The following is an INITIAL DRAFT, posted for public comment, of MUP usage guidelines. The intent is to create a simple set of guidelines to make us all safer in our use of the ever-more-congested MUP.
This is not comprehensive — it was drafted off the top of my head with some input from local MUP users. Please add your thoughts and suggestions using the blog’s comment feature, or email me direct, and we’ll get this together for inclusion in the fall Rec Guide.
– greg blanchette aimless1@mailcan.com
MUP usage guidelines
As the name Multi-Use Path (MUP) suggests, the path is intended for mixed use. As more people use the path in a variety of ways — walking, running, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, strollering — there is more potential for accident. These guidelines for MUP use will promote safety and minimize conflicts.
- All MUP users should travel on the right side of the path. When passing someone, pass to the left.
- Cyclists should have a bell or horn (voice also works but gets tedious) to warn pedestrians when overtaking.
- At night, cyclists MUST have front and rear lights, to see where they are going but especially to let other riders, drivers and pedestrians know they are coming. Serious collisions have happened because of a lack of lights on bikes.
- At night, especially on the darker sections of the path (south of the Esso station), pedestrians should carry a light too, or at least wear light-coloured clothing.
- When hearing a bell behind them, pedestrians should automatically move to the right side of the path, single file, to let the bikes pass. Please don’t stop in the middle of the path and turn around to look.
- There are a few blind corners and swerves on the MUP, and cyclists should slow down when passing through them.
- When cycling out of town (south), riding on the west shoulder (ocean side of the road, opposite side to the MUP) is safest up to Industrial Way, where the shoulder disappears entirely; then cross onto the MUP.
- Because of its mixed use and many obstacles, the MUP is not appropriate for high-speed cycling. When moving fast, experienced cyclists should travel on the road shoulder, rather than on the MUP.
- Skateboarders should use sensible caution, bearing in mind a skateboard’s limited turning and stopping power, and yield to other MUP users.
What drivers can do:
- When pulling out of a driveway, stop before the front of your car blocks the MUP and check for cycle traffic.
- At night, when you see an oncoming cyclist drop your high-beams. It makes a big difference to how well the cyclist can see that narrow bike path.
MUP improvements
- District staff should keep the west shoulder (heading out of town) clear of gravel up to the Esso station so cyclists can use it safely.
- Repaint the white edge lines where needed, especially in the dark sections south of the gas stations.
- Reminder signs on the pavement to “travel right, pass left.”
- Repair the potholes and root ridges.
- Fix ridges and pavement drop-offs that could spill a bike.
- Widen the narrow sections.
- Put reflectors or white paint on the telephone poles close to the MUP (particularly at swerves), so they show up better at night.
- Property owners should trim back bushes at driveway entrances so MUP traffic is visible, along with other bushes that overhang the MUP.
Cycling Advisory Group
- * There should be an advisory group of dedicated lifestyle and casual cyclists providing input to the district on all cycling-related initiatives and infrastructure.
- The advisory group should run a regular survey of the MUP to identify places and features of particular concern to cyclists.
18 comments
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August 8, 2010 at 2:59 pm
paul
pedestrians need better training here – most turn and stop in the middle of the path upon hearing a bell or even “passing on your left”, or look angry you’ve politely dinged/asked to pass.
in vancouver, on the seawall, there are divided cycle/walk paths, and if it’s not, then there are illustrations showing pedestrians should walk hugging the right-hand side.
August 8, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Eileen Floody
I’d like to see the MUP extended so we can stay on the inlet/non-ocean side all the way. It’s tricky to cross the highway in summer. I end to cross at Fourth St and stay on the inlet side – I breathe easier than if I have cars & trucks whooshing up behind me.
August 8, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Craig
It’s been a while since I’ve cycled the MUP, much of doing so was as a utilitarian cyclist – so my comments come from that perspective. These are good suggestions given that no doubt the MUP is getting busier since that last time I used it.
My suggestions and comments are:
ALL cyclists should have a bell or horn (isn’t it the law?). Do not recommend using a voice to warn pedestrians as voice does not carry as well as a horn or bell, the latter being much more distinctive than yelling. I’ve seen pedestrians move to the left when they’ve partially heard “move to the left” when the cyclist really said “passing on your left.”
Pedestrians should keep their children and dogs under control at all times, even when pets are on a leash. Both young children and dogs don’t have the same attention span as adults and often dart away and into bicycles.
At night, all MUP users should wear more than light coloured clothing – reflective vests are best, especially when it is very dark. Everyone should carry and use a light.
Paint the outside edges of the MUP with highly reflective white paint. I’ve come close to leaving the MUP because there were a few times at night that I couldn’t see the edge of the trail, especially at some of the winding sections for sharp corners.
Pedestrians, be aware that even though you think you do, you actually don’t walk in a straight line. Often people zig zag and weave back and forth as they walk down the path (and no, this has nothing to do with being intoxicated). This sometimes makes passing difficult by a cyclist.
Pedestrians, do a shoulder check when taking more space on the MUP to ensure that a cyclist isn’t passing at the same time you decide to take more space.
