Get on the Sidewalk!
by Scott T.
Two of my friends got hit by a car and were killed in Colorado Springs on August 6th, 2008. The woman is more than likely going to be released with a slap on the wrist. She wasn’t supposed to be driving. She was on some assortment of drugs and she apparently did not have her vision corrected properly for driving.
To combat the car vs. bicycle war that many people aren’t aware of, we wanted to remind you of some of the rules that both cyclists and drivers forget:
1. Bicycles and cars are both NOT allowed on the sidewalk, unless otherwise posted.
- if you are on the sidewalk and hit a car or pedestrian (or mailbox), you will be treated as if you were in a car and did the same. It sounds crazy, but thems the facts. We have seen situations where the cyclist has had to pay for the damage to the car they slammed into on the sidewalk.
2. Bicycles and cars are both NOT allowed to run red lights.
- if you run a red light, you get a ticket. We know it happens, but be careful.
3. Bicycles and cars have to have running lights at night (blinking white and red for the bicycle).
- if you don’t have them on, other cyclists and cars cannot see you. In addition, you will be ticketed as if you were a car that forgot to turn on their lights and was driving around.
4. If a road rage altercation starts, it will get attention and follow up from our Police force. But, it has to be reported quickly. Get a license plate and description.
To report a case of road rage, call *CSP (*277)
This includes:
- Driver vs. Driver
- Driver vs. Cyclist
- Cyclist vs. Driver
- Cyclist vs. Cyclist
