrian Critical Mass would be really funny. Just go to Westlake before the massholes depart and encircle them. Then walk really slowly.

I just think its funny how many cyclists behave just like the drivers they hate by acting as though there desire to move quickly outweighs all other uses. Not all or even most, but then not all or even most drivers act that way either.

A lot of those bad decisions, like so many other bad decisions, result from selfishness and a lack of outward perspective, i.e. “how do my actions affect other people?”.

If there is, it's neither posted nor enforced, and that might be part of the problem.

The ironic thing is that the BPR complaint – oblivious, self-absorbed people walking several abreast – is the same complaint that aggressive drivers have on the road. Here's the bad news, we're stuck with the oblivious, self-absorbed people.

I have seen bikers getting a ticket in Lake Forest Park. They take enforcement a little more seriously there.

I'm a “spandex clad” road racer and long-time trail commuter who loves the diversity of the BGT trail. I keep my speeds slow on the trail because I'm usually going too and from my training grounds — racers don't ride hard all the time, in fact, most of the time we are out riding easy. Commuters and weekend warriors are more likely to be trail speeders, but just like there are crazies on the highways there will be abusers of the trails. In my experience most trail users are respectful and courteous, and we probably have a lot more in common than not. We're all in this together so pay it forward — smile out there and keep it safe and fun. There are too many other things to be grumpy about. Peace!

1– remember this: almost all bike riders drive cars too. we don't HATE cars but we object to a lot of drivers and we try to stand up for our rights on the road, thats all. refrain from making us-versus-them issues. never say “cyclists” in reference to all cyclists. its like calling all drivers jerks. i'm a driver. you're a driver. my mom's a driver.
2– your second sentence is complete jibberish. no comprendo.

Where did I say all or even most? In fact I specifically limited my comment to a subset of the subset of cyclists that are anti-car and even said “not all or even most”. Its been my experience that the more anti-car a cyclist is (and I think this works in reverse as well) the more of an asshole cyclist they are.