Do You Have Any Multi-Use Paths That Are Now Marked "No Bikes"?

[Jim1348]

This past Saturday, August 17th, 2024, I was riding in Lilydale Minnesota and was somewhat surprised to see a paved multi-use path near State Highway 13 that was marked "NO BIKES" in yellow paint on the pavement.

Is that common is other members areas to have paved multi-use paths, but then to restrict bikes from them?

 

[Roamers]

This past Saturday, August 17th, 2024, I was riding in Lilydale Minnesota and was somewhat surprised to see a paved multi-use path near State Highway 13 that was marked "NO BIKES" in yellow paint on the pavement.

Is that common is other members areas to have paved multi-use paths, but then to restrict bikes from them?View attachment 180796

I can't tell, is that a bike lane on the highway?

That actually looks pretty narrow for an all mode MUP.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Lots of bike infrastructure here in coastal north San Diego County. I can think of 2 paths worthy of "paved MUP" but explicitly closed to all bicycles. And a 3rd closed to ebikes only. All of these see heavy pedestrian use. Some skaters, too.

Many of our inland trails are in nature preserves. All of those are closed to ebikes, and most to all bikes.

Alas, our most tempting dirt roads are generally closed to the public. Most are powerline or watershed access roads. The truly menacing "no trespassing" signs are outnumbered only by the bicycle tracks going past them.

 

[mschwett]

This past Saturday, August 17th, 2024, I was riding in Lilydale Minnesota and was somewhat surprised to see a paved multi-use path near State Highway 13 that was marked "NO BIKES" in yellow paint on the pavement.

Is that common is other members areas to have paved multi-use paths, but then to restrict bikes from them?View attachment 180796

that’s really too narrow to be a multi-use path. it’s a sidewalk, and bikes do not belong on sidewalks except for children.

 

[Aushiker]

We do, but the only ones I know of are where there is a pedestrian path alongside a bike path.

Our footpaths (sidewalks) are dual use, but the law is very much on the pedestrian's side if something happens. I occasionally use the footpath but that is only where it is safer/better option that the road and only then for a very short section.

 

[sc00ter]

We don't have the "No Bikes" marked on multi-use trails yet but I see it coming. I stay in the street but will hop on the sidewalk if needed to feel safer, and only for a minimum amount of time. Also, if I hop on the sidewalk and someone else in it I'll slow way down and give the pedestrian full rights to use, as it should be. I see dummies blasting along sidewalks, multi-use paths and even dedicated bike lanes. Even worse is when them going the wrong direction! What is that about one bad apple ruining a bunch?

 

[BlackHand]

This past Saturday, August 17th, 2024, I was riding in Lilydale Minnesota and was somewhat surprised to see a paved multi-use path near State Highway 13 that was marked "NO BIKES" in yellow paint on the pavement.

Is that common is other members areas to have paved multi-use paths, but then to restrict bikes from them?View attachment 180796

Google lists that road as a recommend route but does not show a MUP or bike lane there. There is a parallel bike trail on the map next to the river (presumably why they don't want bikes there) about 500 feet away.

From Google:
The colors show you the type of bicycling paths.

• Dark green: Trails that don't have auto traffic.
• Green: Dedicated lanes are roads that are shared with cars and have a separate bike lane.
• Dotted green line: Bicycle-friendly roads are roads that don't have a bike lane but are recommended for cyclists.
• Brown: Unpaved trails are off-road dirt paths.

So I would say that is a sidewalk not a MUP, which is generally legal to bike on in MN but can be prohibited as you can see below.

(d) A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and give an audible signal when necessary before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. A person must not ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district unless permitted by local authorities. Local authorities may prohibit the operation of bicycles on any sidewalk or crosswalk under their jurisdiction.

 

[indianajo]

I ride on sidewalks on busy streets, but always get off on grass or stop when I encounter a pedestrian. Police never complain. Most streets, there are no pedestrians anyway. Couple of other bikes passedon shopping trip today. Electric scooter passed me on sidewalk Saturday. The street to grocery is entirely too narrow and way too much traffic to ride the bike on street there. If police harassed me for being on sidewalk, I would have to subscribe to Amazon and get groceries delivered. Or move out of state. I parked the car in 2008, not buying another. Check engine disease happens in 12 years, whether vehicle has 24000 miles or 240000 miles.
In the next town over, bikes are required to ride on the sidewalk. Good idea, 7 lanes of 50 mph traffic in 35 mph zone on most of their main streets.
Multi-use paths are for the capital city in my state. Not for the ends of the state. The rail line that was pulled up in my county, the state allowed owners to build houses and businesses on it. Rail line went 2 blocks from my city house to 2 miles from my summer camp. Went on up 60 miles to Hwy 50. Would have been very useful.

 

[BlackHand]

that’s really too narrow to be a multi-use path. it’s a sidewalk, and bikes do not belong on sidewalks except for children.

It's probably also too narrow to meet current design standards for sidewalks in St Paul even though it looks pretty new.

I generally agree with your statement about riding on the sidewalk, but I think that is more aspirational than realistic once you get into rural or low density suburban situations.

I was recently biking on unfamiliar roads on a borrowed bike in Michigan. I had plotted a 32 mile route that largely stuck to what the map showed as MUPs or streets with bike lanes. I was annoyed that I got routed onto a 55mph arterial with a 2ft shoulder. Later on I realized that the 'sidewalk' that was only on one side of the road(it is on the left in the photo below) was considered a MUP. I did end up utilizing it some when it widened out, but I wasn't a fan of the way it switched sides fairly often.