Originally Posted by
bawolf88
This accident was 5 miles outside of my city.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/2...9903?p=1&tc=pg
I am not trying to be argumentative, but this type of incident is the biggest risk that is on my mind. I try to be very defensive and assume people don't see me whether I'm on the sidewalk or the road. I'm just not seeing the huge downfall (safety wise) of being on the sidewalk.
That's a common fear, but it simply isn't justified. It is very rare for cyclists to be hit from behind, and when it does happen, it almost always involves cyclists riding at night without lights. The
vast majority of collisions happen at intersections, where you are much safer on the road. The problem with sidewalks is that you are still exposed to cars at every intersection, alley, parking lot entrance, etc, but you are far less likely to be seen. The best way to stay safe is to be visible and predictable, and that means behaving like any other vehicle.