LETTER: Who has the real right of way?
To the editor:
As both an avid walker and cyclist, I must both agree and disagree with Ryan Anderson’s letter to the editor in Wednesday, Feb. 13th’s, Statesman. First and foremost, I strongly agree that a little sidewalk etiquette would do everyone a deal of good. While I do enjoy the occasional saunter with company, the better part of my walking occurs in hasty commutes and at those times, nothing is more frustrating then getting stuck behind a herd of Sunday strollers monopolizing the entire sidewalk.
However, on the other side of the coin, nothing chaps my lower quarters more than obnoxious bikers riding on the sidewalk. On any sidewalk, yes, even those on campus that are the only option, bikers do not have the right of way. Off of campus, or anywhere that the street is an option, bikers should in no circumstances be riding on the sidewalk. I myself, in younger more foolish days, plowed two innocent victims over while riding my rig on the sidewalk and learned a valuable lesson: someone was bound to kick or sue my butt eventually. Beyond my own physical and financial well being though, riding on the sidewalk is a serious danger to those that ought to be there – walkers. So please remember that a little decorum on both fronts is necessary.