Did I take his comment wrong or was he a pig?

[Irulan]

Just back from walking the dog and got into it a little with a neighbor. There's this ol' guy and many of us who walk here have commented on him that he rides his bike on the sidewalk. For some elderly neighbors who walk there too it's a problem, he won't give peds the right of way.

He's super slow, no helmet (no brain no pain) huge headphones over both already deaf ears and I dunno where you guys live but here in CA bikes are traffic. We have a bike lane and that's where he should be.

I feel sorry for the guy. What will I do when I can't ride with the flow/speed of traffic? Ride inside? in a park? take up knitting I guess.

There is a park nearby and he could ride there. So we had this awkward impasse where I took Mae (dog) to the side to wait for him to pass but he won't go because he's afraid of the dog and...he won't give peds the right of way.

So I explain that my dog is used to bikes, I ride and I need him to proceed because Mae is trained to deffer to people and that people get the right of way so he needs to go first.

Again he still won't move, finally he goes.

As he passes me I say "you know it's illegal for you to ride on the sidewalk and it's safer there" pointing at the bike lane. He points at the cars, traffic, says he can't. I quote him the California vehicle code "Bikes, cars, same rights rules responsiblities: I can't drive my car on the sidewalk, right?"

He says "I know the law, lady" mutters something I don't want to hear and rides off.

the way you describe him, perhaps he's mentally disabled? ( is that this year's correct term?) We have a guy around here who rides an adult trike on the sidewalk. This particular sidewalk is next to a bike lane on a major arterial. I think it's great he's out riding his bike on the same one mile stretch of sidewalk.

~Irulan

[pkq]

I've heard "but they are fast" often but it's really meant as informational not a slam. Over the years, I've not ridden with that many women but many of the ones that rode with the guys, hammered. Hammering women isn't the norm but is becoming more so, thank God. Even fewer of the hammering women can really keep up with the fastest men. Even in my best years (have they really passed?), I couldn't and I wasn't a slouch on the bike.

I recently went to WV for a job interview. I hooked up with a local rider through the LBS to: 1. ride, 2. get information about the area, and 3. check out the local riding scene. The bike shop guy put me with an older gentleman because he was slower. No problem, I'm just another female rider to the LBS guy. Plus, you can't size someone up over the phone. A 17 - 19 mph pace was fine for my goals. The fella' I rode with told me I could easily keep up with the fast ride and should have ridden with them. But I wouldn't have achieved goal #2 and would have missed a great ride with the 60 yo gentleman. It was nice to talk about the history of the area without coughing up a lung.

Just have to go with the ebb and flow of life.

[Trek420]

Irulan "the way you describe him, perhaps he's mentally disabled? ( is that this year's correct term?)"

no helmet, big headphones if not already he's a fall off the bike away from it.

"We have a guy around here who rides an adult trike on the sidewalk. This particular sidewalk is next to a bike lane on a major arterial. I think it's great he's out riding his bike on the same one mile stretch of sidewalk."

I agree, I think it's great he's out riding. Just a half block away is a park where he'd be safer, less hassle to peds and plenty of room for the short rides he does.

I've educated pedestrians who've complained to me about him that yes, bikes should be in the bike lane. But he's slow, poor reaction time.

I'd be happy if he'd grant the right of way to peds but I think cognitive impaired is the term we are using these days. My aim is that he be safer and local peds don't get angry at him then take it out on me when I ride ;-)

Have to watch it because I don't know how he'll take the tips.

and as for the main subject here wouldn't it have been best if the LBS said something like "what type of riding do you do? are you looking for a fast pace, paceline riding, hills, medium pace? what? I'll point you to a local a club ride for you."

That way nothing's assumed.

Just like they should ask you what type of riding you do before pointing you away from the pink Orbea ;-)

I don't follow astrology but someone told me Mercury is retrograde or something like that and that all comunication gets all katywhompus and I'm just going to shut up till the planets align again

[Geonz]

I suspect you took his comments wrong.

Think, for a moment, about his position. HOw many people does he talk to each day? How many of them ride fast? Oh, of course, he should be sensitive to every person's ego and never assume anything... but frankly, I can't do that 24/7 either. Far more people have to worry about being dropped - and too many of them get dropped and get discouraged and don't go back to cycling - than have to worry about people assuming they can't keep up. (And it's a lot more fun for those folks when they get to prove 'em wrong.)


If he doesn't have any right to -- possibly, not even definitely-- assume you're slow, then you shouldn't have the right to assume he's being a jerk.

And, why is it being a "jerk" to assume you're slow? Is there something wrong with being slow? <extending the "sensitivity " thing to it's illogical extreme ...>

[Dianyla]

Um, is it just me, or are there two totally unrelated conversations happening in this thread?

[Trek420]

Dianyla "Um, is it just me, or are there two totally unrelated conversations happening in this thread? "

no, it's not you....they are thinly related to the common theme of people taking things wrong. Sorry for any confusion I once again have caused.