nearly hit by a cyclist today

[KellyHabersham]

*This sort of thing is why I wish my city had bike lanes on more streets instead of cyclists having/needing to use the sidewalks*

I was walking down the sidewalk today, heading to a crosswalk which I needed to use, when I hear a woman behind me say "Excuse me! Excuse me!". I turned around, and I guess she was expecting me to have realized that she was on a bicycle and known that she was coming up on my right side, because I stepped in the "wrong" direction, and she almost ran into me.

[BlaqueKatt]

and this is why I'm glad the police have started enforcing(to a point anyway), that it's ILLEGAL in my fair city to ride on the sidewalk. only issue I have with pedestrians on the bike paths are the ones with headphones turned up pretty loud so they can't hear my yell(and I do yell) of "on your left!" before I pass.



a proper vehicular cyclist(that term means riding your bike like you'd drive a car, following predictable vehicular driving laws), is actually safer on the street with traffic, than on the sidewalk, in fact riding on the sidewalk INCREASES one's chance of being hit by a car by at LEAST 180%, and no that is NOT a typo(bicycling the wrong direction down a sidewalk increases the risk by 430%)

source

this article has some nice stats

my advice, find out if it is indeed illegal in your area(it most likely is), and if so call or email your local alderman(and encourage others to do the same-I just gave you some facts and figures to use) and tell them to encourage the local constabulary, to start enforcing the existing law in the name of safety for all road users. And for the record, yes this is why my city is starting to enforce, I and many others I encouraged have called, that is what alderman are for, they like doing their job, it makes for happy constituents). And no its not "picking on the little guy" it's been proven that enforcing bicycle laws increases safety for all road users, and increases vehicular cycling traffic, thus decreasing car traffic and congestion. When the police start showing cyclists the same "respect" as all other road users(in other words, not looking the other way when they break the law), the other road users follow suit, and awareness and thus safety increases. Also it decreases the tension between the two groups, as they are being viewed by the law as equal, in ALL respects.

*steps off soapbox* sorry I'm very passionate about my fellow road users safety be they of the two or four wheeled variety.

direct your alderman to this site for more info and strategies.

[KellyHabersham]

Thanks much for the info! I've been doing some research on bicycling laws in my state, and so far, it doesn't look like it's illegal here in Phoenix for people to ride on sidewalks. (And to be fair, the majority of cyclists whom I've encountered don't wait until they're nearly right behind me to say anything......it's the ones who don't that just kind of stick out to me)

[bhskittykatt]

In our town, it is legal to ride on the sidewalks except in the downtown business core. In fact, local police recommend it on some of the streets.

I don't ride a bicycle (though I have one...I should start riding it), but even I know that you yell out "On your right" or "On your left", whichever is appropriate. "Excuse me!" does not give the pedestrian any indication of which way they ought to move.

[Chromatix]

One of the great things about Helsinki is that there are bike lanes everywhere. In principle there isn't a problem pedestrians knowing where you're coming from, though in practice a lot of them walk obliviously in the bike lane anyway.

In fact, it turns out that the presence of a bike lane determines who is responsible for keeping the pavement clear - the city keeps the bike lane and the road clear, but building owners are responsible for the pavement if there isn't a bike lane on it.

[BlaqueKatt]

Thanks much for the info! I've been doing some research on bicycling laws in my state, and so far, it doesn't look like it's illegal here in Phoenix for people to ride on sidewalks.

yup but AZ has the lovely law that says cities CAN enact laws for that, and if you speak to someone, you can mention that in 2005(last year for available data) 72% of vehicle vs cyclist accidents occurred when the cyclist was on the sidewalk-yeesh very unsafe

[Dreamstalker]

"Excuse me!" does not give the pedestrian any indication of which way they ought to move.

Exactly. The walking path along the river here shares space with cyclists (and joggers)...if you come up behind me and I don't move or happen to move in your path, don't scream at me; I can't very well yield the right-of-way if I don't know you're coming/which side you want. Due to noise from the road it's very hard if not impossible to pick out footfalls or a bike by itself.

[KellyHabersham]

Exactly. The walking path along the river here shares space with cyclists (and joggers)...if you come up behind me and I don't move or happen to move in your path, don't scream at me; I can't very well yield the right-of-way if I don't know you're coming/which side you want. Due to noise from the road it's very hard if not impossible to pick out footfalls or a bike by itself.

I'll agree on this, and have to add that it makes things confusing when the cyclist is apparently wanting to ride in a zig-zag pattern, so if I DO see them coming, I have no idea which way I need to move.

[tollbaby]

heh where I live, it's illegal to ride on sidewalks, it's illegal NOT to have a horn or bell, and it's also illegal to not have working front and back lights and to ride without a helmet.

I had a cyclist cut me off (DANGEROUSLY close) last week because he veered across three lanes without even looking. When I yelled out the window to be more careful, he turned his bike around, rode until he caught up with me at a red light, and kicked my car repeatedly, and tried to open the door handle.

99.9999999999% of cyclists are careful, courteous and I don't mind sharing the road with them. This guy was batshit crazy.

[Daemonmonkey]

I had a cyclist cut me off (DANGEROUSLY close) last week because he veered across three lanes without even looking. When I yelled out the window to be more careful, he turned his bike around, rode until he caught up with me at a red light, and kicked my car repeatedly, and tried to open the door handle.

I would have helped him by opening the car door - violently!

[Dreamstalker]

so if I DO see them coming, I have no idea which way I need to move.

I've run into this; I can see them with plenty of warning and they know I can see them, let me move first and keep going straight like I am allowing you to. Hit me and I can/will make the rest of your day bad.

[ShinyGreenApple]

I almost got plowed by one in the parking lot at work once. Not because she was obnoxious, but she literally had no control over the bike and couldn't figure out how to stop it Heaven forbid she leave the lot and go out into traffic, I don't want to think about it!

[Captain Trips]

I almost got plowed by one in the parking lot at work once. Not because she was obnoxious, but she literally had no control over the bike and couldn't figure out how to stop it Heaven forbid she leave the lot and go out into traffic, I don't want to think about it!

By the gods above and below, I hope she doesn't drive a car. Bad enough not knowing how to use the brakes on a bicycle....


Here in California, it's the law that bicycles MUST obey the same laws as other vehicular traffic, PLUS those specific to bicycles. And the last I knew, cars were not allowed to drive on the sidewalk. (Helmet law is just for those under 18, lights only for riding at night. But they can only legally ride ON THE STREET (or designated bike lane/path/road), and not only that, but SINGLE FILE DOES NOT MEAN 3 ABREAST!)

[Flying Grype]

In my city it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk with wheels over 24". I ride a folder with 20" wheels so I can cut onto the sidewalk if it's really unsafe to ride on the street. (Really, I think the rule is to allow kids to ride on the sidewalk and make grownups ride vehicular in traffic.)

But most of the time I just take another damned route. If Y Street and A Road are too scary there are plenty of streets in between them that are smaller, slower, and don't go in a straight line all the way downtown.

I love vehicular cycling. The only problem I have is that drivers don't know the rules. If I move into the left lane to turn left, drivers honk their asses off at me. Sorry fucker, I'm the one being legal here! If I feel like drivers are going to simultaneously ignore and terrorize me in traffic, I'll pull over, walk the bike through two crosswalks, and get back on.

[Trjgul]

When I was in Arizona I got buzzed by asshole bike riders all the time. Had one kid do it on purpose to scare me! If I'd known the little shit was coming I would have clotheslined him.

But then again Arizona is full of jerk drivers. I heard about so many hit and runs it was scary.