Teenager is killed in bike-truck crash - Example of why cyclists are safer on roads

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01-02-05, 04:56 PM

#76

bkrownd

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mars

The "pro sidewalk rider" contigent makes a good point in that not all sidewalk envirionments are the same. In Hilo, Hawaii, for instance there are reportedly sidewalks where a cyclist can ride 23 mph with no peds to worry about and up to a mile of unobstructed visibility.

I was thinking of other places I've lived in CO, MA, NE, MN, etc. I haven't been in Hilo long. The sidewalk issue is pretty moot here because real sidewalks are rare, and pedestrians are even rarer. Hilo people drive everywhere in ricers and overstuffed mini-monster trucks. Nevertheless I zoomed down the one bit of sidewalk in our nearly deserted office park yesterday just out of spite. Hehehe, sidewalk rage! (Though sometimes I do ride it to avoid a pack of young drag-racing ricers that zooms around the office park at night)

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Last edited by bkrownd; 01-02-05 at 06:52 PM.

01-02-05, 05:02 PM

#77

bkrownd

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mars

the street is definitely safer if I want to ride faster than 3 mph.

I walk at 4-5 MPH. I am the 53-11 of walking.

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01-02-05, 05:34 PM

#78

qmsdc15

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Quote:

Originally Posted by pnj

I think pedestrians should walk in the street too. it's safer, as you all keep saying. why do we even have sidewalks?

I always ride on the sidewalk. I see fewer cars driving on them then I do the street.

True, concise, irrefutable and I would have thought quite obvious. Or course 90% of bicycle fatalities involve collision with motor vehicles. People who ride on sidewalk may be proven to get killed more, but they get killed when they roll out into the STREET, not when they are on sidewalk. WHEN THEY ARE ON THE SIDEWALK they are safer, OTHER SIDEWALK USERS are less safe.

CARS DON'T HAVE TO SEE ME when I'm on the sidewalk. I NEED TO SEE the cars when I cross driveway, blind alley, sighted alley, street, entrance to fast food resturant and OTHER PLACES CARS ARE. As long as I'm on the sidewalk , cars are less likely to hit me.

I don't ride on the sidewalk. I support biker's right to use the road and encourage bikers to use the road.