Kathryn Lummus: Bicyclists don’t belong on crosswalks

I am saddened for the family whose child was injured when the family was biking in a crosswalk and was hit by a car.  I am also shocked that charges would be filed against a motorist (the well written article emphasizes a teenage motorist although this accident could have happened to anyone).  A heartbeat must have passed between the time the motorist saw the light and the bicyclist appeared in front of him, not enough time to stop a car. I have seen near misses in the same circumstances when driving in Boulder County. It is my understanding that bicycles have to obey the rules for autos, not pedestrians.  In other words, what is a bicyclist doing riding in a pedestrian crosswalk when they are supposed to ride to the nearest stoplight and cross with automobile traffic?  Bicyclists riding in crosswalks (lighted or not) create a hazard with the speed in which they appear in front of a driver looking for a walker.  In city statutes (in Louisville Title 42 Article 4) pedestrians share the responsibility for not stepping out in front of a moving auto.  A bicyclist is not a pedestrian and if they require crossing in a crosswalk they need to get off the bike and walk across, giving a motorist time to see the lights and stop the car!