Originally Posted by
Santaria
I linked you specific data you intentionally ignored DC.
Let me be more specific. I agree with you that if I see a bicyclist coming up to me, on the side of the road, I should move. I do. Based on what I've read in this thread, many of you find it funny to make runners dive for cover when you come by.
Do you not see this as exactly the same mindset that you all feel victimized by with motorists?
So, based on your astute logic of right and wrong, if I see a cyclist on the sidewalk, I'm allowed to attempt to do gross bodily harm to him in the name of "Sidewalks are for pedestrians only!"
Of course not, stop being so singleminded in your righteousness. Much as there is room for bicyclists, even on roads without bike lanes, there is room for conscientiousness runners in bike lanes. I fail to see how someone as smart as yourself cannot fathom this, let alone agree that we're dealing with extremes that hurt everybody.
Sidewalks, mind you, were never made with the intention of running, or even valid "healthy" walking. It originated back to what, 1660. I'm not even sure why I'm wasting time asking you to show courtesy to fellow cyclists who also run for their health.
Actually the only runners/joggers that I have a problem with are the ones who as have been mentioned are running/jogging in the bike lane and act as if the cyclist is the one who is doing something wrong.
And for the record I do
NOT, make joggers "dive for cover, or the sidewalk." That being said though I'm not going to be upset if one does have to "dive for cover, or the sidewalk" if they encounter a cyclist. Nor am I going to endanger my life to pass them. As if it's a choice between getting hit by a car, or hitting a runner/jogger. I hope you can guess which would be the logical choice to make.
And given that if I'm not mistaken, that in most cities, counties, states it's the law that if there is a sidewalk present that pedestrians (and that includes runners/joggers) are legally required to use it.
If people want some place to run then they should either petition their elected officials modify sidewalks so as to be more runner/jogger friendly or to install dedicated tracks for running/jogging on.
As I've said I've got at least one bicycle lane that has signage that indicate that it is for bicycles only. So why shouldn't cyclists get upset when they find pedestrians in "their" space?
Or as has been said before roads are for all vehicles, bike lanes are for bicycles, and sidewalks are for pedestrians (unless one is "lucky" enough to live in an area where cyclists are allowed on the sidewalk).
Actually kind of related, a couple of months ago I had a couple in a car operating under the mistaken impression that because the city had recently widened the sidewalk along a long stretch of 1st St. N. turning it into a MUP, that bicycles were under some sort of obligation to use it.