Midnight Biker

There are times when you just cannot avoid getting on the sidewalk, like on and near an extremely busy intersection, and getting off the bike is simply not something you want to do. I know it's illegal in most places, but sometimes I get on the sidewalk and ride at a very slow pace (3 - 5 mph). Normally, pedestrians are kind and move out of my way when I signal to them, but occasionally there are those who purposely block the way just to annoy me. Does this ever happen to you?

For those of you who've never ridden on the sidewalk, I'm sure you know how sometimes pedestrians can walk onto a street and get in your way, knowing full well you're coming.

It annoys me...

caloso

There's a reason it's called a sidewalk. Dismount and walk or ride on the road.

Machka 

+1


If I'm a pedestrian on a sideWALK in a place where cycling on a sideWALK is illegal, I won't move over for someone riding a bicycle. Why should I? It's illegal for the cyclists to be there, and it is my area when I'm walking.

RaleighSport

Your equating your riding on the sidewalk and them annoying you by being there to them wandering into the road? Please tell me I'm misreading this...

aramis

GOTFS.

I manage to ride everywhere I need to go without using the sidewalk. If you need to use the sidewalk, get off your bike and walk.

mwchandler21

Check out the OPs other threads. Starve him.

tagaproject6

tagaproject6

You really need to see a professional...

Midnight Biker

Yes, but when I am on the sidewalk I am not riding at a pace of 11 mph, I'm riding as fast as most people walk.

Midnight Biker

Even if there is nobody present? Like on a side-street sidewalk?? Come on dude.

tagaproject6

Looks like you have integrity issues as well.

Midnight Biker

What's that supposed to mean? Come on, what is THAT supposed to mean?

For everyone on here trying to pop a wheelie in order to impress other members by picking on me let me tell you this: verbal attacks and name calling are going to avail you very little with regards to me. Very, very little indeed.

These words mark my departure from this argument.

RaleighSport

Pop in, spawn argument with bad bike behavior rolled into what is to me a dumb question... get called on it right and left.. get huffy, make huffy statement and exit your own thread? Why don't you tell us why you HAVE to ride on the sidewalk?

Midnight Biker

Because of the cars man, THE CARS!!! I said SPECIFICALLY that when I ride on the sidewalk it's because I'm near a large intersection where there is an overabundance of anxious and impatient drivers wanting to turn and run people over. Otherwise I ride on the street, because if you have read any of my previous posts you'd know that I can't stand the constant bumps and groves that send shock-waves to my brain on the sidewalk.

Now, there it is. Happy? Whatever, nobody here takes me seriously anyway. I've made some of the best threads and I get treated like a clown -- a village idiot.

I'm starting to think you people are not true bikers. If you were, wouldn't you be out riding instead of spending all day on this forum? I wouldn't be surprised if the lot of you had never even ridden a bike before. If you had, you'd know how difficult it is to ride on the road sometimes.

There. You asked for it and Midnight Biker delivered. Midnight Biker PWNED you. Okay.

RaleighSport

I'm at work atm actually. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and treat you as serious for now. FYI, I ride a road bike 98% of the time and often I don't even start my car for 1 month periods even then usually just to run the engine... so what kind of intersections are we talking about? If you're talking about one with just a lineup and you feel filterings a bad idea and think you need to use the sidewalk, why not get into line with the cars like a regular vehicle and wait your turn? That's what I do unless of course there's a bikelane present... fyi I wouldn't be lashing out at the guys like that, they really do see your behavior as moronic and really do assume you know better.

mymojo

"cyclists".

Midnight Biker

Right, cyclists. Sorry about that.

Midnight Biker

Sorry, I just get fed up with stuff sometimes and I have to vent.

iheartbacon

I ride on the sidewalk when I'm downtown. If you look at this picture you'll see that the parking spaces are angled so a car has to park nose in. There's poor visibility backing out and a bike is hard to see. I know because when I drove a car I had difficulty seeing oncoming cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. It's even worse when you have a van or suv parked next to you. So to avoid an accident I ride on the sidewalk when I'm downtown. During festivals and the Farmers Market I walk my bike.

rebel1916

It's like my 3 year old once said. "I don't like CLOWNS!!!"

tagaproject6

I do not know if the village idiot will see the irony in that...

RaleighSport

Should we really belittle him? Or should we educate him? hmm...

Keith99

Yes everywhere, real cyclists do not ride on hte side walk, or at least not significantly more than cars drive on the sidewalk.

Midnight Biker

Okay, and real people don't misspell the word "the".

Keith99

That is one of the few situations I'll agree with and I have more miles cycling on the freeway than I do on the sidewalk. (and I mean the right traffic lane, not the shoulder). The other is short sections going into or out of a rest stop, but there off and walk if others are ppresent unless the sidewalk is huge.