BarracksSi

How do you carry the monkey? Or do you keep monkey poo in a bento box?

MacCruiskeen

I don't normally ride on the sidewalk but I will make use of them to get around obstructions. Around here we have restrictions on riding on sidewalks in "business districts" and the curbs are marked, otherwise it is legal. I'll occasionally yell at a salmon, but if someone is riding on the sidewalk, where it's allowed, why should I care? If you don't think your city should allow it, take it up with city hall.

DataJunkie

A front basket FTW!

BikeTales 

Ohhhh a salmon, I get it. Stupid salmon

Seattle Forrest

More importantly, how do you get him to poo on command? I sort of imagined you had collected a poo bank in advance, and carried a day's worth of ammunition around with you.

nelson249

The only time I will call a cyclist out for being on the sidewalk is when I am walking on it and they are travelling at excessive speed and try to force me off the pavement. That entirely pisses me off. Otherwise I keep my trap shut.

Jtgyk

Heh
I'd be such a cool change for the police to yell, "GET OFF THE SIDEWALK AND ONTO THE ROAD WHERE YOU BELONG!!!!"

Neil_B

The bike patrol in my town rides on the sidewalk. :-(

truman

Mine too, but they're not policing traffic, they're policing pedestrians and store fronts, parking lots, garages and alleys. They don't belong in the street. On my bike, I'm traveling from Point A to Point B - I do belong in the street.

I don't have any need to try to convince civilian sidewalk riders to get on the street.

If one causes me a problem on the sidewalk while I'm walking, he or she will likely hear about it from me, though.

Elkhound

It is called a sideWALK, not a sideRIDE. In many cities, riding on the sidewalk is illegal. It is also dangerous. Not only to pedestrians, but every driveway is, essentially, an uncontrolled intersection.

The last cyclist to be killed in here, for example, was riding on the sidewalk of a one-way street against traffic; a lady coming out of a parking garage creamed him. Had he been riding on the street one block over (on the paralel street going in his direction), he was more than likely to be alive today.

However, lecturing people gets you nowhere. I content myself with shooting them dirty looks and writing letters to the editor of the paper.

burnedthetoast

I tend to reserve my ire for scofflaws( of all stripes). I'll call people out for not stopping at stop signs, running reds, driving/riding carelessly, etc. In my town it's legal to ride on the sidewalk, so I don't have a problem with it.

travelmama

I am busting up at the answers here. You all are good.

Wiggles_dad

I know... I see police officers patrolling on the sidewalk sometimes. Ok, maybe because they are cruising and going slow.

Wiggles_dad

I know I see bike police patrolling on the sidewalks in downtown SLC. Maybe this is legit because they are "patrolling" and riding slow.

Doohickie

Even if it is illegal or they are endangering pedestrians, unless you are a cop, it is NOT YOUR JOB. If anything, just deal with people that directly affect you, and even then it's usually best to let it pass.

Wiggles_dad

1) Possibly themselves because sidewalk riding is dangerous. Cars pulling out of driveways aren't exactly expecting a bike to come rushing by. Pedestrians?

2) The city has invested millions of dollars in new bike lanes, but until the bike lanes are used by bicyclist more, then motorists will not respect the use of those facilities (power in numbers and routine).

Doohickie

Actually, they do that mostly in the downtown area here, too. In observing them, though, I realize that the vast majority of the time they are rolling along at foot traffic speed. When they speed up, they jump out to the street. By staying on the sidewalk, though, they are essentially stealthy. I've seen them come zooming off the sidewalk and out into the street to give traffic tickets.

Doohickie

It's still not your job.

jharte

I'm a bicycle commuter. I won't drive unless absolutely necessary. I commute for transportation, not just for fun (although it is!), not just for exercise, not just because I have a right to do so. I commute because it helps the planet, not to mention the above reasons.

That said, I mostly ride in the street along with the rude motorists. Been commuting a looong time. However, there are a couple of places that I have to ride the sidewalk...at least for short distances. I ride the sidewalk because I must get from one place to another safely. My area isn't bike friendly. If my current route isn't safe, jump on the sidewalk for a bit. I get 'there' safely and didn't disturb anyone. Maybe change to safer routes later.

When I see someone riding on the sidewalk, I'm glad to see them riding a bike (instead of driving a pollute-mobile). Hopefully someday they will feel safe enough to ride on the streets with the crazy motorist.

Jerry H

rando

No. mind your own bidness.

himespau 

When people take up the whole sidewalk on their bikes, I get annoyed, but I'm not the type to say anything.

I was cruising in the street at ~25 on Saturday and some dude jumped out into the street right in front of me (in a crosswalk, but still, I saw him standing on the curb and waiting and there was no stop/yield sign on the road), stood right in my way pointing down and screamed crosswalk. I barely stopped in time to avoid hitting him. That guy's protest almost got two of us injured (sure I could have stopped my bike long before the crosswalk to let him walk across even though there was no sign requiring me to stop, but he could also have just walked normally across the street and I could have avoided him, standing directly in my path face on screaming at me almost got him killed).

So what I'm saying is pick your battles. If they're a hazard to you/someone you care about, by all means call them out. If not, live and let live.

Lalato

I'm also in SLC, and I have to admit I see a lot of sidewalk riders here... even on quiet neighborhood streets. As the OP noted, in the heart of the city, the roads are WIDE. There is usually plenty of room for a bicycle... and then some. That said, I only have a beef with bikes on the sidewalk when I'm walking on the sidewalk and they're riding fast.

I don't know why, but I see a lot of adults on BMX bikes on the sidewalk here. I'm guessing BMX was really big here and these folks just never outgrew the bikes. Every time I see them, I have a response where I just think of the pain it would cause my knees to ride a BMX bike... (and this is coming from someone that rides a folding bike).

pharasz

You are not their parent.

exile

I am morally superior and love telling people when they are in the wrong. It makes me feel better about myself.

Or I don't say a word and quietly go about my business.

Whatever works I guess.

neil

But it seems like it might be wiser to point out that riding on the sidewalk is much less safe than riding on the road. Many cycling injuries happen crossing streets after riding on the sidewalk. While I agree that sidewalk riders are often people who are uncomfortable on the road, I think it's important to communicate that they're taking more risks on the sidewalk, not less.