Bicyclists on the Sidewalk

Bicycling seems to be more popular today than it ever was. This has many positive implications. Reducing carbon emissions will help to at least slow the damage done to our environment by combustion of fossil fuels. The (perhaps not right at the moment, but ultimately) rising cost of gasoline and oil and unavailability of parking certainly make the bicycle an economic alternative. Bicycling is great exercise and (in moderation) may help to improve our nation's health and wellness. And, after all, bikes are not as dangerous as automobiles....However, a large metal object on wheels accelerating with a human being on top is still a liability to anything in its path.

     Bicycles are expected to share the road with other vehicles. Admittedly, it can be difficult and, for the cyclist, dangerous to maneuver through streets of traffic, with cars turning, merging, changing lanes, passing; trucks and emergency vehicles speeding by. There are many times when it makes more sense for a cyclist to get off the road and onto the sidewalk. We all do it; how else would you lock up your bike, get home or go into a store? Sometimes in order to get across a street it is more appropriate to travel the paths laid out for pedestrians than those intended for drivers.
    Riding down an empty sidewalk, in fact, might be safer for everyone than darting between cars across a busy road. When there are pedestrians on the sidewalk, however, it does not makes sense to pass them at full-speed. This is dangerous in any situation, especially if those pedestrians are children, the elderly, handicapped, or otherwise not fully attentive and ready to apply their reflexes to avoid harm's way.
   Slowing down is a start. At the very least, running one foot on the ground gives the biker physical control to stop the bike if necessary, preventing injury to themselves and others that could be caused by applying brakes suddenly. Getting off and walking the bike is an even better idea when on a crowded sidewalk; once you get around the pedestrians and onto the other side of the street you can start biking in the street again, where you belong!
   This seems so simple but it all comes down to courtesy and care for others. A symptom of our modern culture of detachment is a profound display of indifference to others. I learned to ride a bike late, in high school. Of course I myself road on the sidewalk over the course of a few days as I got the hang of it. One day, and I wasn't even going that fast, someone came out of a store and I nearly ran into them. They yelled at me as I kept going and I arrogantly yelled back, not thinking I was really in the wrong and also infected by that same social apathy I just mentioned is prevalent in our society, especially among youth; and everyone seems to be affecting the characteristics of irreverent youth today.
   After that incident I sucked it up and put myself in the street, riding stoned on good grass listening to Metallica on my headphones with no helmet, because it seemed noble to put the safety of others above my own at that time. Maybe it's just my Virgo Moon.
   In any case, if I see you biking towards me when I am walking down the sidewalk with my children, I will make the sidewalk impassable until you either get off the sidewalk or walk your bike. And if you are coming behind me, please don't ring your corny little bell or shout out "left!".....but that is the topic for another blog.