That is indeed a hilarious/terrifying story. I
try to feel solidarity with other cyclists but I get
irritated/terrified when I see cyclists riding the wrong way down a
one-way street or some such thing. I think there are
different levels of stupid, and knowing that 75% of
cyclists who die were going against traffic makes me
wonder at people sometimes...<br><br>I too disapprove of
sidewalks...30 seconds trying to ride on one proves why it's
crazy. Even worse is trying to get off the sidewalk back
into traffic.<br><br>Boston is the jaywalking capital
of the world. Jaywalking fines here are only $1 and
never enforced. While I really like the "walking city"
where no one is so intimidated by cars (unlike, say
Phoenix), I also get to deal with people jumping out from
behind cars and crossing the middle of the street on a
long diagonal as par for the course :P<br><br>Bike
messengers in Boston have been really put upon by the local
law...without starting a whole other discussion, here's the
gist of it: A courier hit a guy who dashed across the
street against the light, in a crosswalk. The guy was in
a coma for 5 weeks, and was also the VP of the
Federal Reserve, and a school committee member. Next
thing you know, bike couriers are required to be
licensed, wear helmets and orange safety vests, and -- this
is the kicker -- carry MORE insurance than auto
drivers. Various newspapers "exposed the courier menace."
There were some other incidents; A messenger supposedly
attacked a driver with a U-Lock after being cut off, and
most recently, someone swerved past councilor Stephen
J. Murphy and screamed "A**HOLE!", which prompted a
series of busts and fines and new laws...The city has
basically villified bike couriers. There's more info on
www.messengers.org. Due to this Boston has been voted "worst city in
the world" to be a courier or cyclist. Strangely
enough, the world championships are going to be here in
september :)