Rail Trail A**holes

~ MaryG

Name your top three pet peeves.

  1. Cyclists on the rail trail who don’t yield to pedestrians. They like to “thread the needle” through two pedestrians (or groups of pedestrians) walking in opposite directions, coming within inches of the walkers. Just wait until it’s safe to pass, jerk!
  2. E-bikes on the (very flat) rail trail moving at top speed. Technically e-bikes are considered “non-motorized” vehicles, so they’re allowed, but they can go very fast and seem dangerous. Typically, the people choosing to use all the power their e-bikes have to offer are quite fat and should really be pedaling (in my opinion).
  3. Anyone on the rail trail in MAGA gear. Honestly, just fuck off. This is Massachusetts.

How’s that? Angry enough for a Tuesday? Thanks WordPress. You finally let me answer the Daily Prompt and now I’m mad! 😡

16 thoughts on “Rail Trail A**holes”

  1. I’ve never heard of rail trails before. I looked it up after reading your post. Very cool. There are even rail trails that cross state lines – and that makes sense after all. I haven’t seen any in my neck of the woods, but I’ll start to keep an eye open. And I can understand the rage!

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      1. Not grumpy at all! I think many people are feeling a similar current.

        The rails may be an east coast thing. Glad you have one close by. Perfect when you feel the mood to be outside in the sun or fresh air!

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  2. Great post 😎 Number 2: “seems dangerous” = lunatic zombies on wheels, going as fast as lightning (or trying), get out of my way, I wanna play, check my messages, on bloody wheels, ain’t life grand 😡 And I do whatever I want…

    A few days ago I encountered one of these High-flyers riding on a pedestrian walk on a high velocity ebike, shouting and singing 🤪 I think these behaviours are pandemic aftereffects 😔

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    1. I think e-bikes have their place, like on hills, but our rail trail is perfectly flat. People just cruise along as fast as possible. One wayward toddler and they’d have no time to react.

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  4. Miami’s been expanding a long rail trail down one of the busiest roads, and some of it is fantastic, but need more shaded areas. I love the Highline, too! We don’t seem to have much of an e-bike situation, but the cyclists can indeed be bullies.

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      3. It’s pretty nice. I don’t know if there’s any way for them to undo the decades of tree slaughter they’ve accomplished and bring back any kind of temperate shadowyness to the areas outside of the wealthiest, but I sure hope that’s on the radar.

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  5. Your grumpiness made me laugh out loud, Mary. 🙂 I’ve never heard of rail trails either, but cyclists are pretty arrogant around here on the roads. The signs always say ‘Share the road’ but they don’t. So, I feel the same way. And you know what, it’s going to be a long four years. Sigh.

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