transportational outcast in pdx...

I'm about to bash bicyclists in the city of Portland.  Yes.  Even with the "bikes are sexy" photo over there (they are).  Even though I love that Portland is a bike friendly city.  Even though I adore that we have a city you can get around without a car.  I'm about to say something bad.  Are you ready?

Bikers, you are not the only ones using an alternative form of transportation.  Don't hog the sidewalks!

In my experience many bicyclists treat pedestrians the way they accuse motorists of treating them.  Without a fucking care.  Like the fact that they are bigger and faster than you (you being me. or any pedestrian.) means they have more rights.

Not that I'm enamored with the way many motorists treat walkers either but that is not what this post is about.  Usually the cars aren't rolling up on me on the sidewalk.  There are laws that apply to both bicyclists and motorists.  There are laws that apply to pedestrians too.  So when I'm walking down the street on the sidewalk where I belong as a pedestrian I don't think it's out of line for me to expect at least most people to follow the posted regulations and traffic laws.

So say you're crossing a little two lane bridge with a sidewalk on only one side of the bridge and there is a clearly posted sign on each end of the bridge telling bicyclists to walk their bikes... Wouldn't you think that the poor abused put upon cycling community would make an effort to respect that?  I mean it is for the safety of not just themselves but pedestrians too.  Yet every time I cross the Sellwood bridge on foot I nearly get run over by multiple bicyclists.  It's so ridiculous that I want to stop the few cyclists that are walking their bikes and thank them just for doing what they are supposed to do.

So bikers, don't be the dicks you accuse motorists of being, please.  I really don't like getting pegged in the hip as you speed by unannounced.  Or at the very least?  Get a damn bell.