kajero

I was nearly hit by a car today. I couldn't get across the intersection fast enough during the walk light and the driver going through the intersection didn't see me and I didn't see him. I don't see how anyone walking could get across it either. The intersection doesn't have islands where you can stop between the the four lanes of traffic (two lanes going each way) and all four lanes were exremely busy.You also have to cross right/left turn lanes that angle off before the lights. I'd go to the next intersection but I'd have to ride on the street because there is no sidewalk or bike lane.
I'm thinking of calling the city and asking them if they could make the walk lights longer. I like to ride there because it has some of my favorite stores. It's beautiful ride 10 mile ride from my house and almost totally on trails.The trail actually turns into a sidewalk near the intersection. I suppose I could start taking the car again. But if anyone has advice please tell me.

Dunbar

You shouldn't be obeying the walk light, you should be obeying the traffic light. Cars aren't expecting to see bikes in pedestrian crossings and blowing a red light on a bike is against the law. Plus most places allow right turns on red so the pedestrian crossing provides no cover from danger. Merge with traffic, take the lane and cross the street when the light is green. Sorry to sound harsh but sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are dangerous places to ride bikes.

Stopping on/in islands isn't a good practice either.

Hippiebrian

If you were on your bike, the walk light does not pertain to you. You are considered a vehicle, and the regular lights would pertain. Reason is, vehicles (bicycles included) belong on the street and not the sidewalk.

This incident does point out the dangers of riding on the sidewalk. Drivers are looking for pedestrians to cross at crosswalks and not bicyclists. Drivers are not prepared to deal with the comparative increased speed of the cyclist when they are looking for a slower pedestrian, making collisions much more possible.

UptownJoe60640

According to this: https://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicy...dingtheLaw.asp It is totally legal to be riding on the sidewalk in Minneapolis. I do not agree with this
law and am in 100% support of bikes belong on the street. However, we are talking about the law (regardless of what we believe to be right or wrong), and that is what
prevails because you can get tickets/arrested/jailed (not that you will be in this situation...I'm just saying!) for braking the law. If we disagree with something we need to
contact our State Senators. Now, we got that out of the way I am going to just say I believe you should be on the street. Regardless of the law!

This is just my opinion and I believe the "almost hit by a car today" discussion could have been prevented by you. You could have A: chose to walk across the street through
a "crosswalk" or B: Road your bike through the intersection to reach your final destination! The "sidewalk cycling" discussion is here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...walk-bicycling You have the final decision on what you feel you should do so I am going to leave it up to you to
educate yourself on the topic and make an educated and informed decision that suits you. Be safe!

razl

When I just started commuting 5 years ago, I started riding on sidewalks expecting this to be safest for bicyclists. I was in a crosswalk crossing two right turn lanes. The traffic had a red, so I proceeded to cross. Here's the issue, the people in the cars were looking left to find a gap so they could turn on red. 95% of all people doing this, accelerate their vehicles before looking right (not expecting anyone to be ther). That's when a Suburban took me out. I ws fortunate to come out of it with only sore muscles. Since then, I've never rode the sidewalks again and have NEVER had even a close call.

Why are sidewalks unsafe?
1) most drivers pay little attention to sidewalks and have all of their focus on the road. If you're on the road with your bike, you will be a main focal point for all drivers.

2) Driveways are killers! I can't even count all of the close calls I had due to driveways. divers aren't as careful looking at sidewalks as they're exiting a driveway.

3) The good drivers may check sidewalks. If they do, they're expecting walkers. If you quickly check a sidewalk as you're turning with a car, you don't double-check as you're not expecting someone to be walking 15 MPH and then being in the walkway. Bikes easily travel at higher speeds and they can fill an empty walkway quicker than a driver could imagine.

One key point for road safety, you have to know what's safe and what is not. You can find many bike forums to discuss rules of the road safety for bikes

ModeratedUser150120149

Couldn't be further from the law or reason. In fact, a cyclist at an intersection has a choice. But, it must be a clear choice. If the cyclist is riding in traffic the cyclist is obligated to behave like any other vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities. If the cyclist wishes and gets off the highway and onto the sidewalk the cyclist may proceed as a pedestrian and use the crosswalk. If the cyclist uses the crosswalk they may walk or ride as they choose as long as they give way to pedestrians. Can't do the legal cites off the top of my head. But this has been settled in the judicial system.

Don't know about "good practice". Guess that is a matter of judgement. But, many road crossings are designed specifically to give pedestrians a safe place to wait while minimizing traffic delays. Since that is the accepted road design criteria I'd have to say that is good practice until someone persuades those who establish safe standards to change them.

