This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Biking a Line
To the assholes who insist on flying down sidewalks on their bicycles. They’re sidewalks, not sidebikes. I have news for you: legally, you’re a motor vehicle. You agree to ride on the fine roads of Halifax when you hop on your pretty ten-speed and (some
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I am in total agreement. If you lack the skill and confidence to ride in traffic where you belong, get a bus pass.However, consider the plight of the poor cyclists: pedestrians bitching at them to get the hell off the sidewalk, and drivers barking at them to get the hell off the road. A few more bike lanes and a little more enforcement would solve a lot of problems.Coyote, Patron Saint of Cyclists
Having said that, there have been occasions where I’ve jumped onto the sidewalk for half a block because some asshat driver was deliberately riding the curb in a spiteful attempt to prevent me from getting by. But I would NEVER do that if there was a pedestrian in front of me.
Coyote is right that there is definitely a conflict with SUV drivers who feel entitled to hog the road. And as a regular cyclist, I have been forced to either stop my bike for 20 minutes and stand waiting for the ragers to get weel ahead of me (as I have experienced sudden swerving, engine-revving, and horns when I am riding the curb as it is and there is no oncoming traffic should the impatient putz behind me want to pass) or jump on the sidewalk for a half-block or so. And if there are pedestrians, I get off my bike and walk it or I travel until there is a 30-second gap between us and stop my bike to “tie my shoe” or something so they don’t feel pressured to hurry along on my account. Cyclists are carbon neutral and are trying to be courteous. So if there is any sort of invasion against pedestrians…you can bet an SUV, minivan, or other unreasonably large vehicle driver forced the issue.
There is no reason why cyclists should not have to follow the rules of the road. If I can’t drive on the sidewalk or in the opposing lane to get ahead of traffic, why should you? Get in line and wait like everyone else.
Cyclists do have to follow the rules of the road, Keith. They don’t always, but they should. Now, there are the rules of the road as the DMV decrees them, and there are the rules of the road as they actually exist. Case in point: the Fairview Overpass. Where traffic merges from Joe Howe onto the Windsor Street Interchange, there is a one lane ramp. There are not two lanes on that ramp. There is no line indicating two lanes because there are not, never have been, and were never meant to be, two lanes. But there ARE two lanes. People routinely form two lanes there, because there is room to do so, and it is logical to do so. Everyone who uses this ramp regularly knows that there are two lanes. There is NO DIFFERENCE between this practice, and the practice of cyclists riding up between you and the curb on Bayers Road. There is room for another lane, even if it’s not marked on the pavement; it makes sense for the extra lane to be there; and everyone who uses the route regularly knows that this is the usual practice.
Hey, Matthew. Dude, I’m not talking about people driving big cars that actually take up more space. I’m talking about people driving normal cars and seeing me, and going, “look at that fucking cyclist trying to get past the traffic. Who does he think he is? I’m gonna rip the shit out of my tires hugging the curb just so he can’t get past me.” So they’ve got four feet of space on their left, but their right tires are scraping the curb, just to make a point. It’s nothing but a pissing contest, man, and one they can’t win.
I almost got run over the other day and the sidewalk biker swore at me for not dodging. Fucker.
“So they’ve got four feet of space on their left, but their right tires are scraping the curb”Hey Coyote, the car driver is actually following the motor vehicle act by doing so as it clearly states you keep as far right as possible unless making a left turn. It also states that you cannot pass a vehicle on the right unless it that vehicle has signalled a left turn and only if you can make the manoever safely. As for those having problems with sidewalk bikers, an accidental swing of your arm holding a stick will solve the problem with the stick gets between the spokes 🙂
” the car driver is actually following the motor vehicle act by doing so as it clearly states you keep as far right as possible unless making a left turn.”Yeah, thats awesome. Bully for them. But I think the orginal post regarding this was in reference to drivers who are over the left, see you approaching in their rear view mirror, then proceed to move as far to the right as possible. Thats been my experience anyway. You just look at these people and wonder what the fuck their deal is. A sudden desire to “follow the rules of the road to the letter”? No, I think they’re just pricks.