Online Community Criticizes Irresponsible Cyclist For Speeding Through Sidewalk And Almost Hitting Dog

They were wondering if not coming to a full stop makes them an a-hole

May

• Published in Interesting
• May 12, 2024

When it comes to riding bikes in cities and on sidewalks, it's important to be mindful of safety and local regulations. Laws vary from city to city, so what's allowed in one place may be illegal in another.

Before deciding to bike on a sidewalk, take a moment to check your city's rules. Aside from legal considerations, biking on sidewalks can be risky for everyone involved—bikers, pedestrians, pets, and drivers alike.

Sidewalks generally have slower foot traffic, making it challenging for cyclists to maneuver safely. Pedestrians and drivers may not anticipate faster-moving bikers, leading to unexpected encounters and potential accidents.

Unfortunately, some people like this Redditor don't bother following the rules. They almost hit a dog while cycling on a sidewalk.

This Redditor's side of the story was shared on the "Am I The A**hole?" (AITA) subreddit. According to the original poster, they were riding their bike on the sidewalk at a moderate speed when they noticed two dogs on the grassy area near the curb.

As the dogs moved towards the sidewalk, the Redditor had to make a quick decision—come to a complete stop or try to ride past them. Feeling that there was enough room and time to safely pass, they opted to speed up slightly and maneuver around the dogs.

Thankfully, they managed to avoid hitting the dogs, but the situation was close enough to startle the dogs' owner, who reacted with frustration and disbelief, exclaiming, "REALLY? REALLY?"

A cyclist who drove their bike on the sidewalk asked this question:

Instead of stopping, the OP took the risk by speeding up and riding past an owner with two dogs.

People heavily criticized the OP for what they did, especially since they're not prioritizing pedestrian safety in a path designated for pedestrians.

Adults should use the road for biking. Kids are the only ones who can legally use the sidewalk for biking.

The OP doesn't realize that they not only risked themselves, but also the dogs and owner.

The one thing that the OP could've done.

Dogs do not know the rules of the road.

On the other hand, the OP is the one expected to follow the law. The OP should be the one adjusting to this situation.

It's called sidewalk for a reason.

What's the point of speeding up? The OP has got plenty of time, anyway.

Maybe the OP thought that biking on the sidewalk is safer. But in reality, it's a lot riskier both for the cyclist and the pedestrians.

In a study conducted in California a couple of decades ago, it was discovered that cyclists on sidewalks were 1.8 times more likely to be involved in accidents than those on the street. Specifically, sidewalk cyclists traveling against the flow of traffic faced a collision risk 5.3 times higher than those biking with traffic.

Additional research has consistently indicated that sidewalk biking increases the likelihood of bicycle collisions. In other words, even if the dogs weren't there, the OP was wrong from the very beginning.

Next time, they should just take the road and be a more responsible cyclist next time.

May