veganbikes

Doing anything has its risks, I do mean anything. Sleeping can be risky, walking can be risky, drinking water can be risky. Life can be risky it is just pure fact. If you are so risk averse you probably don't want to step outside your house but you also probably don't want to stay cooped up in your house either.

People doing illegal things are going to be a problem all over the world you unfortunately cannot avoid it and those who are supposed to be enforcing laws usually don't know them and in some cases don't care enough to do much especially when it comes to a M.U.P. however there are so many places to ride that a path like that is something I can avoid or go on at different times. Certainly if there is someone causing problems and doing something actually illegal and harmful you should note it and let those who are supposed to be keeping everyone safe know.

JohnDThompson 

Same here.

And make the oblivious aware of your presence.

scared_cyclist

So I believe the common feeling is this:

No matter where you go there are going to selfish morons with reckless disregard about other people's safety. So they
will continue to rip though the trails on their e-(insert latest invention) and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

So far, nobody has been injured through a head-on collision. So keep your head on a swivel, stay alert, pay attention around blind corners, monitor your speed so you
can always brake quickly, and get back on the trail

Sy Reene

Or maybe the blue lines are the bike lane... looks wide enough for pretty much any bike tire. :-)

Strawbunyan

If it is a risk free activity you are searching for, give up, it doesn't exist. You could drown simply taking a drink tomorrow, also you will die if you don't eventually take that drink soooooooooooooo. Good luck with your phobia I guess?

Aubergine 

One thing you can do is get a mirror so you can scan behind you easily. There are options for mounting to a helmet or to the handlebar. I am deaf so a mirror is obviously helpful for riding safely on both streets and paths.

3alarmer

...there are a couple of guys I see out on my MUP riding these things. They wear full face helmets and motocross crash gear. You can now buy them with top speeds of 50 and 55mph.

scared_cyclist

Yes, same here. They are called Electric Unicycles and they absolutely rip along the trail as well. It's scary seeing them in full face helmets besides dogs and families going so fast.

Smaug1

I just watched the video in your original post.

Yes, those are bad injuries. We even had a fatal one down in the Florida Keys recently that resulted in a temporary ban on eBikes.

However... keep in mind that for every one bike accident you see like that, there are probably 100 or 1,000 fatal car accidents.

I would also point out that you could just as easily get hurt by someone else's negligence while running. Or break your ankle playing tennis.

Riding bikes is not without its dangers, but I feel that it's still relatively safe, even on a MUP with the occasional drunk person. (lower chances of it happening and lower stakes if it DOES happen, esp. if you're wearing a helmet)

Maelochs

Between 30K and 40K automobile deaths in the US every years since 1961 ... I forget the earlier data but it is online. Of course, cars are ridiculously safer, and miles traveled per death has gone way up ... but still, 30 to forty thousand people die in road accidents each year in the US.

Approximately 1000 (usually a little less) cyclists die each year in the US. A lot of them are substance users, many driving unlit at night, and/or going against traffic.

For every cyclist who dies, 30 to 40 drivers die .... but no one ever worries about getting into their cars.

More important though, is the number of driver and riders who never have a serious accident.

Smaug1

Thinking about this some more, it feels like it's coming from a guy who doesn't ride bikes much and is a bit scared to get back into it. (not putting you down)
Just get out there and be alert. (the world needs more Lerts! )
Do what you can to mitigate dangers and injury. For example, ride toward the right side of your lane when possible. Keep your eyes way down the path, not just right in front of you. Wear a helmet. That sort of thing.
I was a bit nervous when I got back into commuting two years ago. Now, I just do what I can and don't worry about it. I use good lights and good, considerate riding technique. I try to be the guy who inspires drivers to say: "I wish ALL cyclists were like that!"
One tip about riding on the MUP: don't use a headlight during the daytime, or if you do, don't leave it on blink mode. That is irritating as can be to oncoming traffic.

indyfabz

Someone who was sooo desperate to be able to post a link makes me wonder.

70sSanO

I imagine that you will not get over your fear.

Creating a forum name of “scared_cyclist” is a good indication that you don’t see things changing anytime soon.

John

Smaug1

Let's be optimistic for him.
He obviously created the first name that wasn't taken that came to mind just for the purpose of making this one post.
He appears to have already gone, too. Mission accomplished.

scared_cyclist

He obviously created the first name that wasn't taken that came to mind just for the purpose of making this one post.
He appears to have already gone, too. Mission accomplished.

