Secrets of the City

Also: Robot Wars at the Fair.

Yes, the robot wars are interesting. As was their frantic efforts to set up the robot wars bleachers and combat area just hours before the Fair opened.

Giving myself a break from the Fair and work today. Snaps to Pwrgeek and many others who rode a bike for Jason’s Station. Hope Josie’s experience at the Fair on Saturday night was good, again, thanks for helping us out.

State Fair Revenge is so totally approp.

The Minnesota Distance Running Association “Words of Wisdom” blog has some thoughts on trail etiquette inspired by the Calhoun collision story.

Why at night does it turn into Get out of my way!, Watch out! or Move it!

Because at night on Lake Calhoun, the bicyclists are drunk.

Will you be at the fair Thursday night, Bob? Ang and I might head out there again for more people watching and photo ops.

Interestingly, the Aug 19 Road guy bit in Strib had news to me: Not only is it against park regulations for bikers to use the pedestrian paths, it is also against park regulations for walkers and runners to use the designated bike paths.

Only if it is a shared path are the two supposed to mix.

So, I’m not going to worry much if I bump a pedestrian with my bike on the bike paths.

(A colleague of Road guy apparently broke several bones in a crash, when she got clotheslined by the dog leash of a woman walking her dog on the bike path around one of the lakes)

So, I’m not going to worry much if I bump a pedestrian with my bike on the bike paths.

Wouldn’t simple human decency require you to at least pay some mind to them even if they are in the wrong?

Do you ever make mistakes?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the park board start enforcing proper path choices. This is a bigger problem along W River Road than Calhoun due to the strange merging and unmerging of the bike and ped. paths.

I agree with Ed. I bike W River Road daily, and there are always pedestrians failing to move over 2 feet to the pedestrian lane. Although, I have also seen bikes in the pedestrian lanes…

By the way, by law, you must give an audible signal when passing a pedestrian. (Statute 169.222 subd 4d.)

A three-Stooges-like “woob booo booob boooooob”?

as long as we’re on this topic, i’ll just say that it’s a big pet peave of mine when bikers choose to bike on the sidewalk. It is very dangerous. not only is it dangerous for pedestrians, but for the bikers as well. bike on the street. the more cars get used to bikers being there, the safer it will be for all bikers.

I think it’s a losing battle to chase adult bicyclists off the sidewalks. But if bicycling is a viable form of transportation, as proponents contend, they should respect the rules and laws.

I agree, she-she, but I can’t count the number of times somebody’s pulled up next to me in their Boxy Monstrosity and hollered “Get the fuck out of the street!” This happens especially much on Lake Street.

So in many cases, sidewalk-riders may think they’re doing the safe, or legal, thing, because of “common sense,” or because they took the yelling a bit too seriously.

This happens especially much on Lake Street.

You honestly ride a bicycle on Lake Street?

“You honestly ride a bicycle on Lake Street?”

Apparently it’s safer than the greenway.

My biggest peeve here is groups of runners or walkers who are oblivious to the fact that they’re on the bike trail. They take up the entire trail and are somehow surprised when they’re overtaken by bikers going 15MPH+ faster than them.

That, and dog walkers with 30ft leashes.

Actually, it looks like those two things contributed to the biker who crashed hard at Lake Calhoun. Looks like my peeves are warranted.

We can argue ’til we’re blue in the face about bikes v. peds v. cars v. God.
There are no easy answers.

I think what it all boils down to is

A) SMARTEN UP, everyone. If a sign says “bike lane” and you are on foot or in a car, STAY OUT OF IT. If you’re walking your dog and there’s a sign with a PICTURE OF A BIKE, stay away from that. And so forth. It seems like much of this is due to selective illiteracy.

B) Drop the “asshole” act and just be nicer. Hey bikers! Cars unfortunately do rule the world right now. And they can KEEL YOU. So bike where you’re supposed to, and consider the fact that you are NOT a car. (I’d also like to take this opportunity to ask you to also consider that a leisurely wheel down Summit Avenue on a Sunday afternoon does NOT require Tour De France day-glo spandex training gear from head to toe, either).

Car drivers? When you encounter a spandexed asshole who thinks he’s driving a car, go easy on them. Being in ass in return doesn’t help anything or even prove much of a point, even though yelling at them feels mighty good. You’re the true dumbass for (over)paying for that hunk of metal and plastic and for all the fossil fuel it takes to run it. Plus, that toned, muscular biker you just forced off the road could likely hurt you VERY badly in a cage match. So chill.

“So bike where you’re supposed to, and consider the fact that you are NOT a car. “

No, we’re not cars. But we do belong on the road. We don’t belong on the side walk, unless you’re a 8 year old kid. Even if there is a bike path, the park paths are posted with a 10 mph speed limit. If I’m commuting, that’s too slow to make a workable commute. If I’m out for exercise or training, that’s not even going to break a sweat.

So, yeah, I’m going to stick to the roads where I belong. Sure, I’ll try and stay as far to the right as possible, but if the side of the road is full of potholes, broken glass, or other debris, I’m going to take the lane. If the lane is too narrow that cars are trying to squeeze past me, knocking me into the curb, I’m going to take the lane. If I have to make a left turn, I’m going to move over to the left turn lane, and take it.

And, I would also add, that the “day-glo” training gear is as much a safety factor as anything. It helps draw the drivers’ attention to your presence.

You honestly ride a bicycle on Lake Street?

It’s the fastest path across the river for me. Also, I might not have the most finely-honed sense of self-preservation.

Plus, that toned, muscular biker you just forced off the road could likely hurt you VERY badly in a cage match.

Ha. Not likely.

“I agree with Ed. I bike W River Road daily, and there are always pedestrians failing to move over 2 feet to the pedestrian lane.“

Please note, bikers: the fact that it’s common knowledge that pedos use the bike path completely wipes out your legal defense of “but it’s the bike path, I didn’t expect them to pop up in front of me” if you wantonly mow them down.

I long ago realized that those little pictograph signs designating bicycle and pedestrian paths are far too difficult for people.

And bobby_b – tempting though it may be to just mow them down we cyclists usually just find a way by (eventually) and maybe occasionally scowl at people in the wrong place. That’s usually about it.

I might not have the most finely-honed sense of self-preservation.

All the rights in the road do not mean much when you’re in traction.

“Plus, that toned, muscular biker you just forced off the road could likely hurt you VERY badly in a cage match.

Ha. Not likely.”

That’s because you’ve flattened his ass by then, right, Iron John?