Why I Ride on the Sidewalk

I ride a single speed beach cruiser, and have no problem negotiating the streets. You have to plan your trips and use the best roads (use castillo instead of anacapa, etc) You may think you are safer, but you are not only setting a bad example, you are dangerous for people who don't expect bicycles to be on the sidewalk, at any speed. When I back out of my driveway, it is much easier to not hit a slow moving pedestrian, than a bicycle ( even going at slow speeds) While it may seem dangerous on road, you will realize that you must stop or avoid a lot more hazards on the sidewalk the more you do it. On the sidewalk there are many more visibility obstructions at driveways and walkways ( fences, high hedges, blind corners) Abandoning using a great street with a dedicated bike lane, because of some freak accident when some lady got cut off, is not using your head. (I can give you countless examples of crash occurrences on the sidewalk versus cars) Try taking a Street Skills class through the Bike Coalition (even the best cyclists can benefit from this)

http://bicicentro.org/adultclass

Skateboarding needs to be decriminalized in these areas.

I feel your pain brother and time does NOT change additutes or perceptions of drivers. Besides drawing down on aggressive drivers who exit their cars to pummel me while I too use the crosswalks, I use my hands to slap the metal (hoods, roofs and doors of those vehicles that push, swerve and press their way over against the human traffic of the pedestrian),that often gets the attention and wrath of those smae aggressive drivers. One day I will be looking down the barrel of a aggressive drive who packs a firearm of his own with malice and forethough, pull the trigger to remove another pedestrian from this world, until that day, I will continue to aggressively make my presence know by stiking the metal of his/her automobile.

There are some bicyclists tho who either think their cars or are carrying a huge chip on their shoulder.

Bicyclists would do well to follow the law and not blow through red lights when indeed a motor vehicle really is there with a green light and the legal right of way at an intersection.

But indeed the reason most bicyclists use the pedestrian sidewalks is because the motor vehicle drivers in the streets are acting illegally and crowding or hitting the bicyclists.

The police blow it again targeting their enforcement theater at bicyclists instead of car drivers acting badly, especially failing to yield for pedestrians.

Its not really an either/or situation. There are people behind the wheel and some people atop two, who are jerks and some who are courteous. This is beginning to sound like West Side Story.