critical mass vs. the human wall!

[thoreau]

(begin san francisco centric rant-o-post)

so - if the final friday of the month came in San Francisco and the Critical Mass Bike protest happens (usually up Market street blocking traffic) - how would they react if a human wall appeared in front of them to protest the way bicyclists disregard pedestrians in San Francisco? Bikes disregard traffic signs, red lights - - often swerving around pedestrians.

At 3rd and New Montgomery I witness near misses every day between bikes, cars and pedestrians. (Howard being a popular bicycle alternative to Market Street) On my trolley ride in the mornings - I see near misses with pedestrians and bikes every day; particularly near union square with tourists.

Cyclists are the first to demand courtesy and respect - but don't seem to want to communicate down the transportation chain the same courtesy and respect to pedestrians. Do pedestrians need to slap a bitch (counterprotest) a little?

(end san francisco centric rant-o-post)

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

It's not just San Francisco. Boston bikers have absolutely no clue what the rules of the road might be. Well, neither do the pedestrians or the drivers, but when my big ol' car is going through the green light, it is not the best time for a cyclist to be running the red. Laws of physics and all that.

I really hate it when they ride their bikes on the sidewalks.

[sftallguy.livejournal.com]

I'm all for it!!!

When I run into the idiots at critical mass as a pedestrian. I am sure to wait at the corner to cross the street and wait for the light and then cross into them (with the signal and in the cross walk - or at least corner to corner if no painted cross walk). I've made them swerve etc - Have not been hit yet, but I worry for the day one does hit me as I will have them prosecuted to the full extent if they try and brush it off. They hit me and start to ride away I will call it hit and run and have their police escorts haul them away.

I have been nearly hit 3 times in the last month by bikes not stopping at a red light.

[sftallguy.livejournal.com]

It is generally against the law to ride a bike on the sidewalk.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

That doesn't seem to stop them in Boston. Or going up one way streets the wrong way. Of course, our pedestrians believe that jay-walking is a God-given right.

If a car, going through a green light hits a bike, going through a red light, the car is at fault. Even though bikes are considered vehicles (to keep them off the sidewalks).

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

What about walls of pedestrians walking against the crosswalk signal? I'd love to mow down a couple hundred of those clowns.

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

Appropo of nothing in your post, I do love the new banner!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

thanks - I change it up every once in a while. :) this one is a put graffitiesque. but I like it.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

Here too. I walk a narrow sidewalk along a major road each morning to work. Most days some idiot on a bike comes zooming up behind me and either yells or (worse) just tries to stear around me at 20 miles an hour. One of these days I swear I'm gonna stick a hand out and knock one of them into the traffic!

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

Here at least, the law is with the pedestrians. Traffic must always give to a pedestrian, whether they are supposed to be in the road or not.

[audrabaudra.livejournal.com]

I'm in New Zealand, which has the "zebra crossing" tradition of the Mother Country, Great Britain. When a pedestrian steps into the zebra crossing, traffic going both ways must stop. Makes a driver slow down and mind who's on the sidewalk on both ends of the zebra crossings in town!

You'd LOVE driving here, I can just tell :-)

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Robert - I love your proposal.

San Francisco seems to attract a disproportionate number of people (not you!) with the "Idealogue" personality ... i.e. the preachy; the self-righteous; the Really-F*cking-Annoying.

Add that to the "Cyclist" personality which has been well-documented above, and it calls for a bitch-slap per your outline here.

FWIW there have been several run-ins between cyclists and both car-drivers and pedestrians in LA recently. The cyclists were in the wrong; the victims filed suit; and the judges have not been happy with the cyclists, who have (in court!) said they aren't bound by traffic laws.

Geezus.

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

You might find my response to Bob below of interest. :>)

[holy13nation.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, myself and a couple of friends had a pretty interesting encounter when we were in SF. Bloke on a bike hurtling towards us, shouting 'I'm not gonna stop' on the pavement (sidewalk). Silly man. Three alchoholically limber Londoners hear that and think 'Yes you are'. He had to execute a slightly clumsy swerve at the last minute and slowed and started to shout back but as we turned as a man and approached him he decided to carry on with his journey.

Having said that we get it in London too.And invariably they are as self righteous.
Unfortunately the feral gang kids all ride bikes as well. They surround you which can be a little unnerving.

[sftallguy.livejournal.com]

It is amazing that they always think they are exempt from traffic laws. But you aren't Blanche you aren't!

Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with other drivers. Here are some critical points for drivers and cyclists to remember:

* Drivers must:
o look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right.
o safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane.
o not overtake a bicyclist just before making a right turn. Merge first, then turn.
* Bicyclists:
o are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway.
o must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.
o must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical—not on the sidewalk.
o must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes.
o may legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, another bicycle, an animal, or to make a turn, avoid debris, or other hazards.
o may choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.
o may use a left turn lane. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.

[squalidbear.livejournal.com]

Really, that whole "do unto others as you would be done by" thing seems to have passed them by. It annoys the living shit out of me, especially when part of the contingent will stop their bikes across the intersection to provide a barrier to the cars so that when the lights change their self-important protest parade isn't hampered. Assholes.

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

So when a car goes through a red light or almost hits a pedestrian, why then isn't it all car drivers' fault? According to the "logic" I read here, it sounds like all cyclists are to blame because of the actions of a few.

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

That's more or less the law here in Boston, Mass, too. The problem, at least in the part of the city where I work and drive most often is that pedestrians walk at any time, completely ignoring the pedestrian traffic signals. The result is that traffic goes into gridlock because no vehicle can move because the pedestrians never stop.

[moved.livejournal.com]

What was awesome in Chicago were cops on bikes breaking all the traffic laws all the time. Sets a great example and all that.

[cuboz.livejournal.com]

I think that's a GREAT idea - because there's a Critical Mass bike movement here in Sydney who regularly do things like this, but SO many cyclists don't wear helmets (which is ILLEGAL!), and ride on the footpath, or erratically through traffic, ignoring signals, etc.. it's like they want the best of both worlds!