Cycle Paths & Sidewalks

[willwalk]

As some one with a store-front lease in Activspace, and one who also likes to walk his dog, I have to say how frustrated I am with the cyclists who squeeze themselves into their spandex and ride along the cycle path/sidewalk gleefully imagining themselves in the Tour de France. I risk life and limb stepping out of my doorway, and then have to watch fore and aft for Armstrong wannabes as I walk, frequently receiving torrents of abuse for being on the sidewalk with a dog on a leash! There are indications for cycle paths both in the road and on the sidewalk along Harbor Avenue. Surely it is reasonable to assume that the sidewalk is for parents and children on bikes and trikes, and the road for daredevils?

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[sunshine]

I ride past that spot on my bike almost everyday. I am not squeezed into spandex or imagining I am in the Tour de France. I’m just following the signs for the bike path on my way home from work.

I don’t think it’s reasonable for you to expect me to ride in the road and to leave the bike path for parents and kids on trikes and bikes. I think the bike path is for grown-ups too.

I do think it is reasonable for you to expect me to travel at a moderate speed (about the speed of a fast jogger) around pedestrians, to stop for you if you’re crossing the bike path to your car and to let you know when i am coming by honking my horn, ringing a bell or shouting a greeting. I hope that if I shout, “hi there” or “good morning” to a pedestrian who doesn’t see me coming is not considered abuse, because it isn’t meant to be.

I also think it’s reasonable for me to expect that you keep your leashed dog close to you so that you don’t take up so much of the path that I can’t get throughwhile travelling at a moderate rate of speed.

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[Al]

Yes, cyclists should exercise caution and yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and shared paths when use is truly mixed. I’m a bit confused here though. There is no “cycle path” on the roadway infront of ActivSpace on Harbor. There are only sharrows. Many cyclists do not feel comfortable riding on the street with motor vehicles so choose the path.

The “sidewalk” in front of ActivSpace IS the designated bike path…it’s difficult to access the bike route from Harbor to the Spokane Street intersection/lower bridge from the street via bicycle. Not impossible, but difficult. Once one is cycling on the path, it’s safer to remain on the path to get to the lower bridge rather than cross Harbor traffic 2x. When cycling from Spokane Street, it’s safer for a cyclist to remain on the path rather than use the crosswalk to join traffic on Harbor (it’s a blind right turn by cars who rarely stop on a red light before making a right turn, and drivers have a difficult time seeing peds/cyclists due to the barrier blocking their vision in the first place).

I don’t know many cyclists who have an issue with dogs. I know many cyclists who have an issue with dog owners not keeping their dog on a short leash on a shared path/sidewalk.

The road is not for daredevils, but for cyclists with the skills and knowledge to ride them. More experience makes cyclists more comfortable on the streets. So does less aggressive traffic. I often choose to ride the shared path along Harbor/Alki because it’s a nice break from worrying about drivers of motor vehicles.

There are signs at ActivSpace warning cyclists to slow down. I am one who does. Sadly, not everyone understands the function of a shared path.

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[willwalk]

My thanks to both of you for your replies, and for your good riding practices. I frequently THANK those cyclists who have the courtesy to alert me to their passing (especially those behind me) but they are rare. I cannot for the life of me comprehend how so many cyclists elect to defer responsibility for their safety to me, expecting me to abandon the path so that they can ‘safely’ continue at 20mph or more.

I can assure you that I do keep my dog close but you must be aware, too, that they are animals and their behavior is not entirely predictable. Like children on bikes. Or joggers. Which is precisely why it is right that all those sharing the path should exercise caution, and cyclists should ride in a CONTROLLED manner (meaning that they are able to steer and/or stop in a manner that does not spell disaster). Thank you for being among those that do.

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[pixel pusher]

How many times are we going to have this conversation on the blog?

Seriously! There is risk in everything!!! Take it upon yourself to look out for YOURSELF, because no one else will. That is the world we live in and I am sick of people blaming cyclists for all the trouble on the streets. Or sidewalks, or wherever it inconveniences you.

Sure, some cyclists are not courteous. But neither are some pedestrians and some dog owners and some parents and some drivers and I bet even some Activspace renters. They are all over the place!

So stop blaming cyclists and GET OVER IT!

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[willwalk]

Please don’t presume to lecture me on risk.

As it happens I have not had this conversation on the blog, and apparently there are others who are capable of avoiding meaningless vitriol and instead are capable of contributing to the debate.

Meanwhile, your defensiveness would appear to betray you. I am not blaming cyclists (why would I? I commuted by bike from West Seattle to Magnolia daily for years). What I have suggested is that we are considerate of others (in the face of rampant individualism) – and that those cyclists who choose to go fast should stick to the roads.

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[pixel pusher]

Just let me say, sorry for the lecture willwalk. I was not getting enough blood flow to my legs yesterday. One could even say my spandex might have been too tight.

In general, I think more consideration for others would be great. But I just don’t think it will happen. I know, very pessimistic.

I’m sorry if you don’t feel I am not contributing anything meaningful to the conversation. But I think I made a valid point. I encounter inconsiderate people every day in one form or another. And I could complain until I’m blue in the face. But I don’t feel like it is useful to single out a specific group of people as being less considerate than others. Which is exactly what you did in your post.

In fact, you specifically blame the “spandex clad, Tour de France wannabes” for you having to risk “life and limb” to walk out of your door. And these “torrents of abuse” you receive from them, they sound pretty dramatic. Maybe, just maybe your inconsiderate actions deserved these torrents.

Harbor Ave is unique in that it has both a bike path and a sharrows lane. I like to have the choice between both. That section in front of Activspace is very dangerous whether you are riding in the street or on the bike path. As a former(?) cyclist, you know that riding safely is all about managing risk. For me, the risk is greater in the street at that spot so most days I will choose to tangle with the very few pedestrians over the cars on Harbor Ave.

I understand your frustration about inconsiderate people. But it’s just that, people. Not cyclists.

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[Author]

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