dslicex t1_jbu98fo wrote on March 11, 2023 at 7:31 PM

Reply to comment by MattFantastic in How bikeable is New Haven? by Eeeks25

i'd rather ride on the sidewalk on whitney...downtown...or pretty much anywhere there aren't bikelanes...

MattFantastic t1_jbua4rv wrote on March 11, 2023 at 7:37 PM

Preference isn’t the issue. Killing/hurting someone walking when you run them down on a bike because you’re too selfish to care about the people around you is.

It’s really not hard to take some responsibility. If you don’t feel safe riding where you’re supposed to the solution isn’t to make other people less safe, it’s to remove yourself from the situation.

dslicex t1_jbuerxa wrote on March 11, 2023 at 8:11 PM

I get what you’re saying, but I still disagree. It’s not like I’m sending it on the sidewalk, when there’s tons of people around.

At say 6 o clock when no one’s on Whitney sidewalks I’m definitely riding there—it’s rush hour for cars and twilight. But if it’s mid day downtown, I’m not going to bike on the sidewalks by the green you know? That would be stupid and selfish.

It’s also not a black and white issue of being selfish by riding on sidewalks. The somewhat limited and sometimes usable infrastructure for bikes around town is piecemeal and haphazard. Like going up Orange St past Humphrey towards Downtown, the bike lane disappears so cars either come too close to a biker, swerve into opposite lane to pass, or just ride your butt. None of those are very smart on a bike if you like not being mangled…

Lice_Queen t1_jbuvqef wrote on March 11, 2023 at 10:16 PM

It's literally illegal. Stop doing it. It's incredibly annoying and dangerous and ILLEGAL.

dslicex t1_jbuwnu9 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 10:23 PM

arrest me

Dry-Fee9923 t1_jc0ff1l wrote on March 13, 2023 at 3:02 AM

None of this matters - if you don't feel comfortable riding your bike on the street, then don't ride your bike. I ride from Bethany to downtown nh and back multiple times per week and NEVER ride on sidewalks. Get some lights and a reflective jacket if you are really worried. By riding on the sidewalk you are dangerous to others.

dslicex t1_jc1kga3 wrote on March 13, 2023 at 11:21 AM

As the third person to lecture me and say the same thing, you’ve definitely convinced me. I’ll be thinking of you when I’m eating a catalytic converter under a car the next time I get hit while following the rules of the road!