Minuteman Bike Trail -Too Congested

[Jojoface]

I went for a quick jaunt late afternoon today to get used to my clipless pedals, was disappointed to find the bike trail congested and overcrowded.

I saw a driver almost take out a family in the cross walk in Arlington, The driver wasn't paying attention.

Families placing their children in danger who aren't skilled enough to use the paths safely or are taught how to ride safely.

Riders passing when it is not safe to and darting infront of cars at the trail junctions.

Bladers skateing two abreast.

People rideing bikes holding onto grocery bags.

Yadda yadda yadda, I will ride on the street and take my chances with the cars.

[heckler]

I feel your pain! Living near the path I use it for daily commuting but generally I stay away from it on the weekend. Especially a lovely one like this! All I can say is that I would rather have the stupid roller bladers there than on the road!

The pains of a multi user path- perhaps the busiest in the country is that people use it. Darn them!

If you must ride the path ride it early or after dark! Know that going fast when it is busy isn't an option and expect some little kid, completley under supervised by it's parent to do something insanely dangerous and be prepared.

Why can't these people just stay off my roads when i want to use them anyway?? ;-)

[Scott O]

I ran over a friggin goose on the Charles River bike path 2 weeks ago when I was testing out some maintenance I'd done on the bike. Thought I was going to go over the handle bars but I just went right over him with both tires. My suspension was working great. Those filthy beasts are everywhere. The next governor needs to declare open on them.

As far as rollerbladers, heckler, I know what you're saying. Lots of people have no idea what they're doing on them. I've got some skates though and its a great cross training alternative. I enjoy counting the number of people on $1000+ bikes I can pass.

[Mr_Cheeze]

I ran over a friggin goose on the Charles River bike path 2 weeks ago when I was testing out some maintenance I'd done on the bike. Thought I was going to go over the handle bars but I just went right over him with both tires. My suspension was working great. Those filthy beasts are everywhere. The next governor needs to declare open on them.



So it was the goose's fault? :mad:

[Slappy]

mtbs on rail trails

:har:

[Scott O]

So it was the goose's fault? :mad:

I didn't tell the goose to suddenly step in front of my bike. So, yeah, I think he can take full responsibility.

[makeyourself22]

The minuteman trail really is quite full about 75% of the time. When it isn't, the trail makes for a nice little joyride. Growing up in lexington and right near the trail, what my friends and I have done is made our own trails. During the fall, a lot of the underbrush begins to clear out, and the way the trees fall makes for a fine path. Depending on what kind of bike you're riding, the minuteman loop trail(starting off of wood street) makes for a fun little downhill as well. If you like riding the minuteman trail for fun, I'd reccomend you try the trail at the end of the bikepath in Bedford if you haven't already. It's a flatground trail, with lots of networks breaking off from the main trail.

[CouchingTiger]

I think that its great the amount of use the bikeway gets. If not for the path many of those folks may not be outdoors. Thats what the path is all about. Do I ride it? Hell no. I'll take my chances with a semi's and soccer moms any day, but squirrely roller bladers or little kids = death!

Now during the offseason or later at night, say, for a jaunt into town on the choppers for a drinky-drink or two, the bikepath is mint ;)

-Couch

[hogboy]

what couch said...

having the #1 multi-use path in the states is quite a nice
thing for mid-east mass. in the summer it is a babe-fest.

at night it is a race course. in the fall when it is chilly it gets
less use and you can haul ass. and it does make it easy to wander
down to beantown and back and be fairly safe,
...if that is your bag...

[Jojoface]

Time to break out the lights, the last time I did that I almost ran into people walking in the dark with out light colored clothing or a blinky lite. I should try the Marlboro trail or the Ayer trail

Cheeze, I'm glad people use the path, I wish they would use it wisely.

[MissJean]

I've never been to the Minuteman RT so I can't compare congestion levels, but you'll find the Ayer/Nashua River RT gets pretty busy on nice, warm weekends.
Evenings & after dark you might see 1 or 2 people. (and deer, bunnies, bats and the odd crayfish.)

[Adam]

Here's a humorous look at the Minuteman path from one frustrated user posting on Craigslist a while back: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/bos/70245362.html

When my wife and I lived in Cambridge we used to hit the MM trail often via road bike. Though crowded it was much more pleasant than the 'survival sprint' up Memorial drive we used to do to get there...

-Adam

[peterdbikes]

Here's a humorous look at the Minuteman path from one frustrated user posting on Craigslist a while back:

Funny...but true!

[S2RT]

Try the Ayer trail...never encountered more than 4 pr. of walkees after dusk. Not many road x-ings either means you can ripitup

S