Verbal abuse complaint on Custis Trail

[baiskeli]

A neighbor asked me to post that he was riding an eBike on the Custis Trail today and was yelled at by a cyclist in an intimidating manner. Apparently it was about hin using an eBike on the trail, which as we all know is legal as long as the speed limit is observed (the neighbor says he was observing the speed limit).

Let’s all continue to be polite, to know the law, and to expect others to do the same.

Topic

[consularrider]

@baiskeli 207776 wrote:

A neighbor asked me to post that he was riding an eBike on the Custis Trail today and was yelled at by a cyclist in an intimidating manner. Apparently it was about hin using an eBike on the trail, which as we all know is legal as long as the speed limit is observed (the neighbor says he was observing the speed limit).

Let’s all continue to be polite, to know the law, and to expect others to do the same.

When did they post a speed limit on the Custis?

[baiskeli]

@consularrider 207838 wrote:

When did they post a speed limit on the Custis?

Sorry, I should have explained. The speed limit (20 mph) that applies to e-bikes, not to the trail.

[Judd]

I’ve seen a few instances of trail users yelling at e-bike riders because they are riding an e-bike. Each time the e-bike rider was riding safely and respectfully. I don’t get it.

The Friends of Mount Vernon Trail did some surveying in the trail about e-bikes a while back and we had a couple of very aggressive anti e-bike respondents. These were offset by wonderful stories about mom’s being able to haul their kids or people undergoing chemo being able to ride because of e-bikes.

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[SarahBee]

@baiskeli 207776 wrote:

A neighbor asked me to post that he was riding an eBike on the Custis Trail today and was yelled at by a cyclist in an intimidating manner. Apparently it was about hin using an eBike on the trail, which as we all know is legal as long as the speed limit is observed (the neighbor says he was observing the speed limit).

Let’s all continue to be polite, to know the law, and to expect others to do the same.

Wow- totally uncalled for by the cyclist. I’ll admit that sometimes when I am huffing and puffing up the Custis hills in my granniest gear, I’ve been known to utter a few swear words quietly under my breath as someone on an e-bike cruises past me without a hint of breathing hard or drop of sweat. This, however, stems entirely from my envy. Civility on the trail should be mandatory.

[accordioneur]

@SarahBee 208615 wrote:

Wow- totally uncalled for by the cyclist. I’ll admit that sometimes when I am huffing and puffing up the Custis hills in my granniest gear, I’ve been known to utter a few swear words quietly under my breath as someone on an e-bike cruises past me without a hint of breathing hard or drop of sweat. This, however, stems entirely from my envy. Civility on the trail should be mandatory.

SarahBee, I share your envy whenever I’m passed by eBikes … or eScooters, or OneWheels, or Hoverboards. But I’ve turned it around: While I used to feel like a weak cyclist because I’m continually passed by other riders on the trail, now I just tell myself they’re all eBikes, even if they don’t have any visible batteries or motors.

[baiskeli]

@SarahBee 208615 wrote:

Wow- totally uncalled for by the cyclist. I’ll admit that sometimes when I am huffing and puffing up the Custis hills in my granniest gear, I’ve been known to utter a few swear words quietly under my breath as someone on an e-bike cruises past me without a hint of breathing hard or drop of sweat. This, however, stems entirely from my envy. Civility on the trail should be mandatory.

I will never forget the strange feeling of climbing a somewhat steep hill and being passed by a jogger.

[kwarkentien]

@baiskeli 208699 wrote:

I will never forget the strange feeling of climbing a somewhat steep hill and being passed by a jogger.

Worse, I was passed riding up a small hill (overpass) in Reston on my road bike by a guy on a hybrid pulling a Burley trailer. Embarrassing.

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[huskerdont]

@baiskeli 208699 wrote:

I will never forget the strange feeling of climbing a somewhat steep hill and being passed by a jogger.

Used to do that when I was a younger runner. Ah to be young again and not so painfully slow.

I don’t much like eBikes on the trails, but I’d never even think of yelling at one. To each his own, and let’s try to be respectful of one another, or at least be quiet about our prejudices.

[DCAKen]

@baiskeli 208699 wrote:

I will never forget the strange feeling of climbing a somewhat steep hill and being passed by a jogger.

I’ve done that when I’m out running. A few times, I let my inner snark out when I called out my pass after they had just passed me without calling theirs.

[Author]

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