I was walking on the sidewalk and this cyclist is riding on the sidewalk as well instead of the bike path. FFS I pay property taxes, those taxes paid for the bike lane for him to ride on and yet he rides on the sidewalk.
What I hate about many inexperienced cyclists is they put themselves at far more risk than pedestrians through ignorance. At least pedestrians pedestrians spend most their time on the side walk. I used to bike a lot and was somewhat reckless but at least I knew what risks I was taking and didn't assume cars would get out of my way.There are irresponsible pedestrians and drivers as well. Don't paint all cyclists with the same brush. You ran into an a-hole. So what. A holes around everywhere.
100%We need more real bike lanes downtown so cars and bikes both have a safe place to travel.
Once had a copy swing his door wide open fast. He was a fat cop so I can see why he would need the door fully open. Missed me by an inch. When I stopped I was already passed the door. All he did was laugh. No apology. That is an idiot.you must get into these two habits as a driver
1 constantly check your mirrors while driving. The problem is you are used to looking for cars and do not notice a bike
2 always check for a bike before opening door. Dooring a bike is bad news
There you go. Idiot pedestrians and dog owners. Once seen a cyclist ride on the sidewalk ring their bell for pedestrians to get out of their way. That cyclist needed a slap on his idiot head.There actually are laws for cyclists. Eg: An adult cyclist is not supposed to use the sidewalks and they could be ticketed. Same if they disobey traffic signs and lights. The problem is enforcement, not lack of laws. As an avid cyclist, I hate seeing other cyclists hop onto a sidewalk to bypass cars then hop back onto the road. It gives all a bad name. Having said that, you could complain that laws for pedestrians are lacking too. Eg: If you cycle near the Beaches or along the Waterfront trail - you will always see people on the bike path (despite the fact that they have a dedicated sidewalk. Sometimes you'll see them in groups of 3 or 4, totally oblivious, blocking people from passing. I've even seen dog owners with the long retractable leashes trip cyclists because they were on one side of the path and their dog was on the other, connected by a thin, hard to see leash.
So there is a lot of blame to go around.
Oh, we know.Except cyclists who do not give 3 feet when they decide to pass you. The same distance should be maintained by them, since vehicles do it for you. That law does not give you preferred status, as the rules of the road apply to cyclists as well as cars. Where you get some drivers, as well as some pedestrians causing problems. The greatest number that are causing issues on the roads, are still cyclists. Keep in mind you share the road with others
It seems quite an assumption that was the reason for the bell. Would you prefer the silent cyclist suddenly breezed by you and took you by surprise? Or tried to, just when you realized you left your phone back at Starbucks and turned to run back?There you go. Idiot pedestrians and dog owners. Once seen a cyclist ride on the sidewalk ring their bell for pedestrians to get out of their way. That cyclist needed a slap on his idiot head.
I agree there is enough blame. Just look at any school area on any given day at morning or afternoon pick up/drop offs.There actually are laws for cyclists. Eg: An adult cyclist is not supposed to use the sidewalks and they could be ticketed. Same if they disobey traffic signs and lights. The problem is enforcement, not lack of laws. As an avid cyclist, I hate seeing other cyclists hop onto a sidewalk to bypass cars then hop back onto the road. It gives all a bad name. Having said that, you could complain that laws for pedestrians are lacking too. Eg: If you cycle near the Beaches or along the Waterfront trail - you will always see people on the bike path (despite the fact that they have a dedicated sidewalk. Sometimes you'll see them in groups of 3 or 4, totally oblivious, blocking people from passing. I've even seen dog owners with the long retractable leashes trip cyclists because they were on one side of the path and their dog was on the other, connected by a thin, hard to see leash.
So there is a lot of blame to go around.
I run at the start of the morning, and the car-chaos around my neighbourhood school is even worse than your mild description. Those scores of dangerous scofflaw parents make a sidewalk cyclist who warns you with a bell look like an angel of law-abiding virtue by comparison.I agree there is enough blame. Just look at any school area on any given day at morning or afternoon pick up/drop offs.
You have kids on bikes, skateboards etc, moms walking groups with kids and dogs and strollers etc. Parents driving their kids to school.
So when I am trying to walk my dogs, I have to watch for kids zooming past me from behind, moms and their hoard not moving out of the way at all to share the sidewalk even a little bit and when you get to the street crossing, no cars stop at the stop sign and those turning on to the street hanging in their half turn, inching their car ever so slowly but glaring at you to move faster out of their way.
