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@SnowshadowII@beige.party
When you are #biking on the sidewalk or side of the road
Please use caution
And be prepared to
STOP abruptly
because seniors can not
Hear you approaching
Nor
Move as fast as you might expect.
While on a walk I looked up and a biker came around a tight curve and was suddenly in front of me.
I moved as fast as possible to avoid a collision, tripped over my husband's walker wheels, fell and cracked a bone in my wrist, hurt my knee, and pulled muscles in my back and neck. At my age I am very fortunate to not have a broken hip.
Of course the biker didn't notice and was long gone by the time I sat up.
I am not looking for sympathy replies, only asking you all take some care while riding around, even in the countryside.
Thank you for reading my post.
Watch out for those crazy motorists.
Sorry I'm Nasty @SnowshadowII
Good post. For wider audience adding
#biketoot #biketooter
@intothewestaway
oh thank you so much for adding the hashtags.
@SnowshadowII
You are welcome.
It's a good community.
I know most are usually careful but lately I have had a few really close calls and now this.
Also, people who are Deaf/deaf or hard of hearing often can't hear bells or horns, so bikers should not rely on that as a warning.
@intothewestaway 
I love it.
Not good for many seniors I know who have memory problems though. 
@intothewestaway
the bottom sign should have a calender attached.
@SnowshadowII I hope you have a speedy recovery. Bike lanes when married with walking paths are super scary. Courtesy does not exist anywhere it appears. It’s a jungle out there. 
@mediocratese
Thanks. Yes, this was on a walking/bike path, however, I have had the same problem on city streets. I don't want bikers riding on the streets though because motorists are blind when it comes to bikes.
Edited for typo
@SnowshadowII Thank you for posting this. Too often on here, people blame motorists when bicyclists can be just as much to blame. In the end, we're all responsible for our own actions and behavior when using public roads and sidewalks.
Hope you're doing better now. Take care.
@j
you're welcome. and thank you.
@SnowshadowII They should announce themselves when they see someone walking on paths
It's just inconsiderate to not !!
@palin
Announcing doesn't help when you are hard or hearing or deaf/Deaf. They should be paying attention to where they are going and be prepared to stop abruptly for slow moving pedestrians.
@SnowshadowII Oooouch! 
Cyclists riding on sidewalks is sooo dangerous. The adult cyclist that sent me flying onto the blvd yelled “get the fuk off the sidewalk” as they roared by.
#bikelanes
What!!! What a @#$%#! jerk!!
I am so sorry to hear this. Were you alright?
People nowadays are too rude, and thoughtless too often.
(he must have been one of PPs' angry Maple MAGAs...sorry, I didn't mean to *politicize* your post)
@SnowshadowII @gemelliz he was a garden variety of jerk - the Maple MAGA dress code forbids bicycles... I believe lifted pickups are a requirement /s
@shadowpages HA!! Well done!!@gemelliz
@gemelliz @SnowshadowII Very sorry to hear that story. Apparently, jackasses don't only drive pickup trucks.
I don't cycle much any more but I used to cycle to work regularly and the only acceptable cycling speed when on the sidewalk is walking speed. Perhaps faster if there's *literally* no one else near you. If you can't accept that, get off the sidewalk. As a cyclist you shouldn't really be there anyway, but I understand that there are times when the street feels too intimidating.
@DaleHagglund @gemelliz @SnowshadowII As a very active and regular cyclist, I support every word of this.
摏 @gemelliz @SnowshadowII
<cough>I have never shoulder checked a careless cyclist riding on the sidewalk.</cough>
Oh, and as they cursed, picking themselves back up off the ground I have never gone over and *screamed* at them about how effing assholes like them give riders like me a bad name and they should learn to stop at an effing read light while they're at it.
And they have never STFU and cowered away from the crazy person, either. ;)
@SnowshadowII
In the UK it's illegal to cycle on the sidewalk. (This law is generally disregarded for kids learning how to ride a bike though.) When I lived in the US for a while, it was bizarre and kind of distressing to see adult cyclists on the sidewalk, and also riding against the traffic on roads.
In parts of Canada it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk but it's more dangerous to ride on the street, so I don;'t mind, but I expect riders to be careful
I always rode against traffic when out in the country. Everyone here was taught to do that so you can see the traffic.
@SnowshadowII
The thinking in Europe (even among motorists) is that cyclists *are* traffic
@ancientsounds
<sigh> North Americans are too darned far behind with everything!! I often wish I was a resident there.
