Your take on courtesy-

Oh, cyclists.  What I hate is when I'm crossing, and they don't obey the zebra crossing.  Especially if I'm passing in front of a bus, I have no idea what's going to be in the bike lane, and have almost been hit a bunch. 

What is the current thinking on cyclists on the pavement? Is see some are on the pavement and in some cases I think it maybe a safer place to be as long as they give the pedestrians a wide berth.

To be clearer, do the police challenge bicyclists that are on the pavement?

What is the current thinking on cyclists on the pavement? Is see some are on the pavement and in some cases I think it maybe a safer place to be as long as they give the pedestrians a wide berth.

To be clearer, do the police challenge bicyclists that are on the pavement?

I think it depends on the situation. All of the Manchester students arrived back recently and police have been ticketing the heck out of them if they are biking on the sidewalk. However, we have tons of clearly marked bike lanes and, you know, a bajillion students, so it's important that everyone walk/bike/drive where they should.

In Inverness, as I understand it, there are places where you're not supposed to bike on the pavements and places where the pavements are the bike path. 

Heck, in Harvard Square jaywalking is a way of life (or death)!

I thought of this thread as I was driving through HS last night.  People everywhere, walking, driving and cycling indiscriminately.  It was so good to be home.   

I thought of this thread as I was driving through HS last night.  People everywhere, walking, driving and cycling indiscriminately.  It was so good to be home.   

Welcome home! Are you just visiting?

Welcome home! Are you just visiting?

Thanks!  I'm just visiting my dad in RI for the week but headed up for the day to see friends.  Lousy weather, rotten traffic, trying to park in the evil Porter Square parking lot...does a welcome back get any warmer than that?  I think not!  Even got cut off by a jerk in a giant SUV who made an illegal right on red from the left lane @ Eliot and JFK.  I've been brutally homesick lately, so it's nice when things ARE just how you imagine them!    

Thanks!  I'm just visiting my dad in RI for the week but headed up for the day to see friends.  Lousy weather, rotten traffic, trying to park in the evil Porter Square parking lot...does a welcome back get any warmer than that?  I think not!  Even got cut off by a jerk in a giant SUV who made an illegal right on red from the left lane @ Eliot and JFK.  I've been brutally homesick lately, so it's nice when things ARE just how you imagine them!    

  Glad you're enjoying it!

Just passed a cyclist giving hell to a driver for turning out of a side street without looking to see if there was anyone in the cycle path.

I assume she almost hit him.

Drivers here come out of side streets without looking all the time. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything to one of them about it. In fact, if they almost hit you, they usually shout at you for being in their way.

I think we could start a "?" on the Abbey Road Crossing video camera and report on our observations.
Today I saw drivers who were going quit fast and would not slow down for the crossing when there were people still occupying it. Shame!

I still find cyclists to be the most annoying about driving (in the US) and walking (in the UK).  At home, in a college town, I've seen several students biking the wrong way in a bike lane get crumpled by cars turning out with the near lane and not needing to watch for people coming up the wrong way, texting on a bike.  It seems like because they are more vulnerable than cars, cyclists often don't seem to respect anyone else's right of way.  I find more cyclists who don't obey traffic laws than cars or pedestrians, and have been nearly run down on several occasions in the past few weeks by cyclists who have decided to ignore a red light and go around a corner where I am walking completely clear and legally otherwise.  I'm all for cutting pollution, but I would just like it if everyone could just chill out and obey the rules of the road.  Including pedestrians making traffic wait at a green light just because they want to cross as I saw last night.  Though, I do want to acknowledge that not everyone on a bike acts like this, as was pointed out farther up.

texting on a bike

Holy moley, I cannot believe that they even try that. I can (just barely) text and walk. Let alone text and bike! I will admit to being a deft hand at reading while walking though. Since the ticketing extravaganza earlier this month, the cyclists in the city centre are definitely being more considerate and staying in the bike lanes/riding with traffic per road rules.
I have noticed that the earlier sunsets have made for some more cautious driving, though. Which I appreciate. Of course, you also have to deal with those obscenely bright new headlights. (I'm in a fairly low-slung car and often get them right in the eyes.)

Completely OT: I would just like to put out my cautionary tale of walking and reading to you, Jennie.  I too used to be an expert at walking and reading, until I sprained my ankle incredibly badly while walking down some stairs and reading.  (Based on the banister out of the corner of my eye, I should have been at the bottom, but instead there was another giant step.)  It took me 15 minutes to hobble home on a normally 5 minute walk and my ankle was swollen for over a week.  Typically, this was 5 months after I lost my health insurance coverage and 18 months later I still get twinges from it.  So, all I'm saying is that my parents might have been right about not walking and reading, but I haven't told them that.