Reader: Forget road rage -- how about sidewalk rage?

By Patricia Calhoun Mon., Jul. 9 2012 at 8:14 AM

In a series of posts last week, Sam Levin documented how the wheels have been turning for Denver cyclists. There are more bicyclists on the road -- which has translated to more bike thefts. And not only is the city spending more on bike lanes, but it's handing out more tickets to bicyclists.

Forget road rage -- how about sidewalk rage?

Says Stan:

I almost just hit a bicyclist who was riding on the SIDEWALK going about 20 mph through a 4-way-stop intersection. They didn't stop, didn't hesitate, didn't look both ways, and THEN called me an asshole when they almost got mowed down (also, this pansy was wearing earbuds, which makes it really hard to hear motor vehicle traffic AND pedestrians). I say ticket those douchebag bike motherfuckers (and take away license points) who arbitrarily disobey traffic rules at their own convenience.

Now we're on a roll! Drivers, what was your closest call with a bicyclist? Riders, what close encounter made your head -- as well as your wheels -- spin. Post your comment below.

Sam Levin isn't the only one on the bike beat. See the latest in Britt Chester's "Guess where I'm biking?" series here.

Tags:

bicyclists, cyclists, road rage

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Cheese_Steak

Modern Civilized Countries -- like Colombia -- provide separated roads, paths, and sidewalks for autos, bikes and pedestrians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chapinero_bike_path.JPG Imagine that.

TerantulaTertiary

Buy a Glock and look into handlebar holsters?

Stephsensei

It's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Denver, except where it's NOT. Part of the Cherry Creek Trail is the sidewalk (immediately to the west of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, in front of Denver Country Club), and official Denver and metro-area cycling maps specifically show some on-sidewalk cycling routes (which are sometimes called "off-road trails" on the maps). And when you do ride on the streets, even on designated and signed Bike Routes, it's not at all uncommon to get yelled at by motorists who would rather not share the road. What's a cyclist to do?

Debbiesstory

I blogged this thanks Debbie Wilson's Family Brain Injury Blog http"//www.noahsarkconsulting.blogspot.com/

Cheese_Steak

The police should actively enforce that law.

Kendra Wiig

I know... sorry if my comment wasn't clear. My problem is that there a shocking number people on any number of wheels in this town who don't seem to know that. :(

Cheese_Steak

1 Like

It's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Denver.

Kendra Wiig

I can't stand it when people ride their bike on the sidewalk, but I also know that most cyclists hear some ignorant motorist yell at them to "get on the sidewalk"way too often during the course of their commutes. The problem with both of these types of jackasses is that their understanding of the bike is from the perspective of an 8-year-old with training wheels-- not an adult operating a vehicle on a public roadway. We need a to expand a cultural shift in which people on bikes and in cars recognize that bikes are traffic, and they need to both behave and be treated as such.