Sidewalk Bicyclist Meets My Car (Almost)

[clovenhooves]

Yesterday afternoon, I was hurrying to get home. Full stop at the sign, focused on the left, but must have glanced right for anyone turning left and would have noticed anybody already on the sidewalk corner. (I'm at that spot a few times a week.) Maybe I turned the signal on just seconds before. The car clearly was positioned to go right. All clear, go. A few feet. Stop. I saw him near the front right wheel; only was sure nothing was hit when we looked at each other and he resumed riding. He and his pal, who said something loudly in Spanish. I assume they'd been cycling fast on the sidewalk, unless they were stupidly going the wrong way in the street.

Closest call I've ever had (with a person). It was almost like a GQ article I read recently coming to life. I've long wondered how awful it would be seriously injure or kill someone with the car and to live with the memory of it. Bikes should have horns. It probably is legal here to bike on the sidewalk, but cycling on sidewalks should be banned or restricted to low speeds. Common sense says the driver should look down the sidewalk before going and any cyclist should make sure the driver sees the bike.

[doberman 152]

Did it sound like he said, Puta-Madre?

[clovenhooves]

No I think I would have recognized that. I'm not sure it was a curse, maybe it was a Spanish "Holy shit." Good brakes are a lifesaver.

Eh, the whole incident is a good argument against tinted windows.

[c5z28]

I prefer riding my bike on the sidewalk rather than the street. On a side note if they cross the street on there bikes they are considered a vehicle and if they don't follow the traffic signs they are at fault. That's what I found out when I got nailed by a truck while riding my bike, kind of pissed because I had the green and he was trying to make left onto the road I was going down.
So put a bumper on and run that asshole over next time.

[clovenhooves]

Technically he might have had the right of way. I was turning onto a street without a light or stop sign there.

If I were a cyclist, I too probably would prefer to ride on the sidewalk.

[86 IROC-Z]

Madre de dios!

[clovenhooves]

Thanks No, I think it was just one maybe lengthy word.

[cammed goat]

In the town I grew up in, it's illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. When I read the thread title, I immediately thought of the bike lanes in NYC.

[clovenhooves]

Maybe it's legal here for roads with 4+ lanes only when they lack bike lanes.