Maelochs

He has a right to ride in the street If he rides in the specified direction, i.e. with the flow of other vehicle traffic.

If he doesn't know how or doesn't choose to ride on the street safely and legally he would serve everyone best by staying on the sidewalk.

phile

so everyone who is giving @Koyote grief, i just gotta ask one thing. was koyote wearing cycling lycra? cause honestly don't care how in shape you are there is nothing less intimidating than a man in brightly colored lycra. it's pretty much opposite of threatening

jlmonte

KraneXL

Did you instruct her on her poor parenting skills? I once saw a video where some women was so angered at some insensitive man in a store that she fled out the store and into the parking lot to confront him living her small child behind to fend for herself. Was she going to fist fight the man in the parking lot? Was that the lesson she wanted to teach her young daughter? Some mothers are just that pathetic.

Anyway, back to the screaming driver. This is not rocket science people. When you encounter these lunatic drives on the road just tell them to "read the handbook" and end the communication. They're either too pig-headed, or don't know enough to admit that they're wrong.

livedarklions

Riding on the sidewalk and opposite traffic are both really good ways to get hit at an intersection. There's enough study of this to tell you what you're doing is far more dangerous to yourself than riding on the right side of the road.

livedarklions

Where I live, we're not allowed on the sidewalk. That's true in a lot of places. @JoeyBike used to post how he had a right to ride on the sidewalk, took me about thirty seconds to find the ordinances that said he didn't.

OBoile

You should be on the street, not the sidewalk.

JoeyBike

If I wrote ^^that here, you have caught me in a lie. Children under a certain age are allowed on the sidewalk. Been a law for 50 years I believe. And I very well know this. HOWEVER...I still jump up on a sidewalk now and then to avoid a garbage truck, utility work, road repairs, or other stuff blocking the street. In fact, i used sidewalks on the way home last night and on the way to work this morning for about 6 house lengths for those reasons.

I remember the discussion about sidewalks and I accused another poster about being full of poo that he was legally allowed on sidewalks in his community and he smacked me down with proof of the fact that he was actually correct. HE informed me that an easy Google search could have uncovered that fact and may have even called me a name. Even my middle name isn't Dick.

It is illegal for adults in New Orleans or even Louisiana to bike on a sidewalk. Thankfully, no one here cares and i seriously doubt a single ticked has ever been written in those 50 years, unless there was an crash involved.

So...illegal but never enforced. Maybe I meant that.

Cheers.

burnthesheep

Local ordinance to me states that if you feel a road area is unsafe for riding in the lane, you can assume the sidewalk but still yield to pedestrians.

Imagine your local 45mph center turn lane 4 lane boulevard with a sidewalk both sides.

Even if that isn't the law, ride the sidewalk till you can get off and go slow and don't be a turd. If you get stopped, take off your shoes and helmet and hand it to the cop and say "here, you go play in that traffic".

As for confrontations, videos, audio, and a cell phone call is a lot more effective than screams and single digit finger salutes.

Think about it this way, my ratio of negative interactions locally involving car vs. car and car vs. bike actually weighs worse to my driving my car around town in the car vs. car.

I have to blow my horn or see all manner of lunatic moves between cars more often.

I also don't play the game of "my rights" by choosing to ride super busy areas the wrong times of day. If I want to bomb the boulevard to quickly leave town for a ride, I do it at 6:30 on a Saturday/Sunday morning. I don't do it in the middle of the day.

Too many riders play chicken with the "I belong here" bit.

I have said a legit prayer for a local commuter I see taking one of the busiest 4 lane center turn boulevards in town. He passes right near my neighborhood. I can gather within about 1/4 mile his destinations to/from work from having seen him so often. There's a damn MUP about 1/2 mile into the neighborhood that runs about 75% the length of his route. What's he do? Bomb the boulevard next to 45mph rush hour traffic. I'm assuming he's avoiding this one 4 minute hill by using the boulevard TO work. He takes the MUP home instead as the boulevard has the meaner hill going home. It's not an anomoly of geology/geography, just that the hill is meaner one way versus the other. Imagine that, willing to risk death daily to shave 3min off his commute. God bless sir, take care.

If I got screamed at 5AM, I'd probably just ask the guy if he wants to go get a beer. They'd be so damned confused. Or ask them for spare change like a beggar.

Maelochs

Every oen of us is leaving here one way ort another. And he is obviously not even "risking" an accident if he is still doing it. You might be afraid to do it, but he apparently has mastered it.

Not saying he is better than you, but you seem to be saying you are smarter then he is.

I used to ride an urban commute where it was simply impossible not to ride through rush-hour traffic My options were to go to work two hours early, go to work two hours late, or ride my bike where I needed to. There were no less-trafficked "alternate" routes and no bike lanes, let alone MUPs. So ... i learned to do it safely. Really wasn't that hard.

I also used to ride a motorcycle ... all the same dangers as riding a bike but you crash with about twice or three time the speed if you crash. Having done both, i feel i can reasonably assess the relative risk ... but everyone thinks motorcycles are safer than bicycles. I say it is the rider, not the bike.

livedarklions

Guess I caught you in a lie then. Here is the thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-...morning-4.html

JoeyBike

^^THERE it is. Must have had a mini-stroke or something. Liar.

Nice catch.

Actually, I believe i did a poor editing job on that post. This seems more accurate and what I should have posted. I know very well it is illegal here.

Sometimes at work I actually get called on to WORK. Right in the middle of a post or thought. This is my excuse.

Maelochs

Yeah, that happens to me sometimes. So unfair!

