Robbie wrote . <Also interesting is how bicyclists are considered a serious threat to pedestrians (who in my opinion should be our natural allies)>
Unfortunately, this is true in Madison, as well. I get lots complaints from pedestrians about bicyclists. The Police are hearing this as well, especially in the downtown areas. Complaints include not giving an audible warning (and waiting for a reaction to be sure it is safe) before passing on a path or sidewalk, riding on sidewalks where it's illegal (wherever the sidewalk is adjacent to buildings), bicyclists failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (I was doing a traffic study at a school one day and watched in dismay as a bicyclist went through the crosswalk while an adult guard was standing in the street with his stop sign raised), etc. Here is a quote from a comment to a newspaper article titled Pedestrians and Drivers: Mortal Enemies (10/22/2008) "As a pedestrian, bicyclists are a greater source of aggravation to me. So many of them don't think they have to stop at stop signs or stop lights. . . . Bicyclists, . . . Remember your responsibilities as well as your rights." I agree with Robbie that bicyclists and pedestrians should be natural allies. We have a long way to go to mend the bike/ped relationship here in Madison. Arthur Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 100 PO Box 2986 Madison, WI 53701-2986 608/266-6225
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