Nycycle

Yes, should you want to know why I do, you will have to wait for me to write a book.

jade408

Used to be staunchly anti-sidewalk for bicyclists until I got my bike. The path home for me (the one with the most bike lanes) is a little iffy for approximately the last 3-4 blocks. My street is striped for sharrows, but the bike lanes are about 3-4 blocks away. Block #1 is a low traffic street most hours of the day (it is busy during the AM commute with people heading to the freeway, but empty for most of the day otherwise. This block isn't a big deal. The next block is where it gets tricky. Leading up to that street is a very weird 5-way intersection on a major thoroughfare (6 lanes, with cars frequently going 40+). Right after I got my bike, I attempted to bike the one block to the bike lane, which requires a right turn. The intersection is also a bus stop. Well it was really scary, and I made a pact not to do that again (unless it is a quiet Sunday). When I am headed home, the other side of the street is worst, on the up note there is a left turn arrow (which hypothetically I wold use). The problem is the turn arrow is pretty short, only allowing 3-4 cars and the light cycle is really long. So the cars are not going to be patient enough to wait for people on bikes.

When "leaving home" I take the parallel street for a block, and that leaves me with 100-200 feet of sidewalk until the bus stop. When "returning home" I don't always have the energy to use the same route (it is a steep hill in the other direction, it is more like a dip, and when you finish the street you have a semi-blind corner. Cars are infrequent, but they tend to speed to catch the light.). So I decided to take the sidewalk for that block. The corner with the bus stop can be a little busy, there is a bar on the corner with lots of loitering from 5pm on. But otherwise the sidewalk isn't heavily used at all, particularly at night when I tend to go home. I compromise by pedaling pretty slowly, just a bit faster than walking pace, so I don't blow by any pedestrians and catch them off guard. This feels a lot safer than navigating the busy bike-lane free street.

daihard 

Once you do, please reserve a copy for me. With your autograph.

dippitydoo

I actually sidewalk bicycle SOMETIMES. I would be a liar if I said some roads still give me gears. I haven't mastered riding next to a car thats about a foot away yet.

hermanchauw

You can claim riding on the road is safer UNTIL you are almost hit a by a car.

Alex_is_emo

I ride on the sidewalk when there's a ton of cars on the road. Seriously, where I live, go out on the road on a bike during rush hour and you're suicidal. Semi trucks and cars fly by. I've tried it once. Won't do it again. Cars will honk their horns at you, and sometimes yell at you. A semi passed me once with about a foot or less room. I was like oh crap this is a bad idea and got right back on the sidewalk.
Usually there aren't too many people walking on the sidewalk so you don't have to worry about that where i live.

Now when traffic is less "why I ride at night most of the time" I use the main road simply because it's smoother, and cars can actually move over when they see you.

HBxRider

I cycle about 2,000 miles a year on the streets. The only collision I've ever had was when I was hit by a car while riding on the sidewalk. Old lady in a sports car not paying attention. There's just too many people pulling out of parking lots that become a hazard. Too many blind spots for those drivers. Too many obstacles like crowded bus stops, electrical boxes, poles, abandoned shopping carts, etc. In the scenario where I got hit in the sidewalk, there was a bike lane I should have used instead.

There are a couple scenario's where i'll go on the sidewalk:

1) It's late at night, and the sidewalk has very few pedestrians, and cars passing through it. Late at night, there's more chance of DUI drivers, or cars full of teenagers that like to mess with cyclists. I've been hit with eggs, bottles of beer, and have been threatened, just while minding my own business, all these incidents happened at night. After dark I like to distance myself from cars as much as possible. 4 cyclists have been killed in my city this year, two days ago it was a DUI driver on the same block I ride in.

2) If I'm on a street that has very heavy traffic, and the street has no bike lane, no shoulder, and the car lane is less than 8' wide. I would rather go on the sidewalk than overtake a lane. In the area where I live, drivers almost never see cyclists take lanes, and the few times I have done that, they became confused and enraged and blared their horn at me even though they had another open lane to use. They simply don't understand the concept of taking a lane, or the reason why it's done. It's not worth it if there's a sidewalk I can use.