Hippiebrian

Legalities aside, it's called a crossWALK for a reason, so maybe if we are going to use it we should walk our bikes.

Dunbar

I agree, the OP wasn't clear about whether he crossed between the white lines of the pedestrian crossing or proceeded from the right side of driving lane. But the consensus here is that pedestrian crossings is more dangerous than taking the lane and IME this is true ~95% of the time.

IME cars making a right turn on red are expecting to see slow people on feet in a pedestrian crossing and not (relatively) fast bikes. That is why I take the lane and move back over after passing through those types of intersections.

ModeratedUser150120149

Yep, for the same reason the female on the road the other day was putting out a "Men Working" sign. There just hasn't been a change for what it used to be. In many places I've been recently all the signs said "Pedestrian".

Still, there is such a thing as Judgement. In my judgement riding my bike across a street in a crosswalk is both legal and safe. I get across the street faster and on my way. If your judgement is different feel free to follow it as long as it is legal.

As far as a car expecting pedestrians vs. bicycles; if you follow good safety practice and wear distinctive clothing the larger picture of a bike and rider vs. a pedestrian will solve that problem. In fact, I've never had a close call at an intersection while riding a bike. I've had several while walking. Acting legally in both situations.

Hippiebrian

The poster asked for advice. If he were riding in the street and not on the sidewalk, he would not have almost been hit. Legal or not, my advice in this case is not to ride on the sidewalk or in the crosswalk.

If he felt safe and was not almost hit in the crosswalk, maybe the answer would be whatever is legal. But he doesn't and by the description of this incident, it seems riding in the street is the answer.

Digital_Cowboy

HawkOwl,

Here in Fl it's covered under F.S. 316.2065. It makes it clear that when a cyclist is operating on a sidewalk that they are to operate with the same responsibilities, duties as a pedestrian. Which means that if the crosswalk light is red that cyclists have to stop.

(10) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

ModeratedUser150120149

Didn't say any different. I think that is the rule in all 50 States and DC. The cite does not specify the cyclist must walk. It clearly refers to rights and responsibilities, not what propulison the cyclist uses.

What I said was that the cyclist had the legal right to ride while using the crosswalk and was not restricted to walking. I did not specifically say which traffic signal the person was required to use as I thought that was evident to even the most obtuse. But, here goes: If on the vehicle road use the signals for the road; if on the crosswalk use the signals for the crosswalk. If it is legal to ride on the sidewalk in that area the cyclist has the choice of road or crosswalk. But, the cyclist must make a choice and stick with it or not only will they posssibly cause an accident they may be held liable for damages from that accident.

Hippiebrian

This poster never mentioned nor seemed worried about legalities. It's safer to walk on crosswalks and ride on the street. Period. Don't care about debating laws. Don't care about what's legal in this instance, just what will help people not get flattened by 1500 lb death machines. That's all.

Digital_Cowboy

HO,

I agree with you that it is probably the law in all 50 states as well as DC. I was backing you up. From what I've seen the language in Florida's law is pretty much the same as other states laws that have been published/linked to in at this web site.

ModeratedUser150120149

Thanks for clarifying.

As a footnote I've never seen anyone walk a bike in a crosswalk unless pedestrian traffic was so heavy riding would be dangerous to other crosswalk users. In all of last year that happened to me twice, at one crosswalk.

Digital_Cowboy

I have to agree with you. Even down here more often than not cyclists who are riding on the sidewalk will also continue to ride through the crosswalk vs. dismounting and walking. I've even seen cyclists continue to ride (or attempt to) through heavy pedestrian traffic when leaving The Pier after either the New Year's Eve or Fourth of July fireworks. I've even seen 'em hugging the curb instead of taking the lane and riding with traffic.

The road leaving The Pier is very narrow and cannot be safely with motor vehicles. So when I'm going down to The Pier, and when I'm leaving it I take the lane. And when I'm leaving from New Year's Eve or Fourth of July fireworks. I continue that practice, I can understand that for some riding in what is literally bumper-to-bumper traffic can be scary. But it is the safest place to be.

brakeless619

I'd say it depends on the area and what the locals expect/are used to in regards to the riding in the sidewalk issue.

Just the other day I got honked at to "take the sidewalk" by some jerk in an SUV as I was riding on the street. I do most of my riding in Pacific Beach in San Diego. Most people ride on the sidewalk on their beach cruisers and is the "expected norm" here. Southern California drivers are not the most patient drivers and not to mention that since PB is a party town there are tons of drunk drivers around.

Incidentally I walked my bike the other day between streets. Figured it would be safer as it would give drivers time to react. My advice is be predictable!