Ok, exactly what IS the rule/law?

[phesina]

I learned that pedestrians walk against traffic, bicycle riders ride with traffic. Lately, though, all I see is the opposite. I've been extra vigilant because I'm afraid I'm going to hit someone!

Mary, that's the law as I've always understood it, here anyway, and in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where I've also lived. And just like where you live, that doesn't mean that people follow it all that much.

[Medusa]

I'm wondering if, God forbid, a pedestrian or biker would get hit by a car because they were on the wrong side of the road, how responsible do you think the driver would be according to the law? I pray it never happens here but w/the kids out of school, they're walking along the roads here a lot and riding their bikes, too, of course on the wrong side of the road.

[kokopup]

I have toured by bicycle in a couple of dozen states and without exception bicycles are treated and have to obey the laws just like a car.if there is a bike lane the bicycle is suppose to use it. This is an area that I have seen many violations. A lot of Municipal bike trails have a slow speed limit so the rider will use the street so he doesn't have to slow down. I have actually seen radar used in California on a bike path. These bike paths in most cases are also used by pedestrians. The rational behind the speed limit is to slow the traffic down so as to not scare the people out for a walk or run.

[phesina]

I'm wondering if, God forbid, a pedestrian or biker would get hit by a car because they were on the wrong side of the road, how responsible do you think the driver would be according to the law? I pray it never happens here but w/the kids out of school, they're walking along the roads here a lot and riding their bikes, too, of course on the wrong side of the road.

One afternoon I was about to walk across the street-- Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square, one-way and VERY busy. I looked in the direction the traffic was coming from and it was clear enough to go, so I started across... and WHAMO! I got hit and knocked right over by some idiot going the wrong way on a bike! And did this clown stop to help me up or see if I was all right? NOOOOooo... she just kept right on riding as fast as she could. GRRRRrrrr..

[Medusa]

One afternoon I was about to walk across the street-- Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square, one-way and VERY busy. I looked in the direction the traffic was coming from and it was clear enough to go, so I started across... and WHAMO! I got hit and knocked right over by some idiot going the wrong way on a bike! And did this clown stop to help me up or see if I was all right? NOOOOooo... she just kept right on riding as fast as she could. GRRRRrrrr..

Wow, I'm sorry that happened to you, Pat. This is just the type of incident that I'm afraid of.

[phesina]

Fortunately I wasn't hurt, but boy was I p*ssed!

[Karen]

One afternoon I was about to walk across the street-- Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square, one-way and VERY busy. I looked in the direction the traffic was coming from and it was clear enough to go, so I started across... and WHAMO! I got hit and knocked right over by some idiot going the wrong way on a bike! And did this clown stop to help me up or see if I was all right? NOOOOooo... she just kept right on riding as fast as she could. GRRRRrrrr..

What you may not realize, the rest of the universe, is that this is typical of bicyclists in Harvard Square. One pass through Harvard Square in the morning - on foot or by car - will make one despise bicyclists. They act as if they own the road, and sometimes the sidewalk, and laws do not apply to them. It's awful!

Go another mile down Mass Ave., and you're in Central Square, where pedestrians normally are compelled to walk in front of cars, but when it's raining, they RUN into moving traffic - just when the roads are wet enough so you may skid a bit ... NOT for the faint of heart.

[phesina]

What you may not realize, the rest of the universe, is that this is typical of bicyclists in Harvard Square. One pass through Harvard Square in the morning - on foot or by car - will make one despise bicyclists. They act as if they own the road, and sometimes the sidewalk, and laws do not apply to them. It's awful!
.

You're absolutely right about that, Karen. I really hated them there, not the bike riders who followed the laws and common courtesy but the ones who were so arrogant and holier-than-thou about using pollution-free transportation that they didn't need to give a flying f**k about the rest of the universe.

You get a lot of that type here (Ann Arbor) too, but nothing like Harvard Square!