I don't agree than using a sidewalk is always the less safe option 100% of the time. I think you have to judge the situation for yourself after considering the factors.

Things like how wide the sidewalk is, and how much car and foot traffic are along those sidewalks are things that need to be taken into consideration.

sunnevershines

Both times I was hit on my bike I was either on sidewalk or transitioning from one to the other.....I steer clear of sidewalks when and where I can. 'nuff said.

northernlights

Depends on the situation, but usually I'll ride on the street only if there's a protected bike lane, or to pass a group of pedestrians on a narrow sidewalk, or when I'm in low traffic residential areas. If I'm in an area that is popular with cyclists with a high number of cyclists riding on the street, and the car speed limit is low, then I will probably ride on the street. There is safety in numbers.

But I almost never ride on busy arterials. The roar of all that traffic speeding by you and the stress it creates is too much.

mcnabb100

I almost never ride on the sidewalks in my area. It's actually illegal for adults to ride on the sidewalks where I live. The only time I ride on them is when the road has been milled. The speed limits are low downtown so I feel safer there than I do on the back roads.

keyven

I ride on the sidewalks about 50/50. I think it's wholly dependent on your local traffic conditions and no one should judge others for choosing what suits them best. Unless you choose to ride on a busy sidewalk at 30mph, or along the side of the road holding up fellow cyclists at 10mph.

Mr. Hoopdriver

I cycle on sidewalks about 10% of the time.
We have a 4 lane main street with far too narrow lanes, and it wouldn't be bad if folks followed the speed limit, but they add 20%.
So... I parallel Main as close as I can, hook up to it, then ride the pedestrian highway - always giving way to the bipeds.

italianstallion

Almost had an incident from one bikers use of the sidewalk today. I was stopped in the traffic lane at the front of the line at a red light. I wanted to turn right. After the light turned green I began pedaling and proceeded to turn right. Just as I approahed the crosswalk while turning, a cyclist riding on the sidewalk whom I did not see pedaled across the crosswalk based on the crosswalk signal which signaled 'WALK.' We avoided a collision, but it left me wondering if I did something wrong.

daihard 

Are bicycles allowed on the sidewalk where it happened?

italianstallion

I could be wrong but I've never seen anything that would indicate it's illegal, which I guess means he has every right a pedestrian has in a crosswalk? When I was at the light he was not waiting at the curb, and when I started pedaling he wasn't in sight, but once I started turning he came into the crosswalk at a decent speed (at least 10mph I would say) which leads me to believe he was cruising up the sidewalk the entire time I was at the light and never had to slow up. So to me I feel like I was in the wrong, but at the same time this is one of those situations where riding on the sidewalk can put a bicyclist in a worse position than if they were just riding in the street.

daihard 

I agree. One could argue that when cyclists are allowed on the sidewalk, those yielding to the pedestrians should also be mindful of the cyclists who may be riding on the sidewalk much faster than the typical pedestrians walk, thereby causing a situation like the one you were in. Honestly though, I believe that cyclists riding on the sidewalk should maintain the speed comparable to that of those who walk or jog. I hardly ever ride on the sidewalk, but when I do and pass the pedestrians, I will always slow down to a crawl. And when I ride on a crossing, I will never jump onto it like the guy who scared you did.

gpburdell

Yes, whether sidewalk bicycling is legal or not in that locale, a sidewalk cyclist has a responsibility to be aware of turning vehicles and his own lack of visibility. He should have allowed for the possibility of you (and any cars) turning across his path.

However, a runner can easily be doing 8-10mph so be aware of relatively fast sidewalk users, not just walkers.

Daniel4

I have no choice but to ride 400m on the sidewalk out of a 4.5km commute. It’s the entrance to a park in the morning where if I were on the road, I would have to change lanes and stop traffic to make a left to go in because there’s no left turn lane. The speed limit is 60km/hr so motorists go 75km/hr before a speeding ticket is issued.

I’ve ridden past the police many times and have never been stopped. If I were, I guess I’d have my day in court and explain I didn’t want to do it but have no choice. If somebody were to tell me I should walk my bike when I’m on the sidewalk, I’d say if I wanted to walk, I wouldn’t be bicycle commuting.

