Bikes & Walkers

[dgirl]

OK….I understand all of the fears and frustrations that bicylists have with cars…BUT…as a walker, I have the same fears and frustrations with many bikers. Please note…I did not say “All” bikers. Way, way, way too often on my various walks on pedestrian/biker pathways, there is no bell, no “on your left”, not even a clearing of the voice as a bike whisks past me. If I had veered slightly to my left (or staggered…) I would be road kill!! Please, all you environmentally conscientious, green, gas free bikers…get a clue and WARN a pedestrian before you race around them. This is not a rare, one-time occurence. It happens at least once on every walk I take on a city path. I am a big walker, so the numbers add up. I have a very hard time sticking up for bikers when my life is constantly at risk by too many of you. Follow the rules folks…they are for all of us!

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[DOC]

I agree with you that it can be scary when you are walking on the sidewalk and get passed by a biker without realizing it, but think of this. You are walking, suddenly you hear a loud “on your left”, you jump, often to one side or the other, and 50% of the time it is right in the path of the biker.

I slow down when I am in a situation near people and space it tight, but when I pass a person, I give no warning. Because almost every time, that warning results in the person jumping directly into my path, which turns a “that biker almost hit me” story into a “I just got hit by a biker”.

I know this may sound a little odd, but I have realized it is much safer for you to get scared after I pass you then before I pass you.

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[JanS]

how about this…when there are walkers present, SLOW DOWN. Is that really too much to ask? I have nearly been hit when walking at Alki because the biker invariably yells “left” at the exact moment they’re passing, not before as a warning…it’s startling !

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[Sue]

I agree with Jan. If someone yells “on your left” (or whatever) BEFORE they get right up on top of you, there’s less chance of startling someone. Slowing down would help too. It’s scary how fast some bikes are going when they whip by me as a walker.

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[Al]

dgirl, I agree with you. I am a cyclist and slow waaaayyy down when using the multi-use paths if there’s peds around. Going fast I take the street. I have also seen too many cyclists, and been passed too close (just the other day in fact!) by other cyclists when on my bike and walking.

I try to always signal someone when passing and can only hope that others do. Sometimes I don’t, but usually due to a situation in which I either need to be watching another ped, oncoming traffic, or other crazy thing. Which does happen. And as DOC says, lots and lots of times if a cyclist yells “on your left” the pedestrian moves left instead of right. Or if I say anything they stop and turn around rather than moving right. Bells work much better!

Remember, we are living in the culture of “me” so that sadly there are many people both in cars, cycling AND walking that simply will not mingle well with other road/sidwalk/MUP users. And for those of us who prefer to think of our situation as a “we” problem, we’ll be never endingly frustrated.

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[j]

In Bellevue, police have been ticketing bicyclists on the 1-90 bike path for speeding violations.

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[Blend]

“we are living in a culture of “Me”…well put and so true.

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[anonyme]

Cyclists should not be on sidewalks and should slow way, way down when in the vicinity of any pedestrian. Both cars and bicycles are required by law to yield to pedestrians, which doesn’t necessarily mean it happens on a regular basis. I was seriously injured & hospitalized after being struck HARD by a bicycle cop who sped through a red light and creamed me in a crosswalk downtown. Not a pleasant experience, and it changed my view of cyclists – and cops.

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[Al]

anonyme – sorry to hear about that, hope he was held accountable for the accident. And I hope you don’t hold all cyclists to ONE person’s mistake. I see many vehicles run red lights and do dangerous things…

like the SUV yesterday who decided that he wouldn’t wait behind me at a red light downtown (yes, I stop at lights, imagine that!), and instead drove into the oncoming lane and stopped, facing the wrong direction next to me. And as soon as the light turned green he cut right in front of me heading straight as I was trying to make a left turn. HE was breaking several laws, I was breaking none. And I still do not think that every middle-aged balding man who drives a silver colored SUV is dangerous. Nor do I think every driver is dangerous. Just some of them. Some bicyclists are dangerous. We all are not.

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[anonyme]

Al, I didn’t mean to insinuate that ALL cyclists or ALL cops are scary. Just saying that I’m a little more wary and attentive of both.

And I agree that cars are even worse — they scare the crap out of me. I just spoke to my BFF a while ago and learned that he and his wife (an avid cyclist) were rear ended yesterday by someone who – somewhat to their credit – admitted they just weren’t paying attention. Totaled their car. Just happy they weren’t hurt. It’s dangerous out there!

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[austin]

I’m not worried about bikes. People on bikes are usually paying more attention than anyone else, and will work pretty hard to avoid hitting people on foot. For that reason if someone on a bike crashes into me while I’m walking I’ll make fun of them pretty hard, but that’s about as bad as it’ll get.

On the other had, person in the red Mercedes who almost ran me down while I was trying to cross California today: Why didn’t you stop and get out when I put the loog on your windshield? I wanted to have some chuckles with you.

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[TDe]

I occasionally ride the bike path at Alki (never on weekends) and am amazed at the people that don’t seem to get what the bicycle symbol on the path means. I’m more than willing to share the path with baby strollers, skateboards or anything with wheels and there’s a perfectly good walking path parallel to the bike path with a walking symbol on it. And yet, just this past week, I passed several groups of 3 and 4 walking side-by-side on the bike path, blocking everyone else. When I slowed down and dinged my bell in advance, I got snide remarks. I always say “thank you” when people move to let me pass, but this week there were a couple of groups that acted like I had no right to interrupt their leisure stroll on the bike path and let me know that I should ride in the street – like that’s a lot safer. It just doesn’t seem like it should be that hard for everyone to share. Maybe it is the “me” culture.

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[Michelle]

I agree with you dgirl, two things have happened to me recently, a bicycle on the road did not stop as I was attempting to cross at a crosswalk and then, I was walking on the sidewalk and two bikes came up behind me and the one person kept ringing their bell obviously expecting that I would move onto the grass, really annoying. I agree that bikes should not be on the sidewalk but I am usually willing to share.

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[DOC]

Just a case in point about this thread. I went jogging tonight, not biking. As I was coming up a slight hill there was a woman, her young daughter and a small leashed dog running back and forth on the sidewalk. From about 20 feet back, I said “on your left” in a very calm voice. She was instantly startled and jumped to her left into the grass, the dog with her staying on her left with a nice leash to trip over, and the kid stayed on the sidewalk.

I was far enough away that they didn’t jump in my path or anything, but I would have scared them a lot less and been safer had I said nothing, which is exactly what I did to a couple earlier on my run, just silently running by on thier left.

Yelling doesn’t work. I guess slowing down is just the best option. However, if you are on Alki on the clearly marked bike path, not the sidewalk, then I will still fly by you :)

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[hollyplace]

I’m glad that I am not the only one that feels like a deer in headlights when someone yells “on your left”. Please feel free to silently speed right by me!

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