#1:
thanks (e:terry) for having many of the same sentiments that i have regarding the bike issue. i feel like i am in the middle between wanting to obey the laws and needing to take care of my safety.

1. 2:

Man gets jail time for mooning judge

(e:ajay) OK, I completely agree. Bicycles are considered vehicles, and thus should follow the traffic rules. Many times I have sat at an intersection (on the sidewalk) and waited until I had a green light and made sure no cars were turning before I crossed the street. I'm from the country where people are polite and generally follow the rules. It wasn't until I moved into the city that I have experienced every day people who think they are above the law and can just cruise around on their bikes as they please. People like that, whether walking, riding, or driving, really make me mad.

People like this: (from a conversation I had with someone on AIM earlier today)
Morph Conflict: sweet i almost got killed by one [a bike rider] today
Maiden Cat Eyes: :-(
Morph Conflict: fucking guy yelling me in spanish or something down reese
Morph Conflict: i hear him yelling and i turn around and see him flying at me on his trick bike that i couldn't hear
Maiden Cat Eyes: oh man, it's people like that who give all bike riders a bad name
Morph Conflict: i didn't know where to go on the sidewalk
Morph Conflict: he was all over it
Morph Conflict: and then he stops at the house 10 feet in front of me
Maiden Cat Eyes: yeah, that's why people hate me, cuz they think i ride like that

(e:sqb) Thanks for the info regarding bike rules. I understand your pet peeve about people riding on the sidewalk. Trust me, if I felt safe riding my bike on the street of Elmwood, I would. Elmwood is, in fact, the only street where I ride on the sidewalk, because I am honestly terrified of the inconsiderate drivers on that road. I do have an opposing pet peeve though. I hate it when people are riding their bikes in the street and they think they own the whole road and aren't being cautious about their own safety. Just about every time I drive down Elmwood I encounter people riding without any idea if cars are behind them, and swerving in and out of the road. For my own defense, I do try to be as courteous and cautious as possible of other people when I am riding on the sidewalk. I know that it is made for walking, not for me, and I always let pedestrians go before me.

What is the consensus on bicycle bells or cute little horns? A couple people on the sidewalk recently have said that I need a little bell to let them know when I am coming, because my bike is fairly silent (as it should be). I haven't gotten one because I feel weird, like I am honking at people. I only honk from my car when I am pissed or about to hit someone, so I feel rude honking at a pedestrian from my bike. They have just as much, if not more, right the use the sidewalk space as I do. So what do people think? Is it rude to toot a little horn as politely as possible to let people know I am coming so they don't get startled and I don't run them over? Or is it perfectly acceptable?

Is this going to work? I don't know if all you first life people can hear me from here. Oh well. Let's see.