I started waking them at 6am now instead. All I have to worry about is the those damn bunnies that never stay put when my dogs try to say hi. LOL
Going back to the OP's post. The cyclists is guilty of more then running a red light. But has committed the more serious crime, of hit and run. The cyclist has no idea, of what damage happened, for the person he hit. A licence could have identified the cyclist, so the same rules applied to him. Or should cars just keep on driving, if a cyclist is hit. Since it would seem, some here do not think, that the cyclist should be held accountable. Where a car is more likely to do more damage. It could also be that, only a few scrapes occurred. Just call the driver an a@@hole, and forget it ever happened. The same rules of the road, should apply to both.Yesterday while crossing an intersection on a green light, a cyclist blew through the red, and knocked me over, luckily I only had a few scrapes. However, he just looked back and did not even stop. What if I were a frail person that was prone to severe injury? And by the way I was not crossing alone, this was a major intersection and I was in the back of a pack of pedestrians crossing. This a-hole just missed everyone else before he hit me.
Perhaps it's time cyclists get licenced. A way to identify irresponsible cyclists would be one way to enforce their entitled, selfish behaviour.
I highly doubt that. Try doing that in front of a cop and you're done.I've also seen cars "blow through" red lights (I assume not intentional) but again nobody cares....
Same rules of the road do apply to both. A licence is not needed for a cop to ticket or charge someone with an offence (do you need a licence to be ticketed for open alcohol in public?)Going back to the OP's post. The cyclists is guilty of more then running a red light. But has committed the more serious crime, of hit and run. The cyclist has no idea, of what damage happened, for the person he hit. A licence could have identified the cyclist, so the same rules applied to him. Or should cars just keep on driving, if a cyclist is hit. Since it would seem, some here do not think, that the cyclist should be held accountable. Where a car is more likely to do more damage. It could also be that, only a few scrapes occurred. Just call the driver an a@@hole, and forget it ever happened. The same rules of the road, should apply to both.
Dooring is funyou must get into these two habits as a driver
1 constantly check your mirrors while driving. The problem is you are used to looking for cars and do not notice a bike
2 always check for a bike before opening door. Dooring a bike is bad news
Speaking of paying attention, a tip for cyclists so that they don't get doored by some careless asshole (TeeJay - this would be you). Always keep a bit of distance between you and the parked cars and look through the back windows for rear passengers, and ALWAYS check the driver's side mirror. If a driver is in the car, you will see him/her in the mirror and you can take the necessary precautions.Dooring is fun
Just make sure no witnesses to your door prize
Seriously cyclists are the biggest asshats ever
They run into everything (eg doors) because none of them pay any attention whatsoever
I was right behind the that idiot cyclist. You weren't there. She wasn't zooming. She could hardly keep her balance. Hence probably why she was riding on the sidewalk. In front was a group of 4 or 5 friends all walking together hence why cyclist could not pass. I can't believe I had to explain this for you. Use your brain man!!!It seems quite an assumption that was the reason for the bell. Would you prefer the silent cyclist suddenly breezed by you and took you by surprise? Or tried to, just when you realized you left your phone back at Starbucks and turned to run back?
They shouldn't have been on the sidewalk, but be grateful they at least warned you they were zooming up on your ass. Sorta like the over-loud exhausts on Harleys and Ferraris coming outta nowhere to pass on your blindside.
Wrong. It's for drivers to pay attention. They don't check mirrors before opening doors. Bunch of idiots.Dooring is fun
Just make sure no witnesses to your door prize
Seriously cyclists are the biggest asshats ever
They run into everything (eg doors) because none of them pay any attention whatsoever
You might have used yours to include that information in your first post since if it was so necessary to your point.I was right behind the that idiot cyclist. You weren't there. She wasn't zooming. She could hardly keep her balance. Hence probably why she was riding on the sidewalk. In front was a group of 4 or 5 friends all walking together hence why cyclist could not pass. I can't believe I had to explain this for you. Use your brain man!!!
Don't text while you're driving!Dooring is fun
Just make sure no witnesses to your door prize
Seriously cyclists are the biggest asshats ever
They run into everything (eg doors) because none of them pay any attention whatsoever