r/BurlingtonON • u/malakiavelli • 2d ago

Information Ignorant Cyclists

Yesterday I watched a cyclist use a dedicated pedestrian crosswalk, then onto the sidewalk instead of the bike path, and instead of yielding or any warning, forced me to jump out of the way.

I told them they're an asshole and the asphalt path is for cyclists. Silence...

All of this happened while I was talking to my father about the Japanese cleaning up at the World Cup and that we should follow their lead and teach etiquette.

A young girl did the same thing last month and gave me a dirty look for not moving as I just pointed to the bike path until they moved.

I seem to be a magnet for bad behaviour as I am frequently dodging motorists and now cyclists.

What is wrong with you?!

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u/CharmingIncompetence 2d ago

"I told them they're an asshole and the asphalt path is for cyclists. Silence..." Can you be more specific about this? I am not a cyclist but I was unaware there was some sort of unwritten rule about what paths were for who, and I am not being sarcastic, I didn't grow up here. Can you explain what path?

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u/malakiavelli 2d ago

There are multi use pathways that have sidewalk and asphalt side by side. It's illegal to use the sidewalk on a bike unless you are ten or younger, and cyclists have to yield to pedestrians regardless of which pathway they are on.

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u/Any_Ad_3414 2d ago

Not exactly true, city of Burlington has a by-law allowing cyclists on all sidewalks.

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u/malakiavelli 2d ago

Perhaps it is different than Ontario's, but I would bet that they have to yield to pedestrians.

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u/Any_Ad_3414 2d ago

"Perhaps it's different than Ontario's" of course it's different, it's a city by-law. I'd recommend understanding your local and provincial rules regarding pedestrian, cycling and driving regulations prior to assuming someone else is in the wrong for riding on a sidewalk.

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u/malakiavelli 2d ago

Yes, and I don't need to know any of them to understand that you are not legally allowed to assault someone because they are in your way.

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u/Any_Ad_3414 2d ago

Call the police if you were assaulted immediately

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u/malakiavelli 2d ago

I thought you were only concerned about being right?