To the family of four cycling down Cunard St. Wednesday morning – I didn’t realize I held you up as I walked in front of you; it wasn’t until we were clustered together waiting for the crosswalk light and there was a pause between songs on my iPod that I heard you complaining about me. First of all, with ear buds in my ears I couldn’t hear you behind me. Dad ditched the rest of you and burned past me, he could easily have gotten my attention. Secondly, sidewalks are for pedestrians so be prepared to exercise a little cycling etiquette, (a good lesson for the kiddies, no?), and thirdly, after hearing mom tell the (whiny)kids to be quiet because “Mom is getting crankier by the second”, I reckon you had problems long before I inadvertantly interrupted your commute.
—not sorry
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2009.
There are pros and cons to riding bikes on the sidewalk, and one of the cons is getting stuck behind pedestrians. The bikers just have to live with it. If the family wanted to ride together without the risk of traffic, why not take a ride on the commons or Point Pleasant, etc…
Exactly PDG. Little kids are too young to ride on the street, and they’re too young to ride on the sidewalk (illegal too). Pedestrians should *never* have to move over for a cyclist on the sidewalk.
If you see one coming, make them find away around you. Usually they’ll go onto the street for a moment then go back on the sidewalk to pass you.
But that woman and her kids sounds like a self centred cunt. I bet she drives a big blue caravan/suv and drags them into the Wal-mart McDonald’s while they’re screaming and running around like Joe Pesci… but not in a forgiving kind of way.
Gott love it. Cyclists get pissed off when pedestrians on the sidewalk slow them down, yet believe it is their right to slow down motorized traffic on the road. Oops, sorry folks, I forgot. It’s all about cyclists and fuck everyone else.
OB, a piece of advice. If your earbuds are on so loud that you cannot hear your surroundings, then that is dangerous for you.
NEVER yield to bicycles on sidewalks. Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Block them and force them onto the street!
Yeah, thats right, push those little fuckin’ 6 year olds into the street, those that survive will be stronger and better for it! You’re doing them a favor!
You’re not one of those zig-zaggers are you?
Some parents just shouldn’t be parents.
The parents were obviously imparting their ignorance to the next generation of inconsiderate spawn.