Right after I took this photo, a cyclist came whipping by me and collided with a man rounding this corner. The cyclist threw down his bike and started yelling at the man, "Why don't you take up the whole sidewalk, asshole?"
Anyone who walks along this stretch of Front St., on the south side, towards Yonge Street, is aware how narrow the sidewalk is with all the construction and barriers. Add cyclists to the mix and well, cyclists, I'm sorry, don't have priority. Walk your bike ... And don't be a jerk.
When I pointed this out to the cyclist, he asked me if I prefer he get killed by a car trying to navigate Front Street, with all the construction. Those were fighting words, seeing as I was struck by a cyclist three years ago as I walked on Richmond Street.
The guy was the most entitled idiot, ever. I almost took off my shoe and threw it at him. But I didn't. Because I don't like jail.
13 comments:
It is illegal for cyclists to be on the sidewalk.
He is 100% at fault.
(roll eyes)
That's not how he saw it. Front Street was too dangerous, he said. He felt he had every right to be on the sidewalk. And he does, by walking his bike!
Was it a bike courier? Usually these guys are young men, 20-30 year of age, one gear on the bike, no brakes, and carry a one strapped backpack?
My line usually is "it's a sidewalk assh***, not a sideride".
I am with Anonymous at 10:02am. So many people ride their bikes on the sidewalk here in Mississauga and that's okay if your bikes are under 50cm(20inches) in diameter according to the bylaw. So really the only bicyclists I should be seeing are children. But unfortunately I see many adults, some with protective gear and some without, all not using a bell.
While he stood there ranting, you should've got out a lipstick and added to the graffiti-
"F$&K CYCLISTS ON THE SIDEWALKS"
Nope. Not a bike courier. Just a guy on his way to work, carrying big backpack full of self-entitlement.
re: Additional graffiti. As long as it can be washed off?
Yup lipstick washes off. Trust me. :)
Today I was walking on Bay south of Front and this stupid cyclist gets on a completely packed sidewalk at rush hour because she didn't want to stop at the red light. She almost hit a bunch of pedestrians in the process. I'm a cyclist as well and had actually just parked by bike near Union Station so I could go deal with some Presto issues. People like her give all cyclists a bad name...
@Lori,
I'm a bike rider too and would admit to riding on the sidewalk. As to why, well the roads were NOT designed to accomodate bikes and motor vehicle traffic. Its just not safe especially with drivers who dont change lanes and if there was a bus/truck behind. There is just no clearance. If there was a bike on the right side of the traffic lane, then traffic behind it would have to change lanes which slows down traffic.
For me, I'm not the selfish types like those bike couriers in downtown, but I follow all traffic laws and I would slow down to a crawl when encountering pedestrians.
I find a good swift kick ar the rear wheel rim (be careful and aim well) sends them flying quite nicely.
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