# Adult bicyclists: get off the damn sidewalk! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 16, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118 "2007-03-16T01:08:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/121 "2007-03-17T21:24:57Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] Many city roads, as I later clarified, in my neck of the woods at that. [/quote] I’ve ridden bikes in many cities, including yours. So you are still lumping **me** with those who break the law. > [@](#): > > If severely ramped up enforcement by the police can curtail that neglect of the law, I’d be down with that too, but I question its effectiveness given the rampant lack of respect for the law I witness from many bikers, again, in my area. So, if they don’t obey the law when it’s _not_ enforced, enforcement wouldn’t have any effect? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/122 "2007-03-17T21:32:57Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] So, if they don’t obey the law when it’s _not_ enforced, enforcement wouldn’t have any effect? [/QUOTE] I didn’t say it wouldn’t have any effect, what I did say was “I question its effectiveness.” In other words, I’m dubious of the police’s ability to enforce these laws to any meaningful degree, but assuming that weren’t an issue, I’m skeptical of the this seriously modifying bicyclists’ behavior. After all, people still speed don’t they? Jaywalking’s still rampant in Seattle too, even after a period of supposed cracking down on that. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/123 "2007-03-17T21:38:29Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Now let’s talk about that inattentive driver talking on the cell phone. Which do you think is more likely: that he fails to notice a cyclist directly ahead in his lane, or he fails to notice a cyclist about to come out of a sidewalk and into the intersection? [/QUOTE] I’d say it’s about the same. But the cyclist on the sidewalk is only in danger when crossing the road; whereas the cyclist in the road is in danger all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/124 "2007-03-17T21:45:03Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] WTF? Let’s go back and review the tape… [/QUOTE] Did you highlight the part where I said that I was behind the child when I honked? You didn’t, because it wasn’t there. I was just past her, because I wanted her to understand who was honking and why. My intention was to educate, not scare. Look, I get it: I’m a convenient target for you to focus all of your pent up anger at motorists that have thrown things at you. Have at it. It is the pit. Pretend that I throw beer cans at children if it makes you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/125 "2007-03-17T21:51:00Z")
[QUOTE=Rucksinator] Did you highlight the part where I said that I was behind the child when I honked? You didn’t, because it wasn’t there. I was just past her, because I wanted her to understand who was honking and why. My intention was to educate, not scare. Look, I get it: I’m a convenient target for you to focus all of your pent up anger at motorists that have thrown things at you. Have at it. It is the pit. Pretend that I throw beer cans at children if it makes you feel better. [/QUOTE] Behind, next to, just past… same thing can happen either way. Add the fact that you had no business honking at them because they were legally riding in the street. Quit backtracking and trying to justify yourself. You’re a dick. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/126 "2007-03-17T23:22:55Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] I don’t even know what this means? What do you mean by "not important enough for [you] to correct [me] on? [/quote] Your confusion leads me to believe that you meant something other than what you wrote originally. You wrote: > [@](#): > > I’ll concede I may have misinterpreted his statement, but it does seem like a needlessly pointless observation… Perhaps you can clarify what “it” refers to in that sentence, and then we will know if we’re talking past each other. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/127 "2007-03-17T23:37:57Z")
_double post, for some reason_ ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/128 "2007-03-17T23:40:31Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Your confusion leads me to believe that you meant something other than what you wrote originally. You wrote: Perhaps you can clarify what “it” refers to in that sentence, and then we will know if we’re talking past each other. [/QUOTE] I had interpreted his statement as him attacking me for thinking that I was arguing that it wasn’t legal for him to ride in the street. As far as I can tell, everything I wrote conveyed what I intended. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/129 "2007-03-18T00:46:07Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] I had interpreted his statement as him attacking me for thinking that I was arguing that it wasn’t legal for him to ride in the street. As far as I can tell, everything I wrote conveyed what I intended. [/QUOTE] Obviously it didn’t. So you can’t tell me what the word “it” refers to? I can’t address your concerns then. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/130 "2007-03-18T00:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Obviously it didn’t. So you can’t tell me what the word “it” refers to? I can’t address your concerns then. [/QUOTE] What the fuck? I JUST DID! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/131 "2007-03-18T00:51:48Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Anybody stop to think about the locational disconnect here? [/QUOTE] :smack: of course not. You’re too busy talking shit to each other. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/132 "2007-03-18T01:53:29Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Anybody stop to think about the locational disconnect here? For instance, where I live (Phoenix, AZ), there are bicycle lanes on almost every street busy enough to need them. I know for a fact that the same cannot be said of most areas in South Carolina. I’d be much less comfortable riding without a bike lane, especially if there was an empty sidewalk 10 feet to my right. [/QUOTE] One of my first posts had a disclaimer to this affect, but nobody cares. Everybody wants to imagine that everybody else is talking about a situation exactly like their own. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/133 "2007-03-18T07:48:21Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] A careful motorist is unlikely to injure anyone on the road. So where does this get us? [/QUOTE] False analogy. We’re comparing street cyclist with sidewalk cyclists. A street cyclist, no matter how careful, is more likely to be involved in an accident that a careful sidewalk cyclist. [QUOTE=lowbrass] So your argument is that it’s correct to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk because the pedestrians you hit would probably only be injured and not killed? [/QUOTE] No. I specifically said that sidewalk cyclists should maintain a moderate speed in order to prevent such accidents from occuring. If an accident does occur though, the impact will be far less damaging than if the bicycle had collided with a truck, motorcycle or automobile. In that respect, cycling on the sidewalks is a great deal safer. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/134 "2007-03-18T08:19:12Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] What the fuck? I JUST DID! [/QUOTE] Huh? You are insane. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/135 "2007-03-18T08:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Huh? You are insane. [/QUOTE] At least I can read. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/136 "2007-03-18T08:46:00Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] False analogy. We’re comparing street cyclist with sidewalk cyclists. [/quote] I don’t think you know what “false analogy” means. > [@](#): > > A street cyclist, no matter how careful, is more likely to be involved in an accident that a careful sidewalk cyclist. I have already proven this false. Did you not read my relevant post and view the links I provided? > [@](#): > > No. I specifically said that sidewalk cyclists should maintain a moderate speed in order to prevent such accidents from occuring. What does this have to do with anything? I never suggested you said otherwise. > [@](#): > > If an accident does occur though, the impact will be far less damaging than if the bicycle had collided with a truck, motorcycle or automobile. Like I said, your argument appears to be that it’s correct to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk because the pedestrians you hit would probably only be injured and not killed. What part of that _isn’t_ the point you’re making? > [@](#): > > In that respect, cycling on the sidewalks is a great deal safer No, it’s not. I have cited a survey showing you’re wrong. All you have done is make a bald assertion. Even if it _were_ true, it’s still a specious argument. You would be arguing that it’s safer for the _bicyclist_, but it still would be less safe for pedestrians. In other words: “I will risk injuring others to lessen my risk of being killed.” The trade-off you are proposing, i.e. risking injury because death is worse than injury, isn’t valid, because you’re trading _your_ risk of death for _another’s_ risk of injury. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/137 "2007-03-18T08:51:01Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] At least I can read. [/QUOTE] No, you really can’t. I don’t know why I’m bothering, but as an example, in the sentence: “I bought a cat but it ran away.” The word “it” refers to “a cat”. Your answer to the question “What does ‘it’ refer to?” was: > [@](#): > > I had interpreted his statement as him attacking me for thinking that I was arguing that it wasn’t legal for him to ride in the street. > > As far as I can tell, everything I wrote conveyed what I intended. Do you see the difference? Your answer should have been one, or at most several words, not 39 words. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/138 "2007-03-18T17:17:16Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Do you see the difference? Your answer should have been one, or at most several words, not 39 words. [/QUOTE] I had to purposefully over explain because you’re a fucking idiot who apparently can’t comprehend anything of substance, as support by your continued ignorance regarding this so called “it.” I’m impressed you’re able to spare enough brain power to type a message without falling over from forgetting to breath. Edit: Oh, and you have continued to neglect one of my questions twice now, where you grossly exaggerated/misinterpreted what I was saying. Good job, fucko. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/139 "2007-03-18T18:34:58Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] I had to purposefully over explain because you’re a fucking idiot who apparently can’t comprehend anything of substance, as support by your continued ignorance regarding this so called “it.” I’m impressed you’re able to spare enough brain power to type a message without falling over from forgetting to breath. [/QUOTE] I didn’t ask you to over-explain it. I asked you a very simple question, which you cannot answer. “It” is a pronoun. Pronouns take the place of nouns in sentences. If you use the word “it” and can’t explain what noun it is taking the place of, then you do not know how to communicate in the English language. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118/140 "2007-03-18T18:41:32Z")
Still haven’t answered my question regarding your gross exaggeration of my statements. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-bicyclists-get-off-the-damn-sidewalk/396118.md?page=8)