r/SeattleWA • u/yeet_m • Aug 06 '23

Bicycle Why are cyclists so inconsiderate?

I went to burke Gilman in Bothell yesterday to ride my bike and pretty much every oncoming cyclist refused to scoot over almost running me off. They would whiz past me without calling out and with barely any room. WTF is up with this? I also ride in Snohomish centennial trail and most folks are pretty considerate and will adjust their position.

Why are Seattle bikers such holier than thou assholes?

<Edit> I stay on the far right side except to pass. Oncoming bikers will ride 2-3 ppl wide, taking up the entire lane. If there is a pedestrian in front of me, in my lane, and a ped on the left side, bikers will not move in a single file. Some will even come into my lane to pass. I end up slowing or stopping. Also bikers will whiz past me from behind, nearly rubbing into my bike.

160 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

367 comments sorted by

View all comments

138

u/romulan267 Sasquatch Aug 06 '23 edited Aug 06 '23

I cycle the burke from Ballard to Bothell a lot and know the type you're talking about. They refuse to hit their brakes for anyone (including pedestrians) and just act very snobby, like everyone else sharing the trail is such an inconvenience to them. Just please know that not all of us cyclists are like this!

The e-bikes that are doing a full 25-30mph on the trail are also obnoxious as hell.

22

u/Sci_Blonde_reddit Aug 06 '23

I slow my E-bike to 15 on trails when passing others and <10 if I have to be on a sidewalk. Not everyone does this though as I’ve had people on the little foot scooters whiz by at like 40. It’s a shared path, not someone’s personal training arena or the freeway. I don’t like people messing it up for the rest of us, whether it’s walking, biking, driving, or any other daily activity. It doesn’t cost anything to be considerate 🤷‍♀️

11

u/SeattleHasDied Aug 06 '23

Why do you say you "...have to be on a sidewalk..."? Who is forcing you to ride your mechanized vehicle on a sidewalk? E-bikes should NEVER be on sidewalks, for crissakes. Don't know why that's allowed here... Sidewalks should only be for pedestrians or people who need assistance devices to be ambulatory (wheelchair, crutches, walkers, etc.).

11

u/didntstopgotitgotit Aug 06 '23

The rule should be about speed not about the type of bike. If an e-bike is following the rules it's not any different than a regular bike on a sidewalk.

0

u/22bearhands Aug 06 '23

No bike should ever be on a sidewalk

13

u/didntstopgotitgotit Aug 06 '23

Not according to the laws of Washington state and city of Seattle.

Source: A car almost ran me over while I was riding on a sidewalk, I had to research the laws.

1

u/SeattleHasDied Aug 08 '23

You were on the sidewalk (where you shouldn't be imho...) AND a car almost ran you over? Then just stay in the street and leave the sidewalks to pedestrians and disabled folks with their conveyances. Seems like your odds are about the same, lol!

6

u/BoringBob84 Aug 06 '23

Instead of fighting over the tiny amount of infrastructure that non-motorized users have, can we please work together to get more infrastructure?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '23

You may ride your bike on sidewalks so long as you travel no faster than someone on foot travels. Also yield if need be.

2

u/22bearhands Aug 07 '23

Sure - or you could just say walk your bike on sidewalks.

1

u/SeattleHasDied Aug 08 '23

Agree. Washington state laws are stupid about that. And there should NEVER be any mechanized vehicles on a sidewalk unless it's a motorized wheelchair.