[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Bicycles are allowed to be on the MMPs. They normally travel slower than golf carts. I would not consider this impeding.

Merriam-Webster would consider that impeding but what is your definition?

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Also, should the golf cart driver not be respectful of the bike rider and realize that slower speeds are normal?

Are you asking if the golf cart driver should just suck it up?

Your proposal sounds a lot like option A of post #19.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Bicycles are allowed to be on the MMPs. They normally travel slower than golf carts. I would not consider this impeding. Also, should the golf cart driver not be respectful of the bike rider and realize that slower speeds are normal?

Speed limits vary on MMPs, from 10mph to 20mph. The default is "20, unless otherwise posted."

Bike riders are allowed to go faster than 10 on most MMPs - and therefore if they want to pass a pedestrian, they absolutely may.

Golf carts are allowed to go faster than 15 on most MMPs - and therefore if they want to pass a slower bike rider, they absolutely may.

A bike rider cruising at a slow "sight-seeing" pace, who sees there are some golf carts trying to use the MMP as transportation from point A to point B, should respect that and pull to the side IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO and allow those carts to pass.

A pedestrian walking up the MMP at a typical pedestrian pace, seeing bicycles coming toward him should respect that and step to the side IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO and allow those bikes to pass.

On the roads that have MMP lanes rather than dedicated MMP roads (such as Morse and O'Dell), people moving at a slow enough pace that it's safe to pass them without going over the speed limit, SHOULD move closer to the right curb and allow those people to pass. Must they? No. They are not obligated to do so. But "must" and "should" mean different things.

One is a matter of policy. The other is a matter of being a civilized human being.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Speed limits vary on MMPs, from 10mph to 20mph. The default is "20, unless otherwise posted."

Bike riders are allowed to go faster than 10 on most MMPs - and therefore if they want to pass a pedestrian, they absolutely may.

Golf carts are allowed to go faster than 15 on most MMPs - and therefore if they want to pass a slower bike rider, they absolutely may.

A bike rider cruising at a slow "sight-seeing" pace, who sees there are some golf carts trying to use the MMP as transportation from point A to point B, should respect that and pull to the side IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO and allow those carts to pass.

A pedestrian walking up the MMP at a typical pedestrian pace, seeing bicycles coming toward him should respect that and step to the side IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO and allow those bikes to pass.

On the roads that have MMP lanes rather than dedicated MMP roads (such as Morse and O'Dell), people moving at a slow enough pace that it's safe to pass them without going over the speed limit, SHOULD move closer to the right curb and allow those people to pass. Must they? No. They are not obligated to do so. But "must" and "should" mean different things.

One is a matter of policy. The other is a matter of being a civilized human being.

As a bike rider and a runner I would agree 100%. Well said.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Ski Bum

Well, if we equate rules of the road with sensible rules for the MMP, yeah, if you are traveling slowly and impeding traffic, you are required to pull over and let traffic pass by:

From drivinglaws.org

Impeding Traffic With Slow Driving

The laws of most states generally prohibit motorists from driving at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic. But the circumstances under which a driver can be ticketed for going too slow also depend on the roadway and other specific conditions.

Obstructing the Flow of Traffic
The laws of some states require motorists on multi-lane highways and interstates who are driving slower than the speed limit or the normal speed of traffic to be in the right-hand lane (often called the "slow lane"). Also, it's illegal in many states to drive side-by-side with another vehicle in such a way that prevents other cars from passing.

Minimum Speed Limits
Some highways and interstates also have minimum speed limits (that may or may not be posted). For example, some states have a minimum 40-mile-per-hour limit for state highways. Motorists who are going slower than the minimum speed limit (and aren't doing in response to traffic, safety hazards, or the like) can be ticketed.

Two-Lane Roads and Pullouts
The requirements are normally different for driving on two-lane, two-way roads. Generally, drivers on these roadways must stay in the right-hand lane and as close to the right-hand side of the lane as safely possible. And if other vehicles can't safely or lawfully pass, the slower driver might be required to pull to the side of the road at a safe turnout and allow the other cars to pass. Some states have laws that specify a slow-moving vehicle must pull over at the soonest safe pullout when five or more vehicles are formed in a line behind the vehicle.

+1

If people are backing up behind you, pull over for a minute and let them clear is safer for all.

[Toymeister]

What is extremely clear to me is most posters do not understand what the OP stated, nor has he come back to clarify.

The trikes, that's what three wheeled bicycles are called, were riding single file, one behind another. This is what the OPs post is about. They were not running a two lane blockade. Trikes are wider than bicycles, they are 36 to 42 inches wide. The trikes, which he is certainly speaking about, are tadpole recumbent trikes, low to the ground, peddles up front, one wheel in the rear. As the OP stated they were spaced far enough apart to not allow passing. Imagine two cement trucks which you want to pass in your car on a two lane road, if you feel that you can't pass both trucks you might pass one then later another. This is what the OP wanted to do.

