Too many pedestrians are guilty of the same mindset: On the rail trail where I often walk, there are big signs that mark the far left and right lanes for pedestrians and the middle lanes for bicyclists, and yet every time I use the trail, I see pedestrians spread out five or six across so that the bicyclists in the center lane have to veer into the opposite pedestrian lane to get by the walkers, who seem oblivious to the "share the rail trail" ethos.
In all fairness, the bicyclists around town are also a-holes. I live in a community that is dominated by an uber-expensive, elite liberal arts college that has lots of bike riders. Apparently, mummy and daddy (or should I say the nanny they hired to raise their kids) never taught Biffy and Buffy that under state law, bicycles are supposed to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles, which means that riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or on the road against traffic is illegal. There have been too many times that I have stepped out on the sidewalk from a shop or restaurant and was almost run over by a bicyclist illegally riding on the sidewalk. As a result, I have become passive-aggressive and when a bicyclist rides towards me on the sidewalk, I not only refuse to get out of their way, but force them to stop to allow me to pass as I sometimes lecture them on the law.
I don’t ride in the city for this reason, but if i was, i would
Probably be stressed from drivers almost killing me all the time too. The real answer is dedicated bike lanes so they don’t need to share space with pedestrians or drivers. Building bike infrastructure is also a good way to fight our obesity crisis.
Agree, but it sometimes depends on pedestrian traffic.
For example a bridge could have the same divisions, but if there is an usual circumstance such as an evaluation that causes very heavy pedestrian traffic, then the bicyclists should just walk like everybody else.
And if for some reason very heavy pedestrian traffic is the norm, then perhaps the bike lane should not be there. But that is likely not the case in the example you cite, in which case, again, I agree.
Oh, and good for you re being a sidewalk pedestrian vigilante of sorts - I would do same. That’s not passive aggressive though - it’s boldly assertive.