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It goes both ways. The average bicyclist actually rides on the sidewalks, and pedestrians are often injured by bicyclists. This problem has grown considerably a
by idop 9y ago
It goes both ways. The average bicyclist actually rides on the sidewalks, and pedestrians are often injured by bicyclists. This problem has grown considerably as electric bikes became very popular the past few years, and new traffic laws now ban riding on sidewalks completely, so bicyclists must ride on the road, or on the bike lane (if it exists). As I'm writing this it sounds like this should be a given, but it wasn't up until a few months ago, and many bicyclists still don't know or care about this law. I will ride on the sidewalk myself in certain situations if I find it safer than the road.
Many electric bicyclists are very noticeably oblivious of traffic laws and their own mortality in general. They often enter intersections at a red light without even slowing down. They zig zag between the road, the sidewalk and crosswalks all the time. They take right turns at red lights (this is not allowed in Israel). They ride while using or talking on their smartphones. They ride in the middle of the road between two car lanes! I often look at them and think "where did they get the guts to do that?".
- megablast 9y ago> The average bicyclist actually rides on the sidewalks, and pedestrians are often injured by bicyclists. Sure they are. While over a million people are killed by cars, your big concern is pedestrians "often" injured by bikes. The fact is that car culture is incredibly bad and dangerous for everyone. In 20 or 50 years, people will look back and think what idiots we were to let it get this far. They are a death track meters away from your house.
- idop 9y agoWho said it was my "big concern"? I just gave an example of how this bad culture thing goes both ways and made no comparison about injury/death potential. Have you not noticed these replies started with a comment made by me about car culture?
- noobermin 9y ago>The average bicyclist actually rides on the sidewalks, and pedestrians are often injured by bicyclists. This happens, but I don't think it is as common here, which probably again points to a better overall transit culture. Most cyclists in my city ride on the road. I personally am not against riding on the sidewalk, but one should slow down/be more careful and not ride when the sidewalk is densely populated. I am not opposed to laws that regulate that. For electric bikes, I don't think they should be considered in the same category as bikes as they are closer to mopeds.