Catering to cyclists, why not pedestrians?

As a senior visitor to your city, I’d like to share an observation.

In the July 30 letters to the editor, there were two references to bicycle users. There is some reference to bike paths or lanes in both letters. Each had a different purpose to readers.

Being a visitor to Penticton, I have parked my car and have been a pedestrian, getting to and fro, sometimes with my three-year old granddaughter. The other day when we had occasion to go to a playground, we made our way there on foot.

On Main Street, twice, we were accosted by bicycles. First, two cyclists drove on the sidewalk, in our direction, so we could see them and get out of the way.

Second, shortly after the first incident, two cyclists came from behind us, with no warning, moving quickly along the sidewalk.

It was by happenstance that I looked around and saw them barrelling down on us and was able to quickly side step their advance. Thankfully no injuries, just a sense of unease.

Not being from here, it shocked me to see bicycles on sidewalks where pedestrians should feel some sense of safety (these were not the first time cyclists have used the sidewalk I was walking on in the past week). Seeing in the two letters that bike lanes, bike paths exist (as well as roadways) why are cyclists taking to sidewalks?

Is it a bylaw in your city to allow cyclists to ride on sidewalks? If so, did I miss the signage to let pedestrians know to be aware that bicycles will be using sidewalks?

Lack of traffic manners, sense of entitlement leaves pedestrian traffic in a precarious position.