“Signal, blast it!”
So, this morning I was nearly hit from behind by a cyclist who came up the sidewalk behind me without bothering to let me know she was there. Had I moved a half-step to the right at the wrong moment, she would have taken my knee out.
Were this the only time something like this happened, it would be annoying, but nothing to write home about. Just one of the annoyances of pedestrian life.
But this happens far too often not to be infuriating. Do people riding bicycles not understand that people in front of them might not know they are there? That even a low-speed collision can cause serious injury? Is it too hard to use a horn, or a bell, or even to call out “coming through?”
From the Los Angeles municipal code:
- Sidewalk Riding (LAMC 56.15) Prohibits the riding of bicycles (or other human power devices) on sidewalks (bikeways or boardwalks) with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Disallows the riding of bicycles on Ocean Front Walk in Venice.
I maintain these people are breaking that very ordinance, though small satisfaction it will be to me for them to get a ticket while I’m on the ground, writhing in pain.
Wait! What am I saying? Bike riders are healthy, Green, saving Gaea — they’re virtuous! The sidewalks and roads are theirs by divine right, and therefore they need not worry themselves about lesser mortals such as you and me. It’s your responsibility to watch out for them, you drudge, lest your body damage their bike.
Meanwhile, I have to keep looking warily over my shoulder when walking to the grocery store.
Jerks.
PS: My apologies to any civilized riders reading this. I just needed to vent.
A Seat By The Fire 
You are so right. And they’re worse on the street, where they are required by law to follow all the laws a car has to. Just had a woman ride right through a stop sign at an intersection where there was no stop sign for me. I almost crushed her, but she didn’t even glance in my direction. And she was definitely old enough to know better.
I really think some people operate under the idea that, “if I don’t look at the oncoming car, it can’t hit me.” Argh.
I spend quite a bit of time in Orange County and where my aunt lives, in Tustin, there is a lot of land = wide lanes for cars, tons of bike lanes and great sidewalks. There is something for everyone and it’s really open and safe.
However, every time I walk my aunt’s dog, there are cyclist on the sidewalk, rather than using the bike lanes. I kind of/sort of get them being on the sidewalk in LA where the streets can be scary ( even though I know it’s illegal and I too have had scary pedestrian experiences)…but I absolutely don’t get it where the bike lanes are fantastic!
I can sympathize, believe me. It’s legal in LA, though, as long as they aren’t acting recklessly. My problem is that too many are doing just that, and one day they’re going to get me. 😦