Excuse Me While I get up on my Soapbox...

I am all for using alternate transportation, not only for environmental reasons, but just for the pure enjoyment and relief of the financial burden. Particularly when living in the city with some of the highest gas prices in the country.
Currently we do not own a vehicle and rely on Foot power or the not always reliable but will get you there eventually CTA. Personally I try to walk everywhere in the summer, I don't own a bike cause well honestly this is Chicago and I am a chicken, ie: Are you freakin' nuts I am not getting my ass hit by a car! Mind you I do know quite a few people who ride bikes throughout the city, no matter the weather or the season. For the most part this is a pretty bike friendly place. They have build tons of bike racks to lock it up, as well as most major roads have a bike lane. Occasionally you will find a biker on the sidewalk mainly cause there are certain streets even with a bike lane you just don't want to deal with the arse hole drivers, who blindly open their car doors without looking. I have heard this happening to a few cyclist, going arse over tea kettle, while hurdling over a car door someone opened.

Normally when my dear husband sees someone driving a bike on the sidewalk he will comment to them, they should be on the road, he stopped doing this when I am with him cause it would upset me, but I know he does it when I am not there. His main concern being, there have been a few close calls with pedestrians and cyclist colliding. I was hit by a cyclist in Halifax one day when walking to school. I was walking on the side walk he was riding and not paying attention, I tried to get out of way but it was too late.
Today however I was walking up my quiet street, enjoying the glorious summer day we are having. In my own little world, and only to be snapped out of the moment by some guy behind me saying "Ma'am!!! Excuse me MA'am!!!" I turn to see what was going on. Here was a guy around my age riding his bike on the sidewalk, apparently I was in HIS way. Last time I checked sidewalks were for PEDESTRIANS!!!! Like I said the street is not super busy like some there was no reason he couldn't be on the road.
I don't know maybe, it was the low blood sugar kicking in from not eating in a while, or maybe I was just frustrated from shopping and not finding what I was looking for, or the fact he called me Ma'am. It took every ounce of my being to not tell that guy off. I am pretty sure it was the fact he called me Ma'am...yeah..that was it. Instead I found myself saying "Maybe you should ride your bike off the sidewalk you Douche bag!" I know, I am quite the lady..I couldn't help it!! Ma'am...pfft...I am not old enough to be called a Ma'am..or am I?