Gothamist: Bike New York

nyc cyclist

Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:01:21 -0500

Were you jaywalking or crossing against the light? After biking in the city for quite some time, I can't tell you how many pedestrians will fling themselves into a street without looking. If you're going to conduct yourself like you have very little regard for your own well being, why should I have concern for it either? I think, on the whole, most cyclists are considerate and law abiding, even under the high-pressure traffic situations they must endure. There's bad apples in every bunch, and that includes pedestrians too.

Doug

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 15:55:41 -0500

It's always much easier to spot the bikers who aren't obeying the rules than the ones who are. I'd argue that there are plenty of bikers who go unnoticed because they don't run people over. That's not to say that there aren't A LOT of idiots out there who have no business on a bike or even walking near other people and I agree that more cyclists ought to obey the law.

Jimmy Walker

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 14:00:52 -0500

Mr. Gordon may well obey all the rules, like stopping at lights--or at least looking for pedestrians before breezing through--and traveling in the right direction on one-way streets and not riding on the sidewalk, but it is a major source of irritation to me that the majority of bike riders in NYC do not. I have been almost been hit too many times, just crossing the street, to believe that most bike riders play by the rules. I agree that bikes are safer and much more efficient than cars vis-�-vis pedestrians, but it is imperative that bikers obey the law and be much, much more mindful of pedestrians.