August 9, 2010 at 9:29 am
Adrienne
This is great, greg and Jackie. Thanks for putting it up. I was hit by a cyclist at 4 in the afternoon in front of the Esso. (I was walking on the right side of the path and he ploughed right into me.) Then he said, “I shouldn’t be riding. I’m drunk.” So, we could add no drunk cycling, but that’s sort of common sense isn’t it? Actually most of this is common sense, which could make the entire exercise more frustrating. We can say all this, but you can’t legislate common sense. People will still be idiots. I think the “Travel right, pass left” is a great place to start.
August 9, 2010 at 9:57 am
K Shaw
These guidelines are very helpful! Thanks! Signs, as below, are very important. A lot of the walkers and some of the riders must be from England or Australia because their impulses seem to be the opposite of what I expect (below). It is useful to see the experiences of other folks in writing, such as the two examples that Adrienne gives.
Reminder signs on the pavement to “travel right, pass left.”
August 9, 2010 at 11:37 am
Warren
What drivers can do:
* When pulling out of a driveway, stop before the front of your car blocks the MUP and check for cycle traffic.
Should be before the front of your car enters the MUP zone
August 11, 2010 at 8:09 am
roz
Great ideas. I’d also like to point out that cyclists need to check for oncoming bike/pedestrian traffic before turning out onto the MUP. I’m often surprised by riders nipping out from Beaches grocery as I’m riding past. They had no clue that I was approaching, because they didn’t do a shoulder check at all. Zero common sense. And don’t get me started on that “improvement” in front of the Dolphin! Insanity.
August 13, 2010 at 11:59 am
greg blanchette
This morning i walked from town out to Sharp Road to pick up a bicycle being repaired, and i was struck by how UNenjoyable a walk it is. All the vehicle traffic makes for a noisy, stinky walk. The bike trip back was much more enjoyable, mostly because it went quickly.
Let’s not fool ourselves: We walk the MUP because it’s all we’ve got, not because it’s a nice walk. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a walking path that wasn’t right beside the highway into town?
August 15, 2010 at 8:27 pm
kevin midgley
Insanity to encourage users heading south to be on the non ocean side of the road until the Esso. I’d NEVER ride my bike there and I won’t even walk on that side of the road as the narrowness of the shoulders mean cars pass at high speed and you can’t see them coming. At least you have a chance on the water side of the road and the pedestrian rule is always walk facing the traffic. Mixing cyclists with big vehicles is nuts.
When driving I detest having cyclists on the road heading south when the MUP is available on the other side of the road. There is just not enough room on that side of the road for safe travel for both and that is why the MUP was created in the first place. One motor home or fish farm truck and you are toast on that stretch of road.
Posting the suggestion of cyclists riding on the road until the Esso is nuts and could get someone killed. It is not the answer to the MUP’s issues.
August 15, 2010 at 8:31 pm
george patterson
Bicyclists should treat pedestrians on the MUP, or anyplace else for that matter, the way they would like cars to treat them. All of the safety issues on the MUP come from people going too fast. I have been hit twice. Maybe we should call it the SLOW PATH and have one side of the highway be the fast path. I use the highway if I am in a hurry. I find it helps to wobble a good bit; cars back away and give you plenty of space. I think Jimmer’s top speed is about as much as the MUP can handle. How about a $50 fine for any bike on the MUP without a bell or horn and lights? Good revenue for the village.
August 15, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Spencer Baird
I agree with Greg. Until we are all driving electric cars I use the MUP as little as possible. What I do hate to see is cars parked in the MUP near the Surf Shop, and the Shelter Restaurant, and other places but these are commonly blocked, with someone pushing a baby carriage having to go out in the road to go by. Couldn’t these cars be ticketed or towed? At least NO PARKING signs prominently displayed.
August 16, 2010 at 7:20 am
Adrienne
I’ll wade in again. While all are good ideas, so many are common sense or already the law. If there is to be any signage, keep it short and to the point. People are inundated with signs and, for the most part, ignore them. Honestly, they should know to have lights front and back, travel at a safe speed, etc. They are wilfully choosing to ignore this. Perhaps if there was a pointed media campaign and some enforcement. My vote for priority would be to enforce lights, front and back. Not wearing a helmet will (likely) only harm the rider (and our Medicare system), but someone who is doing everything right is going to seriously injure or kill someone riding without lights and it’s going to ruin two lives.
August 16, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Tanya
Lots of good comments here, and thanks for posting the topic, Jackie. I love the MUP and am so glad we have it but there are some improvements that could be made. I agree with Kevin and Eileen about riding on the ocean side of the hwy coming out of town–I never do it and I hate it when I am driving a car and others are doing it. It IS a very narrow shoulder, like most of the hwy out here, and I have had to pull over a number of motorhomes to get them to pull up their stairs as they had forgotten–an easy thing to forget on some mohos.
I think the path, if it actually is one, from 4th st to just past the Coop gas station should be improved, demarcated, allocated or whatever has to be done to make it safe and usable. I am sure more people would walk/bike/scoot/skate/blade/run/whatever if it were improved.
