"Forgive me Father, for I have ridden on the sidewalk..." could be a frequent refrain around here...
Yes, sidewalk riding is potentially dangerous and we should avoid it in most cases, but we should be able to engage in it where legal without being injured or killed - as Mike R. points out we are supposed to enjoy the same rights while in a crosswalk as pedestrians (which in the minds of many motorists = "NONE"). Incidents like this leave me grieving for the anguish and sorrow of the husband/children/parents/boyfriends/girlfriends/roommates/co-workers and the driver - all of whom are now playing the tragic scene over and over in their minds and hoping somehow they are just dreaming and it never happened or that somehow time could be reversed and the event avoided on replay... In the UW/Medical - Industrial Complex of the near West side, hazards and obstructions often appear that make the sidewalk a beacon of safety - parked loading vans, dust-devil street sweepers, commuters too inconvenienced by frequent bus service to the area, alcohol rehab clinic patients weaving to their next appointment... It seems a major problem with sidewalk riding is that even the most cautious motorists seem to be attuned to looking for slower-moving ped traffic at crossings. Speaking from my own experience, bikes roll off the sidewalk into the crossing too fast - we are apt to jet out too quickly to make it onto the driver's radar. - and in fact the law states something to the effect that pedestrians cannot just dart out into the crosswalk in front of oncoming or turning traffic. So, it seems prudent to slow to pedestrian speed and roll slowly and cautiously into the crosswalk to give drivers a more reasonable chance to see us and yield....and to wear brighter clothing...and to regard every motorist as a mortal danger until they demonstrate otherwise, as a means of self-preservation...and to keep riding, no matter what! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Michael Rewey Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 8:17 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Bikies] Re: Another Bicycle Fatality > appears that the bicyclist was riding on the sidewalk against traffic. > This is legal in Madison, but very risky. If, instead of only > relating the most shallow details, channel3000 could at least point > out that riding on the sidewalk against traffic should be avoided the > public could be educated about bicycling instead of intimidated by it. > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
