Originally Posted by
RubeRad
I think everybody here agrees that cyclists should not do that.
+1, and I think we agree that it's irrelevant to both the old man story and the most recently described sidewalk-cycling scenario. The whole "KEEP GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS THE STREET" scenario was introduced to this thread, evidently as a diversion, by our esteemed omni-capitalizing poster.
And I hope we can agree that no one needs to shout an entire post.
As for speed, I reckon most of us can "STAY VERTICAL" going no faster than a typical pedestrian. Wheelchair users routinely use the sidewalk faster than I ever would on a bicycle. Should they be likewise excoriated?
As an aside / analogy, we technically have no "bike paths" here in one of the (reputedly) most bicycle-friendly cities in the US. They're all multi-use paths, aka MUPs. On a daily basis, cyclists find themselves waiting behind pedestrians on the path for a clear shot to pass, going exactly their speed. If you can't "STAY VERTICAL" at such speeds, then yeah, you should probably stay off any sidewalk or MUP. Then again, you should consider honing (not reaming...) your skills.