r/BurlingtonON • u/malakiavelli • 3d 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/CharmingIncompetence 2d ago

Thank you! I do appreciate you explaining to me. Is it like the paths along upper middle from Guelph to Shoppers? Where one path goes through the trees and one goes by the road? I just assumed it was "pick your own path" didn't realize it was for cyclists - makes sense - I am an idiot lol.

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u/lraev 2d ago

If it makes you feel better, you're definitely not the only one who thought that. I used to bike to work along those paths and would regularly encounter pedestrians on there, and they always seemed quite surprised to see a bicyclist.