Discussions

More and more bikes are out in the winter, which is fine. One thing cyclists need to note, is that pedestrian crosswalks are NOT for you. As long as you are on your bike, you are not a pedestrian. At this point, you are considered to be riding on the sidewalk, and that is illegal. I know I for one will not be stopping for you, unless I have no option (aka - I am not going to hit you if your going through). If you really want to use the pedestrian crosswalk, get off your bike, and walk it across. This is perfectly legal.  
 
This of course does not apply to those small enough to be legally riding on the sidewalk. I will also not worry stopping if an adult was with smaller children.

it may help if *** drivers would not drive so close to cyclists riding on the street. Give more space to cyclists and hopefully it will bring more cyclists to ride on the streets

1 chance said "it may help if *** drivers would not drive so close to cyclists riding on the street. Give more space to cyclists and hopefully it will bring more cyclists to ride on the streets "

there is only so much space on the street. On a two lane street, you only have so much room between you and the car beside you and on a one way street, there is always parked card to go around.

If you don't have enough space to pass safely, then don't pass.

a cyclist zipping along on the sidewalk needs to obey traffic control devices. Traffic lights. One morning last week I almost had a cyclist in my grill-I had the green light and just as I got to the corner a teen on a bicycle zipped across in front of me in the crosswalk. He should have stopped for the red light -which would have been red well before he got to the street. he did not have any sort of right of way and had I been 2 seconds sooner he would have been in my grill or on my roof, had his bike hit the side of my car. Even though I check for pedestrians, as fast as that bike was travelling he was not within my view on the sidewalk when I checked. if you are going to ride on the sidewalk please respect the danger you pose, and obey traffic lights and such.

Don't pass on the right. I finally get around you and come to a red light. So a lot think they can pass cars on the right. Then we have to give you space again and try to pass. I always run the curb but they go up on the side walk and pass you that way. I do respect bikes until they don't respect me.

By law cyclists have to follow the same rules of the road as if they were driving a vehicle on the road. Very few know that for some reason.

Brenda said "    1 chance said "it may help if *** drivers would not drive so close to cyclists riding on the street. Give more space to cyclists and hopefully it will bring more cyclists to ride on the streets " there is only so much space on the street. On a two lane street, you only have so much room between you and the car beside you and on a one way street, there is always parked card to go around. "

a lot of sense in your statement there. No room and let's not give any either, let's not share and squish the cyclists instead. Cyclists do not belong any part/section on the streets and do not belong on the sidewalks either, might as well leave the bikes in the stores.  
Some cities manage fine and here, in Brandon, nope not so welcome.

Unless you are clearly a child riding the sidewalk, getting off your bike to cross a street properly I will treat you as any other slow moving vehicle. Twice last week had 2 adult smarty pants ride through red lights on their part. Almost creamed them with the truck. I can be aware as anyone, slow down a tish when approaching intersection but seriously don't usually anticipate a bike darting out when I've got a green light. Oh. And a crosswalk is meant for pedestrians or those walking their bike across the street. Your not stopping your bike at crosswalk will also likely result in you getting creamed. Rules of the road. You are slow moving vehicle...comparatively mine is large moving death trap for you if you fail to abide by rules of the road.

As a driver, it drives me nuts seeing a cyclist riding their bike across at a pedestrian crossing. Unfortunately, this as other common sense by laws (eg. littering) are very rarely if ever enforced.  
 
Having said that, as a cyclist who uses the road all the time and obeys traffic rules: If a cyclist happen to be stopped on the road where there''s a pedestrian crossing, treat the cyclist as another vehicle.  
 
 
Now to deal with those who use electric mobility scooters who don''t wear reflective clothing.  
 
Edited by unbreakable1, 2016-11-21 20:07:41

My partner was pulled over by police a few weeks ago for biking across a cross walk. He was given a warning, but there is a fine and 2 demerits if you receive a ticket. If a car hit him, he would be at fault in that case. (Not the you should start hitting people biking across cross walks..)  
 
That being said personally I am slow on a bike..on a busy road I am actually doing motorists a favour by going on the sidewalk, I slow to a near stop for pedestrians. I have passed police whilst slowly and careful biking across the road and been fine. Until there are bike paths, I think it's fair to go where you feel safe. I would take a fine over being hit by a car for biking too slow.