Pedestrians

I know being a driver I hated bicyclists. I would shout the same stuff all the time, "You are NOT a car!", "You do not have a bumper, my car will win!", etc, and keeping this in mind, I try to be as courteous to drivers as I possibly can while on my bike. On the flip side, as a pedestrian, I hated bicyclists as well. I had nothing clever to yell at them because all that I could muster would be a high pitched squeal.

With these things in mind I have found that I will always feel like an asshole riding a bike. I have been made aware of the CA bike laws, read some literature on it and talked it out with friends and family and have come to this conclusion while riding.

"In the event that I get in an accident, a car will win, and a pedestrian will lose. I want to be a winner."

So as unethical or non-law-abiding as it is, I tend to ride primarily on the sidewalks. Mostly out of sheer terror. Maybe one day my feelings will change. Not to mention as I ride downtown, it is nice to ride in the opposite direction on a one way street. Another perk to not having a car.

I try to be as cautious and vocal as possible, Letting people know when I am coming upon them and such, but I find that a lot of people, when walking, lose all sense of observation. On more than one occasion I have had people walk TOWARD me as I am trying to avoid them on the sidewalk. I will keep to the right and they beeline for me, so I slow down and move to the left and then they will change direction and start coming toward me again. Once, a little old lady was doing this dance with me near a bus stop and I stopped my bike completely and she got mere inches from my front tire before she realize that SHE was going to crash into ME.

Being the morning, and rush hour, I have come to expect a certain amount of undercaffinated zombies on the streets, but what has shocked me as of late is the over-reaction to me. I once had a woman stand in the middle of the side walk and tremble as I came toward her.

I made sure to slow down, and stay very close to the side of the sidewalk closest to to the street and even smile at her as I passed her. She seemed to not trust my choices.

I have found myself being more aware as a pedestrian now, though. I try to stay to one side of a sidewalk, I try to stay clear of the ramps onto sidewalks and I try not to walk more than two deep when walking with a group. most of these are nice not just for bikes, but for people with strollers, joggers, or people who "obviously" need to get somewhere faster than you.

I have to keep telling myself that it isnt a big deal. Cars arent out to get me, pedestrians are not intentionally getting in my way to piss me off. other bicyclists are not judging me. I have never felt so insecure.

But my ass does look nicer.