Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

For pedestrians, more bikes in Denver a nightmare

G. Nelson, Denver

Published February 5, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  

More Letters to the Editor

More stories »

After reading the Jan. 15 Rocky story, "City to roll out 500 loaner bikes this summer," I must say this is one of the scariest things that is happening in Denver to date!

As a pedestrian, I am scared for my life. It is a nightmare to think that 500 more rude, obnoxious cyclists are going to be out there trying to maim and kill me.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see riders on the sidewalk. (It's illegal: see our municipal code.) They expect me, the pedestrian, to move onto the grass, mud or snow to let them by. I have almost been run over crossing the street in the crosswalk with the light. They careen through stop lights without slowing and speed the wrong way down one-way streets.

When they are on the sidewalk, they never announce that they are coming up behind you. My dog was hit once while walking on a leash with me on a sidewalk as we didn't get out of the way fast enough when the rider came up from behind. My dogs now bark hysterically and lunge at bicycles on the sidewalk. Even they know that the cyclist should be on the road.

Not only are cyclists not apologetic when barreling down us, but I have been yelled at to get out of the way and flipped off. I won't even go into how dangerous it is to be driving a car in Denver with cyclists on the loose!

I am all for a greener Denver, but let's educate the cyclists as to the laws and hand out tickets!

Comments

  • February 5, 2009

    7:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

    Won't happen. The loaner program is for publicity and votes. Hick wants both. You'll only see enforcement after a few pedestrians get mauled or killed.

  • February 5, 2009

    8:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    IRUNMAN writes:

    G. Nelson, you busted us bicycle riders!

    Yes, we are out to kill and maim you!

    PLEASE.

    I understand your anger when it comes to bicyclists on the sidewalk. That ticks me off too.

    I am a bicyclist that DOES follow the rules and I DO ride in the street.

    I just hope you aren't one of those people who then honks at me for riding in the right lane, where I am supposed to be.

  • February 5, 2009

    8:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    glowrock writes:

    I'm all for the loaner bike program, but I'm also in agreement with the letter-writer that SOME bicyclists are rude, arrogant, self-important jack-offs who knowingly and willfully break every law they possibly can! I've almost been run down as a pedestrian walking across the street with the light in my favor before as well, though my story was a bit better in the end. I just stuck my leg out as the bicyclist was about to run the red light and nearly run me over in the process, which caused said bicyclist to swerve out of my way and resulting in him crashing his bike. He was fine, he proceeded to use every word in the book to attack me, he actually got into my face, but then the nice police officer from across the street told him to "get the he*l out of his (my) way", and told him "he was lucky he didn't get a ticket for running a red light." Of course, the officer then scolded me for doing what I did, but it was still a really funny moment!!

  • February 5, 2009

    9:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mdeeble writes:

    Your comments make me sad. I'm a cyclist who follows the laws, and we get the same treatment from obnoxious automobile users who think that we don't have the right to be on the street or to follow the same laws. Anyway, you're right. Cyclist need to follow traffic laws.

  • February 5, 2009

    10:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Triumph writes:

    Bad Idea. We have enough rude idiots on bikes as it is.
    Working in Downtown Denver the cyclists I have a problem with are the ones riding on the sidewalks on streets like Broadway going like bats out of hell. Especially the couriers. I've had some close calls and have had words with some and will not hesitate to knock one down if the try to get off their bike to start a fight.
    When I'm riding my motorcyle downtown I will not allow them to come along side me in my lane from behind when I'm waiting at a red light and the blow past me and run the light.

    They have almost run over my foot when they do this. Now they steer clear of this old biker unless the want to be kicked into the car next to me. They can run but they can't hide! Other than that I have no problem with cyclists in the suburbs.

  • February 5, 2009

    3:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    k2ken45 writes:

    F U Nelson! I ride with courtesy, care and law abiding. I can't and won't speak of other cyclists, but I give the right-of-way at all times, because even if I am right I dead and they are wrong.
    I stop at lights, yield to peds, and ride in the street. So go and paint your wide brush elsewhere.

  • February 5, 2009

    5:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HassanChop writes:

    If you ever want to see what most bicyclists think about sharing the road, get on a skateboard and ride along a bike path. It seems most cyclists only want to share the road when they're slower than you are.

  • February 5, 2009

    9:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shaupeen writes:

    You're kidding, right G. Nelson? Bicyclists are out there to main and kill you?!!? That might be the most ridiculous thing I've read all day! And nice work on the many, many generalizations, stereo-types, and absolutes! It completely removes any legitimacy from your argument. Thanks for the laughs.

  • February 6, 2009

    10:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CaptainObvious writes:

    Ha! What a joke. You know, G. Nelson, in no way would I normally want to hit you with my bike--it's too valuable to risk damaging it on you--but now that I'm already accused of trying to kill you, I might as well enjoy the very act I stand accused of! So now, I am aiming for you! Consider yourself warned!