Here’s a clue, because you obviously missed all the other ones. If you look down and see small horizontal lines across the pavement, if everyone around you is on foot, if you see store fronts on one side and cars on the other, you may be on a sidewalk. This is a portion of public right of way between the street and the adjacent private property. God put it here so that folks can walk around unmolested by cars, trains, plans, and, yes, bikes. Don’t worry though, he didn’t forget out you; he made bike lanes – right next to the sidewalk. So take your cruiser down to the street where the good lord intended. If you need to cross the sidewalk, get off your bike and walk like the rest of us. Either that or let me know when you’re going for a jog so I can get on my bike and ride your ass for four miles around town. You wouldn’t mind that right?
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2009.
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Cyclists in Bend seem to have this special entitlement attitude, where they can ride where they damn well please, how they please, and don’t even dare mention traffic laws. Those laws are just for us nasty ol’ motorists. Why should sidewalks be any different?
I think you will find rude bikers, walkers, and drivers in any city. Sidewalks are for both walkers and bikers, unless designated no bikes. And surely you don’t want to keep children off the sidewalks because they are on a bike. It is not easy, and it is dangerous riding a bike in town. Try it ( ol’motorist ) and see what you think about it then. KMA