Bike Riding / Skatebording on Sidewalks vs Jaywalking
Ok- now I’m pissed. Most beach cities do not allow bike riding or skatebording on sidewalks. Santa Monica just reduced riding bikes on sidewalk from a trip to court to at $250 ticket- that is fine for me… but downtown just does not give a rats-ass about bike riders or skateboarders on sidewalks.
I think that Santa Monica might be a little too harsh- $250 ticket (texting on a phone while driving is $20 for 1st infraction)- but some of these assholes are getting me pissed off downtown. Hell, I see MOPEDs- guys with helmets on- cruising down sidewalks. Grow some GONADS and ride on the street. And skateboarding to get somewhere is one thing, but doing kick-flips and losing your board is another. My dog is terrified of skateboards now - more from sound, but I have a problem with it too (one flipped their board into side of my car).
Downtown streets are not intimidating for bikes if you FVCKING RIDE IT.- If you want to “cruise” go to Vnnice.
Why does downtown allow this behavior, then try to ticket me for J-walking ($192 TICKET) when it is safe to do so (I was recently given a warning by a cop on a Segway that raced up to catch me- I told the cop “I was wrong- give me a ticket” but he was cool, said he had seen me around and just said “don’t do it”) I REALLY APPRECIATE this gentleman’s advice but when you live downtown, you j-walk. GIVE TICKETS to the dumbass bike riders / skateboarders on the sidewalks (not the ones that are respectful- I’ve had a few guys that know me get off their skateboards to go around me because they know it freaks my dog out- HUGE PROPS)
Again, thank you LAPD for doing your job (and giving me just a warning)- but I see you guys on foot patrol, etc sometimes- why not give these punks a warning when they are flying down the narrow sidewalks on bikes or skateboards (mopeds shoud definitely be ticketed- that is just stupid).
Oh- and I was REAL CLOSE to getting run over yesterday- after I decided not to j-walk, when I legally waited for crosswalk light between 5th and 6th on Spring St. while walking my dos- car war going 40 mph and missed me and White Dog by 2 feet- (an Escalade was in near lane that blocked both of our views- no excuse though- light was flashing red for the culprit who should have stopped) I am so glad it was one time I was really looking and not grooving on MP3 music. LAPD should put a motercycle cop there in morning as it’s happened before, but not this close/fast.