About safety? Yes there a obstacles. Not poles or signs but in the winter chunks of snow and ice if it gets ploughed. In my evening commute, I ride on the street to go the opposite direction. That’s when I notice how much better the snow clearing is for traffic than for sidewalks.

jimrich

[QUOTE=KrisPistofferson;1080595]you have to follow pedestrian rules,
... I have never seen a cyclist following pedestrian rules around here!

making your travel time longer, pedestrians won't think to look out for you,
... I ordinarily do NOT expect a bike to be traveling on the sidewalk so, while I will look around for other things, I rarely "watch out for" fast moving bikes - especially when the cyclist SILENT comes up behind me and makes no effort to let me know he's there or what his intentions are! Wouldn't common sense tell a cyclist to ALERT a pedestrian that a bike is right behind the ped? Cyclists act like they have some god-given right to use a sidewalk anyway they wish and they don't need to bow to the needs of a damned pedestrian! I'm OK with polite, sensible cyclists on the sidewalk (who don't even know the sidewalk codes) but I deeply resent stupid, careless and threatening cyclists on the sidewalk with me.


there are tons of blind corners and such on sidewalks. It's just kind of a silly thing to do unless you're a little kid and don't know better.
... or just don't GIVE A DAMN!

jimrich

And I see cyclists who just don't give a damn about a ped's safety and will act very belligerent and threatening if a ped dares to suggest that their bike is a danger on the sidewalk. There are remedies to deal with ignorant and careless motorists but no remedies at all for dealing with ill-tempered, ignorant cyclists unless you are willing to start throwing punches to defend your self!

jimrich

LOL, not the "adults" I see on the sidewalk who just don't give damn about laws, safety, common sense or anything else so long as they can roar down the sidewalk unopposed by anyone. They get away with it because there is NO ENFORCEMENT of existing laws and rules and not many peds have the power or authority to confront these cycle bullies!

Daniel4

I can't speak for others but in my case there's only one reason I need to use this 400m of sidewalk - motorists. If it weren't for motorists who disrespect each other, the law and others, I would be entering the park via the road or commuting all the way on that stretch of road I really want to take.

I wouldn't doubt that sidewalk cyclists are on the street because of ignorant, careless motorists who disregard the law. Unfortunately, most are licensed and had passed their tests. And the high cost of insurance hasn’t improved their driving habits. Wouldn't you like to see all motorists become more responsible under the law?

SlowAndSlower

I feel far more safer in the street/road then on a sidewalk or MUP in urban areas. When I do use the sidewalk or MUP its because of bad engineering and the lack of bicycling consideration in traffic design.

I ride and drive the same streets so I have the perspective of driver and bicyclist. Drivers drive me nuts! Bicyclist drive me nuts! Walkers drive me nuts! Runners drive me nuts! There seems to be the general lack of consideration and sharing among all. We all seem to be too much into our selves.

molten

How much "sidewalk" be in Tennessee or Iowa, vs. a heavy-duty state like California ---- to put up with.
Anyone knows where the loser Cyclists face.

Onuris

99% of the time I'm riding on the road, we are in a fairly rural area, lots of nice well paved back roads. There is this stretch of roadway that goes into the nearest major town, which is four lanes and has very heavy traffic. There are a lot of major businesses leading up to and along this road, Wal Mart, Meijers, restaurants, strip malls, etc. The traffic on this road is horrendous, people are constantly speeding, fighting for lane position, driving like psychopaths. On my motorcycle I usually use one of the backroads that run parallel to the major road to get most of the way to the businesses there. Riding a bike on this road would be near suicide. Fortunately there is a wide, very smooth stretch of sidewalk that runs about 10 miles up to and through this commercial section on both sides. There is very rarely any foot traffic on it at all, so we ride our bikes on it often. There is one section on the return route that has a stretch of houses, and often small kids are on their bikes or playing on the sidewalk there. We go slow through that section, and the kids always move out of the way for us. So there are areas and situations where using a sidewalk would be safer and preferable to riding on the road.