But be honest ... you don't care about the sidewalk laws any more than you care about red lights.

alanf

I prefer riding on the left side because I do not like drivers coming up from behind. When facing the driver there is eye contact and I can see if I am looking at a maniac or whether to bolt away into the ditch from a nut. PPL are less likely to drive close if you look them in the eye. They are bolder when they can sneak attack. However I get that there are times when it is better to be on the right side. It's one of life's little dilemmas.
I also understand why someone would drive on the sidewalk, but not me, too bumpy, and besides I have had the Police give a lecture doing that.

michaelm101

In addition to the previous comments and driver issues,

1) The majority of (non-cyclist) drivers don’t know that cyclists must go by the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. We are supposed to act accordingly, in terms of our state’s ‘Driver’s Handbook.’ Theoretically, (in CA) a cyclist can be in any car lane (preferring the slower lane, if traveling slower than cars), and drivers must drive around them, among other things.

2) The driver who blew-up may have issues because he (I say he because it’s ALWAYS a male) never learned to ride a bike, or perhaps, had issues during that phase of his life (toilet training, soiling clothes, harsh reprimands from parent/caretaker, peers poking fun, etc).

3) The driver may have issues with his own physical condition and will lash out at someone who is fit and enjoying himself on one of the world’s greatest inventions.

4) Further, there are “other” cyclists out there who shed negative light on responsible cyclists. These are the riders you may encounter who ride without lights or reflectors in complete darkness, hoodlums riding BMX style bikes with seat height at lowest setting, homeless persons who ride with all sorts of hazardous items affixed to their bikes, etc.

BTW, we have a really DUMB law in the state of CA that makes it a traffic violation if a motor vehicle gets within 3 feet from a cyclist. This law is simply a “feel good” law and is ridiculously unenforceable.

Most importantly, the people driving around you in motor vehicles are complete strangers and NOT your friends or family. DO NOT, EVER trust them.

I stopped going by the rules of the road in late 2016 when I was in a hit & run crash that sidelined me for 6 months and changed my life. My riding strategy has changed dramatically since. I now ride sidewalks, driveways, lawns, parking lots, road shoulders, etc. I map out the safest routes prior to traveling. If I somehow get caught in a hazardous situation, I’ll immediately get to safety and stop, if needed. BTW, I always ride with multiple lights front & rear; flashing during the day, when I travel among ANY vehicles.

Ok, so it may take a bite out of your time in getting to your destination, but, in the end, you will still be alive and pedaling :-)

spinnaker

I absolutely hate it when I see a cyclist coming at me on the wrong side of the road. I am guessing that most drivers are with me. The reason a pedestrian walks toward traffic, has little do do with eye contact and more do do with being able to move out of the way if a vehicle approaches too closely.

I would like to see your data on how it is safer to ride facing traffic. PA state law requires cyclists ride on the right. I imagine most states are the same. You might want to check your state law before continuing this practice. You might also check studies on the practice. My guess sis they will agree with state law.

I-Like-To-Bike

Perhaps, but also possible that is the perception of a holier-than-thou cyclist who projects various unfavorable traits on those he feels holier than.

Perhaps, but also possible that is the perception of a holier-than-thou cyclist who projects various unfavorable traits on those he feels holier than.
So-called "hoodlums" riding BMX style bikes with seat height at lowest setting shed negative light on so-called "responsible cyclists" like yourself? How?

Homeless persons who ride with all sorts of hazardous items affixed to their bikes [what the heck is that even supposed to mean?] shed negative light on so-called "responsible cyclists" like yourself? How?

Talk about annoying!

JoeyBike

I do not care about the law BUT...when I venture onto the sidewalk I am 100% respectful, bike at walking speed, yield to everyone, and realize that I am operating inside and element that does not "belong" to me. Same as if I were cycling through someone's house or business.

Maelochs

@alanf---in most cases you could not see the eyes of a maniac until it was too late. And even if you did, if a driver Wants to hit you, how could you stop him? Cars can go pretty much anywhere you could on your bike in the half-second you'd have to move.

In the other cases, it doesn't matter. No need to see the eyes of people who are watching traffic.

However, you Are breaking the law by riding the wrong way, so if you did get hit, you wouldn't be able to sue ... and would likely get a ticket and have to pay for repairs to the car.

Worst thing though .. is that you will be Endangering Other Cyclists because of your fear and selfishness. When I see a salmon (a wrong-way rider) I always smile and if I have time, say, "You're going the wrong way." But I don't always have time ... because now I not only have cars coming up behind me, I have a selfish, ignorant, idiot bearing down on me from ahead. Now I have to decide how to safely negotiate traffic coming from Both directions. You "feel" safe, and I am put in danger. Thanks, pal.

Look, here it is:

If you cannot feel safe riding on the road in a safe and legal manner ... DO NOT.

it is not a manhood/bravery thing. Be honest. If you cannot feel safe riding Legally on the roadway, you don't belong there. Acknowledge it and find another way.

Think about it ... if I as a car driver, said I only felt safe driving against traffic ... eh? Why do You get to break the law and put others in danger?

Be honest and be an adult. If you do not feel competent to use the roads legally and safely, do not. We all SHARE the roads---cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. You don't want anyone else making up their own laws, so you shouldn't either.

It is honesty and decency. If you cannot use the road properly, for the sake of the rest of us, stay on MUPs and sidewalks.

Koyote

KraneXL

Find another sport, hobby, pastime, means of travel, really. Bird watching perhaps? I don't even know what to make of mentalities like this.

OBoile

In Canada, those times would be *all* the time. It's illegal to ride on the left.

alanf

Interesting. Do you have a link to this law?

PedalingWalrus

That is the best reason to join the law enforcement :-) awesome.

OBoile

You can google your respective province's traffic laws, but here's a summary from Ontario:
Bicycle Safety