@ancientsounds @SnowshadowII It’s illegal in Sweden too, but it feels like a much saner rule would be to declare all sidewalks (that don’t have a proper bike path along side it) as equivalent to pedestrian zones, which would mean that biking would be allowed, but at walking speed, and with priority for pedestrians.
There are many places where biking in the street is very dangerous, and where there is no alternative other than stepping off your bike, which is not really reasonable.
@SnowshadowII I hope your wrist heals quickly.
I also want to remind cyclists not to yell things like "On your left" firstly there could be a language issue but more importantly it can be easy to misunderstand. Small children, for example, think they're being told to go to the left side. Many times I've had to scoop up a toddler who stepped left after hearing this and then nearly got hit by said cyclist. Cyclist should ring their bell, slow right down, and give pedestrians lots of space. Many people, especially seniors, won't hear the bell, have poor balance, and limited vision. So they get startled and lose their balance when bikes are too fast & close.
@mariellequinton
All excellent points to add to the thread. Thank you, Marielle.
@mariellequinton @SnowshadowII
I always assumed on pathways you passed on the left and moved to the right to let people pass.
I am used to "on your left or on your right" from mountain biking where you have to go where the line is and some might choose to pass using the easiest line and some the hardest, so you signify which line you are using to pass another rider.
@the5thColumnist @SnowshadowII Firstly pedestrians never have to make way for cyclists. Cyclists who want to pass need to go around. On divided walking paths, yes, generally it's just like a road. You need to change lanes to temporarily go the wrong way in order to pass slower traffic. So pass on the left. But this doesn't apply to sidewalks, cyclists need to use whatever way gives the pedestrians enough room. Yes, pedestrians often walk in clumps and indeed small children walk willy nilly. Hence why cyclists need to slow down to pedestrian speeds in order to safely pass them. No, mountain bike rules do not apply to pedestrians. The bell ringing is merely a courtesy to those who can hear. It is not an order or a warning.
@mariellequinton @SnowshadowII
Yes I understand cyclists are supposed to yield to cars because they are bigger and faster and can kill us and we have to yield to pedestrians because they are smaller and slower and could be hurt by us. But what happened to common courtesy among multi user path users. We are supposed to ring our bells but the pedestrians (with loud headphones on) are not expected to listen or even acknowledge hearing them.
@the5thColumnist Nope, because pedestrians could be hard of hearing. But it's totally fine, when slowly passing, to say "nice day!" or whatever just like a pedestrian would to another pedestrian. It sucks that there aren't enough protected bike lanes. And my favourite type of multi use path are ones that are twinned so pedestrians use one path and cyclists use another, but those don't exist where I live (Ottawa). So bike users have less safe ways to travel fast but it's not pedestrians fault. It's why we need more protected bike lanes so cyclists can safely get off the sidewalk.
My biggest complaint are fully capable people that cannot go anywhere and just enjoy their environment, particularly walking in the forest, without having to be constantly plugged in to their devices and playlists and ignoring everyone around them including people they may be walking with.
But yes cyclists should, and I do, slow down, ring their bell, and pass carefully. I just wish the people I was passing were paying attention to their surroundings.
@the5thColumnist Meh. People can enjoy what they enjoy. As long as they are outside, I'm happy. If they want music or a podcast, that's fine. Sometimes I'm out there without any distractions but I'm still distracted because I've had a horrible day. The whole point is to get outside. It's a hundred times better than sitting at home and looking at a screen. And a million times better than driving a vehicle.
@the5thColumnist ummmm...DEAF and deaf and hard of hearing can not hear the bells and whistles and old people can't move fast enough to get out of the way!
@SnowshadowII @the5thColumnist Exactly that. Plus people with disabilities (eg me after I got hit by a car while I was crossing at an intersection) are sometimes physically incapable of moving out of the way.
@mariellequinton Yes. People with physical limitations too!! Thanks for adding that.
@the5thColumnist
For pedestrians walking in groups - a cyclists bell does not mean spread all over the path willy nilly.
Just like when motorists are rude to cyclists. It's like "I'm faster. Don't slow me down."
@mrblissett @SnowshadowII Exactly the same. With the added intimidation factor for vehicles. Although ebikes can be pretty fast/heavy and intimidating.
@mrblissett @SnowshadowII Oooo! Nice! Quiet trucks make outside nice for us all! Plus better air etc. My BIL works for Ford and has a Mach E, how do you like the Lightning?
@SnowshadowII With increased (electro)mechanical assistance comes increased responsibility.
@lwriemen I agree.