Dear Bikers....


I spend a lot of time on the rail trail. I run and bike there. I mostly run but because I need to take a short hiatus on running I should probably start biking more often!  But when I am running it never fails that I encounter bikers (and why not, its a great trail)!  Now don't get me wrong, most bikers are friendly and don't mind sharing the path but every once in a wile I encounter one that makes me want to say these things out loud!


I would never say them but I certainly think them.

1. When you pass a runner, don't pick up speed and spin stones. ( this path is not all paved)

2. If after 5 hot and sweaty miles I am going to work up enough energy to lift my hand and wave or actually say "good morning" you can at least acknowledge me, with a wave or nod or something!

3. As you are passing a runner, don't be afraid to holler out "on your left" so we know you are coming behind us.

4. If we are sharing a narrow part of the path, please consider that the runner may already be exhausted and it may be easier for YOU to move over than it is for the runner (Maybe, I may just be getting lazy on this one).

5.On the same note as above, don't be the path police! Case in point, my mom and I were on the trail together. We were side by side so we could talk, but when a biker would come, one of us would move over. One lady passed us the other day and hollered at us saying "Get in single file"!  First of all, we had already both moved over so she had plenty of room .  Yea, I admit I did actually say out loud this time "Who are you, the path police?"  Too bad it wasn't loud enough for her to hear it!

Once again, I do want to stress that most bikers are pleasant, there's just always those select few that make me have these thoughts. Of course I take these things into consideration when I'm on my bike too.

                   What things would you want to say to bikers on your path? -M


Did you know that Rachel from Running on Happy and us are now doing a Friday Five link up? We figured since the previous Friday Five (hosted by the lovely Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney) disbanned, that we wanted to continue to give bloggers a place to connect on Fridays.  Feel free to link up below!  For this week, don't worry about displaying the badge but we do ask that you post it on further Friday five posts as well as a link back to our blogs. Thanks!

37 comments:

  1. Ugh, I can't stand when cyclists are rude and think they own the trail! As a triathlete who rides and runs on a local rail trail, I see both sides to a certain degree. I've seen cyclists squeeze between runners going forward and coming toward them at speeds well over 15 mph but as I cyclist I've also been stuck behind a group of women out on a run spanning four across without acknowledging me when I called out "on your left" and was called a "biker bitch" when they finally moved over enough so I could pass them. I personally think it's easier for a runner to move over on a narrow trail than a cyclist--where I live the rail trail drops off about 1/2 inch into gravel and on an aero bike with thin tires it's not too safe (maybe I need to be more confident)--BUT I also think the cyclist should slow down when passing a runner/walker on a narrow path.

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    1. Some of our rail trail is like that too. That would irritate me if 4 people were walking across and not moving. It's much easier for a walker to move!

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  2. I try and say hello to everyone when out on a run and just think it makes for a cheerier run. I agree that most bikers that I pass don't share the love. I try to remember that they may be exhausted as well, but I still wish everyone would so that would give me smiles throughout my run. :)

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  3. I run in a nearby park and usually have nice interactions with the cyclists who work out there. The roads are actually standard roads and not paths, so there really is no excuse for running us two leg powered machines over, thankfully. It does always amuse me though how it seems like sometimes these guys go out of their way to ignore someone who's just trying to be polite. I get it that sometimes they may not be looking, but to look up and then look away to avoid any kind of interaction? No skin off my back but geesh!

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  4. I don't mind bikers when they follow the rules, but there are always those who think they own the road (or trail). If have to abide by the rules, so do they.

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    1. There are not really rules posted on this trail but I think most of it is common sense, right?

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  5. That was rude for that woman to say especially since you guys had already moved over! I don't run on rail trails or bike paths often so I don't have any good stories. There is a biker that rides in my neighborhood and I see him on my dark, early runs. I sometimes wave but he never waves back. Oh well, he may be in the zone!

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    1. Yea, after she went by and hollered my mom said to me "just how much room did she think she needed"..lol

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  6. Get in a single file? How rude!! how about you tell him "Go ride the bike on the open road!" I get that they need space, but there is no need to shout rude orders at the runners!

    There is a trail around here that attracts a lot of walkers, bikers, runners and families. And it always makes me mad that the bikers fly through it, like there isn't little kids running around. I want to tell them to go fly their bike somewhere else, before a kid gets hurt.

    There is one popular trail by where I live that attacts

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    1. This trail attracts a lot of families that all run, walk, and ride bike too. It's generally a very friendly trail!

