People you hate on trails, sidewalks, or other outdoor exercise venues...

[Anonymous]

After last weekend, I feel like I need an "I survived running on the Mt. Vernon Trail" t-shirt.

SO many jackass cyclists.

Slow down. Stop. Be kind and considerate when passing people, and DO NO WEAVE IN AND OUT. There is actually a speed limit to the trail. It is NOT your personal training ground.

However, I've taken a risky move. Instead of running on the far right of the path, I started running more in the center. Or, to the center-left of the "lane."

That seemed to actually encourage many of the really jackass cyclists to slow down and pass appropriately, by waiting for traffic to clear in the opposite direction. A couple were still hell bent on not slowing down, but it did make a number of cyclists re-consider splicing through trail traffic.


It sounds like the cyclists aren't the only ones who were being "jackasses" out there then.


Nope.

Doing this doesn't hinder anyone, except the Lance-wannabees who refuse to slow down. Cyclists and bikers who go a normal speed for a mixed-use trail (15mph max generally) aren't affected. Regardless, cyclists always must yield to pedestrians.

If you bike within the speed limit, you're not going to be affected by a pedestrian in the right lane - even if they're on the left, or center-left side. If you can't pass then, then wait. It's simple. Just wait.


I typically ride at 12 MPH or so on trails. But I still feel safer passing when walkers, runners and slower cyclists move to the right, as I do when I am being passed. Of course there is no legal obligation to move to the right (as long as you are right of the center line) but why not do what you can for everyone's safety?


As a pedestrian (runner, mainly) I find it safer if I'm toward the center. Cyclists on the whole seem more likely to slow down when passing, and give greater clearance. You'd think it would be the opposite, but unfortunately that's not the case. If I'm on the far right, the Tour de France dingos will squeeze through anything (like if there's someone else in the opposite direction). If I'm running closer to the center, they're more likely to slow down and wait. Safer for me, safer for everyone.

What you said makes no sense... runners, walkers and bikers drift as they use a trail. If you are in the center you will drift in the left lane and people will pass you on either side. You also disrupt the people coming the opposite way. Sounds like you are very disrupted on the trail.

[Anonymous]

People who have young children and a dog- off leash. I almost ran into a child then a loose dog in the span of two seconds. I couldn’t believe there was an adult allowing all this mayhem on a very busy Rock Creek path on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Runners in the dark with literally nothing reflective on, wearing all dark clothes, and running in the street. WHY? Don't you want to do your best to make sure cars can see you?? Saw a guy this morning and even his shoes, for whatever reason, didn't appear to have reflective stuff on them, like I thought most running shoes did. Anyway, don't depend on a few small pieces of reflective material on your shoes.

[Anonymous]

People on mopeds and motorcycles who feel entitled to ride in between lanes or on the shoulder when there is traffic backed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Runners in the dark with literally nothing reflective on, wearing all dark clothes, and running in the street. WHY? Don't you want to do your best to make sure cars can see you?? Saw a guy this morning and even his shoes, for whatever reason, didn't appear to have reflective stuff on them, like I thought most running shoes did. Anyway, don't depend on a few small pieces of reflective material on your shoes.

+1. Saw a woman in all-black with zero reflective gear, no lights, etc., running on a very busy street off Little River Turnpike at 6am in the dark. My windows were still largely covered in dew and barely saw her at the last minute. She has no idea how lucky she was that something tragic did not happen!

[Anonymous]

I hate when group ex instructors are like "let's take a sweaty group picture!!" after a class, to put on their personal page.

Please just don't.

[Anonymous]

Equestrians in mixed-use trails who don't clean up after their horses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equestrians in mixed-use trails who don't clean up after their horses.

How, exactly, do you expect people to clean up after horses, and where are these trails? Most trails are I know are designated for horses, but it doesn't keep idiot mountain bikers and hikers from using them.

[Anonymous]

Pot smokers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Runners in the dark with literally nothing reflective on, wearing all dark clothes, and running in the street. WHY? Don't you want to do your best to make sure cars can see you?? Saw a guy this morning and even his shoes, for whatever reason, didn't appear to have reflective stuff on them, like I thought most running shoes did. Anyway, don't depend on a few small pieces of reflective material on your shoes.

+1. Saw a woman in all-black with zero reflective gear, no lights, etc., running on a very busy street off Little River Turnpike at 6am in the dark. My windows were still largely covered in dew and barely saw her at the last minute. She has no idea how lucky she was that something tragic did not happen!

She's an idiot. With all the parks, trails and quiet residential neighborhoods to run in, she has to run down 236 in the dark while wearing dark clothing - and I'm sure she considers herself to be quite the health nut. Boggles the mind.

[Anonymous]

Bikers flying around blind corners on multi use trails. I've had to literally jump off the trail to avoid being slammed into.

Bikers choosing to bike down busy, high travel roads.

I used to bike ride myself and I never treated the trails and roads like they belonged to me, Me, and only - MEEEEE!

[Anonymous]

People who resurrect old threads.

[Anonymous]

Listening to phone without headphones guy - knock it off, jackass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Runners in the dark with literally nothing reflective on, wearing all dark clothes, and running in the street. WHY? Don't you want to do your best to make sure cars can see you?? Saw a guy this morning and even his shoes, for whatever reason, didn't appear to have reflective stuff on them, like I thought most running shoes did. Anyway, don't depend on a few small pieces of reflective material on your shoes.

+1. Saw a woman in all-black with zero reflective gear, no lights, etc., running on a very busy street off Little River Turnpike at 6am in the dark. My windows were still largely covered in dew and barely saw her at the last minute. She has no idea how lucky she was that something tragic did not happen!

She's an idiot. With all the parks, trails and quiet residential neighborhoods to run in, she has to run down 236 in the dark while wearing dark clothing - and I'm sure she considers herself to be quite the health nut. Boggles the mind.

Not a runner (I AM a cyclist) but would like to point out PP said NEAR 236, not in it. As anyone who tries to get around that part of FFX on foot or bike can attest there are several roads there which have no sidewalks, sidepaths, bike lanes, and for which there are no nearby parallel routes. The woman in question may not have wanted to drive to her run. You want to deal with that problem do something about the infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bikers flying around blind corners on multi use trails. I've had to literally jump off the trail to avoid being slammed into.

Bikers choosing to bike down busy, high travel roads.

I used to bike ride myself and I never treated the trails and roads like they belonged to me, Me, and only - MEEEEE!

I bike on busy roads when there is no good alternative - I would rather slow you down than hit a pedestrian on a sidewalk. Or get right hooked by someone entering a driveway. If its a road with more than one lane in each direction you can pass around me as I stay in the right lane. If its a road with one lane in each direction and its wide enough to stay to the far right without major fear of getting doored, I will sometimes do that, depending on relative speeds and how long I will be on the road. If there is room to swerve into vacant parking spaces and SAFELY get back into the general travel lane when I have to, I will do that to let cars pass. I never treat the road like I own it. But if taking the lane is the safe way to ride, I will do that.

And yeah, people should generally not pass on blind curves.