No, dildo, the point isn’t who is right or wrong, the point is who is dead and who is alive. I’m not saying walkers/joggers/bikers “piss drivers off”, or that that is their intention - I do all 4 activities on a regular basis and I don’t tend to get pissed in any of those roles. Your icy, flooded, whatever scenarios are irrelevant because I said use the sidewalk “if available.” By the way I slow down and give a huge berth to joggers and bikers but the favor is more than often NOT returned when I’m biking or jogging. Most drivers just aren’t as perfect as you and I and the reality, as a opposed to the ideal vision of utopia, is that it should be bikers and joggers who watch the fuck out for cars, even moreso than cars watch out for them. Again, not because of who is right or wrong, but because of who’s gonna win the collision derby every single time. When I’m on foot or on bike, I pretend that every single car is TRYING to hit me, and act accordingly. It has served me well so far.
Sorry, you probably aren’t really a dildo. I just thought it sounded funny.
We have bike lanes here around Boston and I’d just be happy if the bikers would use them instead of riding on the sidewalk. Most bikers are smart enough to know they’re safer in the bike lane but a few oddballs insist on riding on the sidewalk, endangering themselves and pedestrians alike. Grrrrrrrrrh!
A friend of mine had one of those once. My ears are still ringing.
OK, buttplug.
I really don’t have an argument with any of your points, and I sure don’t recall saying anyone was right or wrong. My purpose was to point out to Claire Beauchamp that there is a very simple alternative to swerving into oncoming traffic when one encounters a runner or biker. Seems like common sense, but I’m amazed at the lengths people go to avoid decelerating. I really don’t see how that makes me a martyr for pedestrian rights.
Are the steps taken on concrete or asphalt?
Philly has 'em. Apparently churchgoers are permitted to park in them on Sundays. Pisses me the hell off, it does.
whatjasay?
Depends. Which one’s softer?
And of course, during rush hour, many drivers think that the bike lane will mystically change into a full-sized lane* just for them*, so they just plant their car in it awaiting the magic to kick in.
Well that’s interesting. I suppose some could have good intent but I think most of them do it to be a jerk. They always seem to wait till they’re right on top of me and about scare the crap out of me. You do not want to jump on a bike traveling 20 mph in shorts with legs ripe for the scrapping.
I know your friend means well but after a bit you associate honking with jerk. Best to just pass the biker silently. They know he’s there from the sound of his engine.
I’m at the point of getting an extra shrill airhorn to fight back.
Exactly. Btw that’s a saying some people use for really objectionable things you can’t do anything about.
I know. It’s a stupid saying, and it is what it is :).
The extra shrill airhorn is key. Jerkfaces everywhere, prepare to be deafened.
I have to admit, my bike bell is the best thing ever, and better than trying to call out “on the left”, which does indeed make people walk to the left for some idiotic reason.
In contrast, everybody knows what the bell means, I find.
Ignorance fought. You’re not mean at all. You’re a misunderstood biker’s hero!
Where can I find a cape? Do they sell them at Target?
My friend has something very similar to this.*. From riding with him, I can confirm that it’s quite effective. (Though I’d recommend a regular bell also, for closer conditions that require more politeness. ;))
*(A 9V powered electric horn, in case the link dies).
In Minnesota, land of the OP, there is a state statute that prohibits pedestrians from walking, jogging, or running down the street whenever sidewalks are available and passable. The ‘and passable’ bit is important in Minnesota, because after a winter storm, we all walk in the streets until we dig ourselves out.
So, SmellMyWort, when I’m driving in the 1-2 weeks that are snow-free here 
and encounter a fucktard running in the street instead of the passable sidewalk, I HONK MY FUCKING HORN at the scofflaw.
(But I also try not to run him/her over, because while I may be a rightous bastard, I’m not a sociopathic bastard.)
P.S. St. Paul, where I live, also has separate ped/bike lanes. You Minneapolitans always think you’re so fuckin’ unique …
I’m not so sure it’s idiotic.
Let me float this idea: In Kansas, when it snows a lot, some roads become very hard to see because everything is covered up. The only guidelines are the rows of telephone poles. Every now and then someone will spin out, and occasionally hit a pole. How often were poles hit? Far more often than is statistically probably. A study was done on why this is (sorry, no cite), and it was discovered that the last thing on drivers’ minds just before collision was “I must avoid that TELEPHONE POLL. I don’t want to hit the TELEPHONE POLL. That TELEPHONE POLL is the one thing I don’t want to hit.” They were so focused on the TELEPHONE POLL that subconsciously, they steered right for it.
I think that “on your left” works the same way. When I hear that, my mind doesn’t say “Hmm, someone on my left. Probably a jogger or cyclist. They are coming up on my left, therefore I must move right.” All I hear is “left”, and so sometimes I move that way. Given a second or two to work out the logic, it’s clear what I need to do, but often I don’t have that second or two. My ears tell my muscles to react, and my brain plays catch-up a little later. That brief interval of time is plenty for a collision to occur, especially since most bikers/joggers don’t give a whole lot of forwarning.
“But that’s dumb!”, you might be saying from the comfort and safety of your computer. And yes, from the comfort and safety of your computer, it certainly is dumb. But out on the street it’s a whole different thing.
tdn’s post shows why I assume pedestrians will do the worst possible thing.
That’s why I slow down to 5 mph when passing them and give as wide a birth as possible. Even if he turns and bolts just so he can set right in front of me I’m covered. Just throw my feet on the ground and come to a dead halt so I can stand there and glare with the wtf u do’en kind of glare. Once past then it’s just a matter of speeding back up to 20 mph.