Cyclists on wrong side of road

[Poindexter]

Has anyone else noticed that the youth of today ride almost exclusively against traffic. It had to be one of the 1st things I was taught before heading out on my bike as a kid but somehow this lesson has skipped a generation.

The other day coming out of a parking lot that had a hedge along one side I nosed out past the sidewalk only to be hit by a kid riding on the sidewalk heading against traffic. He wasn't hurt but my front fender has looked better.

Kids need to realize the majority of drivers look left when merging into traffic and I fear it's going to be a hard lesson learned by some driver or kid.

[SoyChai]

My first thought was, "no, haven't noticed". Then I realized I saw a girl about 20 last night who was in the bike lane going the wrong way. And when I was going to work yesterday I almost hit a 18ish looking boy who was on the road, coming the wrong way and had a starbucks iced drink in one hand, a bag of something in the other, leaving no hands on his handlebars (was steering with his knee). that ticked me off because he was riding like an idiot, and if i hit him, I would be left feeling awful and guilty about it.

[Bsuds]

I almost hit a guy (not a kid) who was riding on the wrong side, went through a red light and then gave me the "finger" when I honked at him!

Shoulda hit him!

[E3V]

My pet peeve is bicyclists on the sidewalk. Everytime I go for a walk I come across at least two.

[JayByrd]

My pet peeve is bicyclists on the sidewalk. Everytime I go for a walk I come across at least two.

In areas such as Hwy 33 where there are no bike lanes, I don't have a problem with cyclists using the sidewalk. However, I expect them to yield right of way to pedestrians (this includes slowing down, or dismounting if necessary). I've found most of them to be quite courteous in this situation.

[Poindexter]

I would be left feeling awful and guilty about it.

Exactly! The kid that ran into my truck couldn't have been much older than 10. I was looking left, didn't see him at all and heard, or more like felt a thud only to see a kid go down on the passenger side of my car. As soon as I stepped out I could hear him screaming. That horrible sound that makes your heart sink into your stomach. When I ran around the truck there was this poor kid writhing in pain on the side walk looking frightened and shocked. My pulse was pounding and my mind ran through pictures of this happening to my own son and knowing it was my fault. Then I noticed he was holding his crotch. I've never been happier that a kid nailed himself on the crossbar.

Regardless, I consider myself lucky that all I have is a dented fender and not that horrible feeling to live with it the rest of my life.

[underscore]

I could've sworn I was taught in school years ago you're supposed to ride against traffic, so you can see what's coming at you. Same deal with walking. Either way, cyclists need to pay more attention.

[moparmaddness]

Exactly! The kid that ran into my truck couldn't have been much older than 10. I was looking left, didn't see him at all and heard, or more like felt a thud only to see a kid go down on the passenger side of my car. Regardless, I consider myself lucky that all I have is a dented fender and not that horrible feeling to live with it the rest of my life.

Sounds like he needs a smack as well on the top side of his head for being stupid on top of denting your car. Suppose you could have looked to the right first but sounds like it was a bang bang play and as soon as you pulled out you were hit. Hope his parents are going to fix your truck, and hopefully they were smart enough to outfit him with a helmet.

[V-Rated]

About a month ago I witnessed the exact thing... teen riding his bike, no helmet, ear buds blaring, riding against the traffic collided with a car in front of me. Thankfully she was just slowly pulling out of an intersection, but obviously looking left....
Does anyone know who would legally be to blame for that?
I was told that if a car is involved then ICBC gets all over it and the lady in the car gets charged... is this true? I just feel if the cyclists want the same rights as a vehicle, then they should obey the law too, but does this become an insurance issue?!

I did not know the lady, so I never found out what happened.
~V~

[kgcayenne]

I could've sworn I was taught in school years ago you're supposed to ride against traffic, so you can see what's coming at you. Same deal with walking. Either way, cyclists need to pay more attention.

I suspect this is a mistaken memory. It was drilled into us to always walk against traffic and ride bikes with traffic; again, that's walk against, ride with. We were also all taught the proper hand signals so others would know our intent. I find that a lot of cyclists don't signal. Well, a lot of drivers don't either, but that's a whole other thread.

[Woodenhead]

IDK, it's a mixed bag, from what I see.

What bothers me more are those motorized scooters & mini-bikes I see all over the place - on the road, on the sidewalk, in the bike lane, on the grass median... you name it. I saw an old guy on one of these yesterday, cruising down the sidewalk on Harvey & crossing Dilworth, heading north while scaring the heck outta some pedestrians...



When I lived in town, I often had to dodge joggers in the bike lane, as well as idiots like I already mentioned above. So I basically just rode where I felt safest at any given moment. It's a war zone out there! (no such problems out here where I am now tho! *looks down upon the city below* )

[underscore]

I suspect this is a mistaken memory. It was drilled into us to always walk against traffic and ride bikes with traffic; again, that's walk against, ride with. We were also all taught the proper hand signals so others would know our intent. I find that a lot of cyclists don't signal. Well, a lot of drivers don't either, but that's a whole other thread.

That would make sense, it would have been a long time ago. Riding with traffic certainly makes more sense as far as people turning right onto a street goes.

[GordonH]

As a motorist this riding on wrong side of the roads is incredible stupid, I've damn near hit a dozen or more cyclist since the beginning of the year. Everyone of them look at me as if I'm in the wrong, its always at 4 way intersection.

They keep this up an ER at KGH will be full of injured cyclist, or worst.

To those who are riding the proper side of the road, maybe give those who are not a lesson. I really don't want to see anyone get hurt needlessly.

[GoStumpy]

When I'm turning right out of a driveway, I need to check for pedestrians, then watch the traffic coming from the left and wait for a clearing. A cyclist coming at me from the right going the wrong way is a very dangerous situation!

[WhatThe]

I hate to point this out but, If you're not driving with the expectation of this happening then you are not driving correctly. The bottom line is whether you're a pedestrian, cyclist or driver you must always assume that everyone is not going to do as expected or what's proper.