[BikeLongmont] another letter to Johnnie St. Vrain: Sidewalk riding

[Mike Dodge]

Richard,

You may want to mention that in Longmont, sidewalk cyclists must cross 
streets as pedestrians (i.e. walk the bike across the intersection).

Mike


>From: "Richard Masoner" <Richard.Masoner at nsc.com>
>To: "'bike at bicyclelongmont.org'" <bike at bicyclelongmont.org>
>Subject: [BikeLongmont] another letter to Johnnie St. Vrain: Sidewalk 
>riding
>Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2004 11:38:35 -0600
>
>Today's Johnnie St. Vrain column in the Times-Call featured a cyclist 
>asking about the lamp posts in the middle of the sidewalk on 17th Avenue 
>east of Hover Street. This sidewalk is very narrow and features bushes 
>sticking out all over it, lamp posts and numerous other obstructions in the 
>middle of the walk, numerous curb cuts for driveways and several street 
>intersections. In other words, it's a bike suicide zone. The cyclist also 
>wrote that he was eastbound on this north sidewalk, hence he was going 
>against traffic.
>
>Below is a draft of my response. My intent is not to "preach" too hard at 
>sidewalk riders and alienate them, but I do want them to at least think 
>about bike safety a little. Let me know if I come across too hard or 
>preachy. I am not anti-sidewalk or anti-path -- I have no qualms at all 
>taking a sidewalk as a shortcut; and I'll ride on the sidewalk along Ken 
>Pratt, for example, when it suits my needs. I just hear about cyclists 
>getting nailed in crosswalks here in Longmont, and then they're surprised 
>that the motorist isn't ticketed.
>
>Also, I'm putting Lauren G on the spot with my mention of BikeEd. Let me 
>know if that's okay to mention or not -- I'll be glad to remove that if you 
>want me to. I'm also presuming that BikeEd class info will be put up on the 
>Bicyclelongmont website :-).
>
>RFM
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>    Johnnie recently responded to a bike rider's concerns about the lamp
>    posts in the middle of the sidewalk on 17th Avenue near Hover.
>
>    Riding on sidewalks is legal in Longmont and the ability of a
>    cyclist to instantly change from a vehicle to a pedestrian and back
>    is very handy. Riding on the sidewalk, however, presents challenges
>    beyond just physical obstructions that the sidewalk rider should be
>    aware of.
>
>    A pedestrian on bike can move faster than the walker, but he lacks
>    the walker's ability to almost instantly reverse, step sideways or
>    change direction. The numerous driveways on this section of 17th
>    results in more opportunities for a conflict with traffic. Sidewalk
>    riders should watch for turning traffic in all directions at these
>    conflict points to avoid collision.
>
>    Sidewalk riders must be aware of other sidewalk users and yield the
>    right-of-way to them. As noted in other recent letters to Johnnie,
>    pedestrians are rightfully upset when they are passed closely by
>    cyclists. The experience is frightening and potentially dangerous to
>    the pedestrian. While such events are rare, pedestrians do get
>    killed by sidewalk cyclists. Pedestrians should be able to use their
>    paths and sidewalks without fear and without needing to signal their
>    intentions.
>
>    The simple safety steps of courtesy, awareness, and defensive
>    cycling may seem like common sense, but, surprisingly, the risk of
>    death or serious injury for sidewalk riders is about three times
>    that of road riders per mile of activity. For those who ride on the
>    sidewalk against traffic, the risk of a collision is even higher.
>
>    Much more safety information for cyclists is available from CDOT in
>    their Bike Manual at http://www.dot.state.co.us/bikeped/. "BikeEd"
>    -- a safety class for adults presented by an instructor certified by
>    the League of American Bicyclists -- will soon be available in
>    Longmont. Watch www.bicyclelongmont.org
>    <http://www.bicyclelongmont.org/> for for dates and details.
>
>_______________________________________________
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>Bike at bicyclelongmont.org
>http://www.bicyclelongmont.org/mailman/listinfo/bike

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