The other day, I nearly hit two cyclists with my hubby’s truck.
They were flying down the sidewalk, on the wrong side and proceeded across right in front of me as I attempted to turn right on red. In the long run, it would have been my fault.
But, I have to say, I didn’t expect it. Full speed on the sidewalk, through a crosswalk. I wouldn’t have taken those chances as a cyclist. I followed the rules that cars had, traveled on the right side in the street like a car. I was instructed that when you are on the sidewalk, you should follow the rules of pedestians. A flashing hand means stay there.
I was taken aback and will look from now on. They even stopped to yell at me and I apologized. I could have killed them or hurt them badly on something I never expected. Time to watch for cyclists.
Probably would have been your fault but they woulda been hurt.
Full speed on the sidewalk is not good cycling but many of them think they own the street and sidewalk.
that reminds me, i need to get a new bumper gaurd for my truck.
If a cyclist doesn't know the physics of mass plus velocity between a cycle and a car he should stick to walking.
Actually that was their fault, not yours.
Dumb cyclists. Cyclists who value their own lives don’t ride like that.
I am not a cyclist, but my brother is. He doesn’t ride on sidewalks.
“Full speed on the sidewalk, through a crosswalk. I wouldn’t have taken those chances as a cyclist. I followed the rules that cars had, traveled on the right side in the street like a car. I was instructed that when you are on the sidewalk, you should follow the rules of pedestians.”
In many areas, bicyclists are banned by law from riding on the sidewalk (some of those go back 100 years). The effect of a 20 mph cyclist hitting a pedestrian is akin to a NFL player taking a hit from a linebacker.
The noob cyclists, and many of the old-timers like me, need to learn the laws. Sadly, so do the cops in most areas. Bicyclists need to get tickets for traffic violations.
Actually, it would have likely been the fault of the cyclists. Many areas require riders to dismount when crossing roads when they are using the sidewalks as their paths. If they are on the road, then they must follow traffic laws. So, they were likely in the wrong.
I had one pull out of a parking lot into my lane on an access road on Saturday. It really hacked me off because I know he saw me, I was watching him because I was afraid he would do something stupid like that. I had to swerve around him, then I hit the accelerator and left him in a cloud of dust. I watch for cyclists, but a-holes like that one deserve to be the victim of road rage.
You’re not the only one that has problems with bikers. We live in the mountains. Bikers ride on the two lane roads up here all the time. One was killed trying to pass a big tractor on a curve and crossed a double yellow line. At times, we haul a 20’ stock trailer, loaded. There are blind curves and steep inclines. You can’t stop a rig like this when coming up on these bikers. Bikers seem to think they have the right of way. Little do they know that might has right.
It wouldn’t have been your fault, had you hit them. Bicycles are usually considered to be vehicles when being ridden. As such, they are generally not allowed to ride on sidewalks.
You had nothing to apologize for, they were most likely in the wrong. Their ignorance is not your fault.
I say this as a cyclist myself.
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This is the sort of thing that makes me wish your truck had a cam up front like on some police cruisers.