Just as it is in your lifetime of driving experience, most drivers do not want to do this, or at least some do not. If that one person was the first driver then it slows the traffic. But only if there is not enough room to do so safely. As I have mentioned already if there is any exceptionally great place to pass in TV on a MMP it is where the OP described.

Back to the trikers, they're in single file they did not follow closely because trike or bikes do not have brake lights. Trikes are easily damaged if the most outward part (the boom to which is attached the crank) is struck by anything. In other words the rear triker did not want to hit the front triker if s/he stopped. That was a long explanation to say spacing makes absolute sense for two trikes.

Now why would two trikers not "allow" any cart to pass. Well any cart could do so if it was safe and if the cart drivers are proficient in operating a golf cart.

The trikers probably weren't aware of anything behind them. Trikes are extremely hard to mount a mirror on as they don't have handle bars. If they were aware of someone behind them why not pull over? My speculation is they know, as anyone who has operated a trike knows, trikes are extremely hard to start from grass. The drive wheel tends to spin and you simply do not have the leverage of standing on your peddles as a bike operator does. It is simply the body mechanics of recumbents. Most recumbents utilize shoe clips, your shoes, and thus your feet, are attached to the peddles, meaning you can't crab walk out of the grass.

Now of course this knowledge won't stop the vitriol of the obsessed bike haters on this thread but I hope it helps some.

[Woodbear]

Originally Posted by Ptmckiou

I rode yesterday about 12 miles on the MMP, and part of it was all the way to the last turn around before the Brownwood bridge, on Meggison. Never once did I see an issue with carts having a problem passing when needed. I also didn’t see big groups of cyclists bunched up. They all seem to be spread out with wide gaps for passing. The largest group of cyclists I saw in the 12 miles was my group of six people. Most of my group averaged 18-20 miles an hour (we all have E-bikes) and we often had to pass carts going too slow. Btw, the trike in our group can do 29 miles an hour and no cart can keep up with him, so it’s not always the bikes slowing things up, since many are E-bikes these days.

That must be an E-Trike or one professional rider. The peloton in the Tour de France rides at ~29 mph on the flats. The best in a sprint may get near 40 mph.

[Bruce3055]

Originally Posted by nick demis

After my experience yesterday, I hope to never see posts how golf carts need to be more courteous to bicyclists. Here is 2 examples we had. Two, 3 wheeled bicyclist spaced just far enough apart, had traffic blocked all the way from the rotary off of the Waterlily bridge all the way to Brownwood parking lot. By the time we reached the Brownwood parking lot, there had to be at least 40 carts backed up and took almost 25 minutes. On our way back to St Catherine. there were 40-50 bicyclist approaching the tunnel that crossed over by the Waterlily bridge with well over 50 carts following that couldn't have been going 5 miles per hour. When bicyclists start to respect golf cart drivers, they can than earn the respect to them.

Not to mention that was the day of the Strawberry festival. I'll bet folks will have a field day complaining when the Mardi Gras festival takes place. And watch out for St Patricks day also

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Bruce3055

Not to mention that was the day of the Strawberry festival. I'll bet folks will have a field day complaining when the Mardi Gras festival takes place. And watch out for St Patricks day also

Maybe because many of those folks would prefer to actually attend those festivals, rather than spend the bulk of their time on the road trying to get there.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bruce3055

Not to mention that was the day of the Strawberry festival. I'll bet folks will have a field day complaining when the Mardi Gras festival takes place. And watch out for St Patricks day also

Mardi Gras was yesterday and so far not one peep....

[kcrazorbackfan]

To the spandex wearing pr*#k on a bike that yelled “a$$hole” to my wife today as she was passing him on a straightaway with no other cart coming and gave him plenty of space when she pulled back in, he can count his lucky stars that she didn’t stop and have a “come to Jesus” meeting with him.

Karma is a bi#ch.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

To the spandex wearing pr*#k on a bike that yelled “a$$hole” to my wife today as she was passing him on a straightaway with no other cart coming and gave him plenty of space when she pulled back in, he can count his lucky stars that she didn’t stop and have a “come to Jesus” meeting with him.

Karma is a bi#ch.

Are you sure he was speaking to your wife? He may have a Bluetooth headset and was describing himself to his e-harmony date.
😏

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Could they pull off the path for a minute to let the backed up carts go by???

A rowboat has right of way over a sailboat, a sailboat has right of way over a motor boat. A free balloon has right of way over a glider, which has right of way over an airplane. The concept is the slowest and least maneuverable vehicle has right of way over those mor capable. Pass carefully in the opposing lane, (Florida law specifies a number of feet of distance between your vehicle and the bicycle) or slow down and be patient.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Mardi Gras was yesterday and so far not one peep....

I brought a car and had to park in the Creekside Landing Lot. The wife brought a cart and parked by Barnes and Noble. No problems getting in.