Stupid Bike Tricks, Part One
As a bike commuter, I get awfully tired of seeing stupid cyclists. As a social scientist, I am amazed at how people use space. This picture is a classic example of a stupid bike rider, and an interesting example of how Boiseans differ from Portland residents.
So what is happening here is that this guy has just come barreling down the sidewalk off of Crescent Rim. Mind you he is 1) on the wrong side of the street; 2) on the sidewalk which is for PEDESTRIANS; 3) not wearing a helmet (I too often am guilty of this as well). But the big problem for me here is that that sidewalk gets a lot of pedestrian use, and it is SO DANGEROUS when bike riders come hauling ass down that hill yelling ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR LEFT and scaring the hell out of pedestrians who are trying to walk to the park, school, Papa Joes, or one of the other businesses down there. Don’t be that guy.
It’s also really interesting to note that you NEVER see this in Portland. Not once in the year that I have been living between Boise and Portland have I seen a bicycle on the sidewalk. Not once. Portlanders have a very well-defined sense of space - cars stay where they should, as do bikes and pedestrians.
Social Science, Transportation | admin July 26, 2010
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By Kevin, July 26, 2010 @ 1:56 pm
Not in defense of this particular bike rider but notice the lack of bike lane on this stretch. Especially with the lack of consideration from some motorists the sidewalk is the best option. Like I said this guy is in the wrong but on the up-hill side I can give the biker a brake for being on the sidewalk.
By Lester J, July 26, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
Those open toed flip flops will come in handy too when he grinds his feet into the pavement….at least he’s not texting.
By Scott Nicholson, July 26, 2010 @ 9:28 pm
In Boise, when they’re yelling “on your left” that’s more of a political statement than anything else. It’s generally not hard to be left of anything political around here.
By Leslie M-B, July 27, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
I’ve seen a LOT of sidewalk riding in my ~10 days in Boise. It’s frustrating, but on some of the bigger streets, I can kind of understand the self-preservation instinct at play.
Politically, I’d like to see those bicyclists take the lane to make a statement. Practically, I’d rather not see them killed (as a friend of mine recently was while riding on a busy street in Oakland).
By admin, July 31, 2010 @ 8:50 am
Leslie: I did a post earlier about how the city really lacks bike lanes. Downtown is really one of the WORST sections of town. I’m a take the lane kind of guy myself, though. But it would be really helpful if ACHD got rid of the one way streets downtown. AND I’d so like to see the intersections around the University improved. Capital and University is a death trap.