I went for another ride on the trails. I got passed by two road cyclists going 30 km/hr while riding in tandem. I had to make a quick correction to avoid a collision.
Then I had a guy riding an electric unicycle rip down the trail out of now where. Another old lady came out of nowhere ripping it on her e-bike.

I went home and said to myself: is it worth it? Who is going to take care of me or my family if one of these reckless idiots smashes into me?

Although I love cycling, there is a time and place for everything. If the trails you have access to are inhabited by these sorts of people it's better to cut your losses while
you are still healthy and injury free and find something safer.

I started running and couldn't believe how much safer it was. It's also much harder exercise than cycling I did not have to worry about breaking my wrist or collarbone - or some reckless teenager on an e-scooter smashing into me.

When the weather is nice, I'll call an Uber and will bring my bike to a desolate trail where I know there are none of these types around. Cycling is just too dangerous here, and the more times you venture out,
the more your odds of getting injured increase.

I hope those on the fence about these trails inhabited by road cyclists, and e-(insert your vehicle of choice) err on the side of caution and stay off the trails. The risk isn't worth the reward. There are many more safer things you can do
with your time.

SoSmellyAir

I did not know Toronto was this bad. I am sorry that you seem to have effectively given up on cycling. How is running so "much safer"; are you not running on the same trails?

scared_cyclist

When you have people like this on our trails, they force us off. You never know when they are going to collide with you because they come out of nowhere
around the blind curves so fast. For example, this guy was literally going at this speed into a blind curve:

https://www.youtube.com/@IdiotsOnTheBikePathInEtobicoke/short

I have given up using any of our trails. I run on the sidewalk now. It's sad, but you can't control these people. That's life. It's better to be safe than a collection of broken bones and concussions.

Eric F 

I have a strong suspicion that this guy is just trying to get clicks on his own video.

scared_cyclist

I am trying to have a civil conversation that can perhaps help others once they read this thread in the future.

You will also notice I only have one video on my YouTube channel. And it is of this guy going at this speed into a blind curve:

https://www.youtube.com/@IdiotsOnTheBikePathInEtobicoke/short

So you are basically saying I am expending all this time and effort for the sake of one video. Please grow up and be respectful. Hurling insults helps no one. We are all cyclists trying to make it home safely.

Maelochs

Dude ... you rally cannot "help others" with nothing but negativity.

I am sorry, but indulging an irrational fear is not helpful. As others have said, we see the world as we wish to see it, often, and that includes seeing only the bad side.If you are advising others to be scared because you have not figured out how to master your fear ... no bueno.

I am not saying you should go cycling on the MUPs you fear so much. Maybe you are just not meant to be a cyclist in that environment. Probably you would decrease the safety of yourself and others because of your panic state. So sure, you can "help others" by not cycling those paths.

There is an old adage: If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.

If you come here and people try to explain that the danger is in your head (for instance: exactly how many actual collisions and injuries have occurred on the paths in question in the past several years? Pretty much none? How many of them involved, calm, alert cyclists enjoying the ride? Pretty much none? Okay, then .... ) and you tell us all how wrong we all are, then you are saying you Want to remain afraid.

How is that helping others? How is making others afraid of your imaginary fears a good thing? For that matter, how is clinging to your fears a good thing?

Check this out: "According to the CDC, about 235,000 people over age 15 visit the emergency room each year due to a bathroom related-injury."

So why aren't you telling us all not to use the rest room? I can assure you that is Way more than the number hurt on your cycling path, or Any cycling path or All cycling paths across the continent.

I don't know why you came here. Not to get help or to help yourself, obviously, and even more obviously not to help others. My philosophy instructs me to look inside deeply and discover the actual intent behind my actions; you know, "Know Thyself" and all that.

Finally ... you have received nothing but civil responses. No one has been rude or abusive. We have all engaged in civil discussion,. The fact than no one agrees with you doesn't mean that everyone else is a jerk; it means we are honestly evaluatuing a situation you have not analyzed according to actual evidence, and we are trying to help you be more rational.

We are still no suggesting that you need to cycle on paths you don't like. However, I do suggest that every one of us would be better off by being scrupulously honest with self and others, as well as kind toward self and others.

I do not think i have been dishonest or unkind. In fact, as far as I can tell, I have really tried to be helpful. Whether I have succeeded or not I cannot control. I can only do my best.

So, in keeping with my belief that one should only give t others advice one gives to oneself: Go forth and do your best. Be your best self. Live life.