I appreciate when the lines are repainted as it helps navigate at night, even with a light. I wonder if a line down the middle would help remind people to stay right. Symbols (bike, person, stop, etc) painted on the path might also help. If the district sourced tiny stop signs (3″) I would buy one to put at the end of my drive to remind people to stop before crossing the MUP–is that absurd?! The Weigh West area is another dangerous area b/c people come barrelling up the hill, there are cars parked on the path, and the path is confusingly wide for drivers there–I have even seen someone driving on it as if it were a slow lane! Maybe some potted plants might help delineate and prevent people from suddenly pulling over for the view without regard for people ON the path? I don’t know.
I have heard many people complain about the path improvement by the dolphin but I actually like it, from an aesthetic biking perspective. I don’t always bike for commuting purposes. Sometimes it is just nice to cruise down the path, wave to some friends driving by and lean into some turns! I don’t like the curb that was put up there though–anyone who wanted to go for the straight stretch there now cannot unless they go over the curb. Options are always nice.
The only other thing I would add is that bells should be rung in advance of being on top of someone, like a school bus length. It is startling to be walking along, even on the right side, and have someone suddenly ring or blurt out something as they whip by. People are unpredictable when they are frightened and that is why they sometimes move to the wrong side or middle of the path.
August 17, 2010 at 8:29 am
Josie Osborne
Figuring out a way for cyclists to go fast on the MUP is not the answer – I agree with previous commenters that amblers (bike, pedestrian, rollerbladers etc) should use the MUP and that a safer, wider shoulder should be built to accommodate cyclists who wish to commute (i.e., go faster). A strong education and enforcement campaign for all users is also critical. And do-able.
Several of you have commented that you feel unsafe using the very narrow (if existent) shoulder to cycle on as cars and motorhomes whip past you. So let us ask ourselves: who are we giving priority here to anyhow? Let’s take a lesson from Holland and use the existing width of the road to narrow the space available for, and speed available to, VEHICLES. Using various traffic calming devices, we should be able to make an experience that is safe to all, and encouraging for all cyclists. Drivers will learn to accommodate and live with such devices (this is proven in places such as Holland) which would include speed humps, pinch points, different surfaces, curb extensions, etc etc. There is a wealth of information available on the internet and it’s all PROVEN to work!
In fact, it is almost impossible (and inefficient) to consider “improvements” to the MUP without considering traffic in general in the downtown core and approach to downtown.
However in the short term (as this would obviously take a few years), I think education and enforcement for drivers, MUP users, and home owners on the east side of the highway is the best way forward. I also like the idea of a central line in the MUP to indicate “Stay to the right, pass on the left.” Technically, our MUP is not wide enough to really allow for heavy usage of bikes and pedestrians in the approach to downtown. (Think of the Stanley Park seawall, for example.)
August 17, 2010 at 8:33 am
Josie Osborne
ps – the Raincoast Education Society was thinking about hosting a bike forum this fall/winter in each town, with a few partners such as Parks and Rec, and featuring mini-bike workshops (e.g., how to handle basic repairs), asking various dedicated cyclists to bring their bikes and their rain gear/pannier systems to show people that cycling in the rain is possible etc, etc (just in the preliminary “idea” phase).
Do you like this idea? Would you be willing to help pull this event together? Please let me know (not in this forum but via email to josie.osborne@gmail.com).
August 17, 2010 at 10:42 am
Warren
Snow should be removed from the MUP (& shoulder on the other side) as quickly as it is from the road. Gravel should be swept from both more often.
August 19, 2010 at 6:36 am
roz
When cycling south out of town, the correct place to be is on the west side of the highway until you’re past the Esso station. ( Unless you’re riding at night without lights.) The paved shoulders are of roughly equal width. For those who bike on the east side: do you believe that putting two directions of bike traffic together with two directions of pedestrian traffic on that narrow strip of pavement is safe? Those south-bound cyclists are a real nuisance when you’re biking north! I’ve probably done the ride over 10,000 times without incident. And lots of us don’t have a car to hop into when we need to be somewhere in a hurry. Biking in this town is getting slower and slower.
August 24, 2010 at 11:44 pm
greg blanchette
Wow, lots of well considered comments.
I recently spent several hours walking on the MUP (gathering use statistics for the Rec department) and realized a few things. Foremost, the “walk right, pass left” rule only makes sense where the MUP is separate from the roadway. Where the path adjoins the road, there’s no way i want to “walk right” when heading out of town because there’s nothing but a painted line to separate me from traffic — it’s unpleasant and alarming. I think those stretches need different treatment.
Gravel on the path and plants, especially berry runners, growing out across the path are a definite maintenance issue.
As for use of the opposite (ocean) shoulder of the road when southbound, out of about 50 southbound cyclists i counted, only half a dozen used that side. I still believe (and i think statistics would bear me out) that’s the safest way to go, at least up to Industrial Way. Cyclists who aren’t comfortable with using the shoulder can still use the MUP, but sharing the traffic load would be a good thing.
And i agree that education and enforcement are the first steps, not a plethora of signage that just becomes invisible in a week anyway.
The lights-and-bell issue is very important for safety, and should and could be readily enforced. The “fines” imposed for offenders might be on-the-spot purchase of small bike lights.