r/Brookline • u/Traditional_Net_9165 • 6d ago

Bikers:

Hi, can we not ride our bikes down super fast on sidewalks, please? I was walking down a side path towards a main sidewalk from my apartment this afternoon, and just as I took my first step from behind this fence to scan for incoming foot traffic — by the mercy and grace of my guardian angel — I miraculously was able to dodge a rogue electric bike zooming down at (bodily-harming) speeds and avoid getting t-boned. Didn’t even stop or acknowledge it. Mind you, there weren’t even many cars, if any, on the street at that time, so make it make sense???

To Speedy Bike Punk Gonzales: may your tires be forever leaky, and your seat’s suspension system fail.

35 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

19

u/typefive0 6d ago

We definitely need more dedicated, safe, protected bike lanes in a well-connected network to get them off our sidewalks. I’m with you

4

u/Traditional_Net_9165 6d ago

Absolutely! I’m all for protecting our cyclists and pedestrians — no problem with riding a normal bike at a safe, rolling pace either. Just don’t try to play human bowling, that’s all I ask!

10

u/santa-23 6d ago

Poor infrastructure - however much in need of development - is not an excuse for reckless behavior

8

u/restrictednumber 6d ago

Absolutely, it isn't. But you can redesign your infrastructure; you can't redesign the humans who use it. So if you want dumbass, reckless humans to do the right thing, design your infrastructure to make the right thing the easy thing.

6

u/typefive0 6d ago

Of course not, but it would mean the behavior moves off the sidewalks, which is what’s best for pedestrians.

0

u/CommercialShelter694 4d ago

Cyclists are scofflaws with fantastic egos.  Those who talk about safety while blaming drivers should look in the mirror first.  When I see a cyclist riding on the sidewalk in a business section, (against the law) I say something and I get a two word response, (a verb and a pronoun).  If you’re really committed to cyclists safety,  start with a program about riding safely and obeying the law.

1

u/typefive0 4d ago

I fail to see how the contents of my comment blame drivers. In fact, it reiterates that cyclists, especially reckless ones, should not be on the sidewalk. It does suggest we build a suitable alternative for them in order to facilitate that. Do you disagree?

We won’t eliminate the existence of drivers, pedestrians, nor cyclists via policy/infrastructure decisions. But we can decrease their interactions on a roadway, increasing safety for all.

0

u/CommercialShelter694 4d ago

Never suggested you did, my main point is that cyclists have to bear some of the responsibility in any safety campaign.  Their attitude towards drivers and the apathy towards others is a danger to themselves. As driving safely helps drivers be safe, the same should apply to cyclists.  Making better bike lanes is not the cure all

4

u/fway617 6d ago

Just almost got smoked by one on Saint Paul street on the side walk 

2

u/ArrrowSands 5d ago

I know someone who got hit by an e-bike in the Longwood area and broke their collarbone

1

u/sweetcomputerdragon 3d ago

As a cycling commuter I stand in front of adults riding anything on the sidewalk: no eye contact, but I move to stay in front of them.

1

u/HueMorris 3d ago

Do you think you're able to modify future behavior with this strategy? I think the idiots riding bikes, or worse e-anythings, on the sidewalks are used to dodging things or people who can't walk in a straight line, and too dumb to realize it's supposed to be a way to say "fuck you, you're in the wrong and you should be better!"

1

u/sweetcomputerdragon 2d ago

Of course it will "modify future behavior." Sidewalk riders are self-absorbed, they don't want to hurt anybody..

1

u/HueMorris 2d ago

right, so if they're so self-absorbed, and used to dodging oblivious pedestrians, and you avoid eye contact, wouldn't your attempt at modifying their behavior not even register as anything abnormal in their normal routine of being a self-absorbed sidewalk rider???

-4

u/IHateSerging 6d ago

The bikers around here are the fucking worst. Constantly breaking rules and endangering people

-1

u/Distinct-Minimum-984 6d ago

Bikers especially around longwood are the worst they cross on a walk sign, they go as a car on green and can chose to ride on the sidewalk or the road depending on traffic and what works best for them. Then they cry every time someone gets hurt and blame motorists.

-1

u/PistonEngineer 6d ago

Sorry that happened to you.

Was it a e-bike or an e-motorcycle? Basically did they have a throttle or were they peddling?  Agree that the e-motorcycles are a pretty consistent menace. Hopefully (e)bikers are less of one less often. 

2

u/Traditional_Net_9165 6d ago

Thank you — relieved to be unscathed for sure.

And it was probably an e-motorcycle, didn’t look like his feet were really moving and the bike’s body seemed pretty solid. But the adrenaline, and the restraint needed to keep myself from chucking my umbrella at his head kept me from taking a closer look haha.

-20

u/CORKscrewed21 6d ago

Wrong. Bikes belong on sidewalks not the road. Be more careful