This thread is not, I do not believe a thread about riding bicycles.

badger1

It appears quite self-evident that cycling on multi-use trails in the Toronto area is not for you. That's fine, but falsely generalizing from your own experiences/reactions to an injunctive 'warning' to all cyclists is both irritating and pointless.

As I said way back in post #5 in this thread, we have precisely the same issues here on our trail system. In our case, all forms of motorized vehicles -- with the obvious exception of legitimate, medically-necessary low speed electric mobility aids -- are prohibited, and speeds are restricted to 25kmh for all users. Neither restriction is enforced, unfortunately, but there it is. I constantly see the kinds of things you describe and yes, that sort of behaviour is at once thoughtless, stupid, reckless, and so on. One can think of other applicable epithets not suitable for a 'family forum.'

But that is the social world we now inhabit. Our community does not have the policing resources to enforce those restrictions, so one must choose either to forego cycling in such an environment, or ride on. Even at 72, I choose the latter. The real benefits outweigh the real but really quite minimal risks, as far as I'm concerned.

veganbikes

Like Maelochs was saying fear is not safety fear makes things less safe for everyone. If you live your life in fear you will not be able to handle when something truly goes wrong you will be so plagued with fear you will end up hurting yourself or hurting others or both,

Your idea of the conversation initially was "I have no interest in this forum just posting so I can show a video I made" and continued and continued and finally you are starting to say something but in the end you really don't want to help others just continue your fear and help others be as fearful as you. That is not healthy or helpful.

It is fine to be cautious at points and even better to be spatially aware but don't live your life in fear and try to teach others that fear. Riding a bicycle is not really dangerous and incidents are few and far between. The number of bad rides I have had due to others have been closer to nil then the many many many many many more awesome rides I have had (or at least rides without incident with others) Plus most of the incidents with others haven't been unsafe enough to say there is a problem and I should be fearful. When you learn how to ride and learn spatial awareness you will have fewer issues.

The time I have been truly fearful was riding uphill in almost 100 degree heat full loaded with touring stuff on a road with a shoulder that was literally barely wide enough for my bike as massive SUVs are racing past me and eventually I had to stop and take refuge under a tree on someones property hoping nobody comes out and bugs me and they didn't and I made it to my campsite that night and also had a really delicious peach that was beyond juicy.

I am not a strong mountain biker so I tend to use my brakes a bit more than needed but one of my last big rides I said I am going to work on my confidence and I had a much better ride and felt better after it and I had no injuries or issues aside from going up a rough and rather long stair climb I did eventually have to hop off the bike and walk but that was not fear that was just being tired after a good ride and not quite having the gearing to get up these deep and rough sort of stairs.

Eric F 

This is now the 3rd time you have posted a link to your own video. Expressing doubts about your motivations in this thread is not "hurling insults". Grow up? I'm not the one afraid to ride my bicycle on a bike path.

indyfabz

I think we’re actually up to 4. Posts 1, 72, 92 and 94.

And he wanted to make sure it eventually made it into the OP after he reached 10 posts by making junk posts to reach 10. (See post #50.). I have to agree with your belief about the real motivation here.

Trakhak

Posting a thread here about bad multi-use path (MUP) behavior by cyclists is like starting one on a four-wheeler and quad bike forum and beginning the opening post with, "As a hiker and a lover of nature . . . " You may mean well, but the chances that anything good will come of it are slim.

For an idea of what you're up against, take a look around the Advocacy & Safety subforum. (I'm going to ask the moderators to move your thread to that subforum.) You'll see plenty of threads complaining about idiot walkers and dog owners, groups of idiots spread across and clogging paths, etc., etc.

Since all those idiots usually seem to share the path without problems until a bike rider comes along at speed, I'll reserve judgment of where the idiot label belongs. (Kidding. I know where it belongs.)

The proliferation of e-bikes is only going to make things worse, so you're probably wise to avoid the most popular MUPs.

By the way, running and cycling can be equally hard if you want them to be and you know what you're doing on the bike. Shift to a lower gear and spin the pedals at a rate close to your running pace. You'll know you're doing it right when your respiration rate on the bike matches your running respiration rate. Don't try it on a MUP, though, if you don't want to turn into One Of Them.

[Edit]

I agree that the OP's posting history might be suspect. So what? It's the mismatch between slower and faster traffic on the MUPs that causes problems, and it's worth being reminded of that fact every once in a while.

Fast riders on MUPs complain about slow trail users in exactly the same way that drivers complain about bikes on streets. Nothing is going to change unless riders in the one case and drivers in the other wise up.