Picture it. It was a beautiful, warm mid-September afternoon, and I had just left work for the weekend. I took a deep, relaxing breath as I stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of The Sun Chronicle, and thought about my plans for the evening.

And then I almost got hit by a man riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.

I gasped when I spotted him out of the corner of my eye and jumped back very quickly to get out of the rider's way.

He kept pedaling without even acknowledging that his trip down the sidewalk on South Main Street - against traffic, nonetheless - was almost interrupted by a human body.

As I caught my breath, and started muttering underneath it, I realized how much it would have hurt if he had run his bike into my leg. That definitely would have ruined my weekend, which included plans to run a 5k in Providence. In this age of expensive gasoline prices, environmental awareness and increasing obesity statistics, I think it's wonderful for people to ride bicycles to the grocery store, to work, or where ever they need to go. However, this riding needs to be done safely and in accordance with the rules of the road.

According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Driver's Manual for passenger vehicles and motorcyles, published by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, "When you are riding a bicycle on public ways, state law subjects laws and regulations that apply to motor vehicle operators."

I interpret that to mean that bicycle riders and motor vehicle drivers are considered one and the same according to the laws that govern movement on public roadways in the commonwealth.

The driver's manual continues regarding bicycle riders:

You must obey all traffic signs and signals, ride single file with the flow of traffic, and yield to pedestrians.

You may use sidewalks outside business districts, unless there is a local ordinance prohibiting it. When operating on a sidewalk, you must yield the right of way to pedestrians.

I interpret that to mean the bicyclist riding down the sidewalk on South Main Street broke these laws. He was not riding with the flow of traffic, he was in a downtown business district, and he definitely did not yield to this pedestrian.

However, while my scorn on this occasion is directed to that rider, he's not the only one in the area without a clear knowledge of the law. I've seen many other riders doing the same thing, or worse.

I've witnessed bicyclists riding against traffic on roadways, blowing through stop signs, and passing traffic stopped at a light on the left, riding in between double lines on the road.

On the flip side, I've also witnessed responsible bicycle riders wearing helmets, riding with the flow of traffic, following all posted traffic signs and signals, and using hand signals to indicate a right or left turn. These riders, who are usually serious cyclists, have a respect for the laws that govern the road and understand that they are considered a vehicle, not a pedestrian, while riding. It's dangerous, stupid - and perhaps deadly - for those irresponsible bicycle riders to think that they are above following the rules of the road.

I challenge local police departments to enforce the laws as they pertain to bicycle riders for the safety of all who use the public roadways in our area. Because the last time I checked, sidewalks were made for walking not biking.

JESSICA KOSOWSKI is The Sun Chronicle's Living Well Editor. She can be reached at 508-236-0331 or at jkosowski@thesunchronicle.com.