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  7. Totally agree with points 2 and 5! Why can't cyclists say hello?!?! Even when I'm riding and I wave or say good morning to other cyclists they can't return the greeting. Sharing the path is the worst. When in Philly, cyclists would purposely graze the walkers even though it was a multi use path. I would tell it's not the Tour de France!

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    1. Perhaps the bikers are going to fast to say hello but I still don't understand why they can't at least nod or smile..lol

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  8. As someone on both sides of this path, it's all about respect. I do usually ride on open roads and not on narrow paths. I don't want to HAVE to pass runners. As far as the wave, sometimes while on the bike I simply can't wave back. I'm busy changing gears, breaking, turning, etc. I do try to smile or nod though.

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  9. I hate the whole speeding up thing! And the path police woman was completely rude.

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  10. That comment about being single file was incredibly rude. We are all trying to better ourselves and get fit - why would it be ok to be rude? What if it was your first time out on the trail and you actually mustered enough courage to get out there and someone made a rude comment like that? I know I wouldn't be back! Also, it's not that hard to smile or give a small wave. Ugh...this is definitely my pet nerve, can you tell? Hahah!

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  11. I've never had a problem with cyclists. The only time I get annoyed is when I'm the driver and they are NOT single file on a narrow road. That irks me to no end.

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  12. My road is well known for bikers - its LONG & HILLY - bikers love it - so we get like biking groups all the time on the weekend. I used to hate running when they would be out.. they'd make me a nervous wreck.

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  13. Path police - LOL. Yeah, some people, be it bikers or drivers, just seem to go out of their way to be mean.

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  14. It frustrates me so much when I take the time to say hi to somebody and they just look at me rudely or ignore me altogether. Ugh!

    Had no idea about the new linkup. Thanks for hosting! I'll be sure to linkup in the future!

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  15. First, thanks for the new linkup! Woot. I would be lost without doing things in 5's on Friday. Cyclists here in Chicago are terrifying. I know a girl who almost died because of one. And the dude didn't even stop.

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  16. WOO HOO!!! Super excited that you'll be hosting the 2.0 of the Friday Five!!! I agree with Susie - there are some terrifying cyclists in Chicago who really don't pay any attention to their surroundings. They act like they own the path. It's awful.

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  17. I used to bike a lot, as a teen. And, I know what you mean. It was long back, and if I would spot someone I'd certainly ring the small bell, or say hey aunt side lol (I was 14!!!)

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  18. Ha... path police! I just love it (detect sarcasm) when the cyclists bike side by side on the path, makes it interesting when you meet them on a blind curve.

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  19. Great news you are doing a 5 2.0! Will you be doing themes?

    The cyclists near me are usually very friendly! I did read a blog on trail etiquette that said the faster person should make way for the slower. So runners make way for walkers and cyclists for runners. I think that was when you were traveling in the opposite directions though, it would cause a lot of havoc if you're traveling the same direction!

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  20. As a biker and a runner, I really try to be very respectful of the runners. Of course there are some crazy bikers out there

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  21. Yay! So glad the Friday Five lives on! Thanks so much for hosting. I hear you on all of these - I can get frustrated with bikers (especially ones who consider it a bike path rather than a mixed use path), but then I do wonder if I'm being a little lazy. No excuse on not saying hello though - tired or not! Hope some bikers read this post!

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  22. I am right there with you! I run trails a lot and it never fails that I almost get bowled over by bikes. There's not a lot of visibility - everyone needs to be more vigilant!

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  23. I hadn't seen that you're hosting a F5 linkup now. Cool! Thanks for continuing the tradition! I haven't been able to do a lot of posts recently but hope to get back to more posts after my race.

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  24. As a runner and a cyclist I am on both sides of this issue! I do get annoyed when walkers/runners stay side-by-side IF the path isn't wide enough / clear for me to pass -- but I also get annoyed when cyclists don't signal (they're just as rude passing other bikes). I try to relax and get along ...

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  25. So excited to see you're hosting a Friday link-up!!!! Bummed I totally was under a rug (or something) and am late to the party this week LOL I'll be joining you next week, though ;-) Yeah, cyclists. It seems like there's a bit of angst between cyclists and runners, unless the cyclist is also a runner LOL

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  26. I'm a runner and a cyclist and I think cyclists can be pretty rude compared to runners. Especially male cyclists (sorry, not sexist, realist...) Or maybe the unpleasant riders just know I'm not a "real" cyclist...

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  27. there aren't a lot of bikers around me which is nice but I have issues with people walking their dogs in the morning and taking up the whole sidewalk! and I am excited for the friday five to be back!

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.