Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Riding the sidewalks....Boston

I just just b*tched at by the G-Damn Fire-Dept for riding on the street. Oh golly/ Gosh/ Oh MY was I taking up your F-ing parking space in front of D+D???
The Fire guy yelled at me and told me that we have sidewalks for a reason. ..Bastard. Anyone know if Boston is like some other cities where it's actually illegal to ride the s/walks.
I'm so mad, if it was a pedestrian that'd be diff. but the fire(people) man/woman. f*ck! I always thought of them alongside the Police/dept. I guess not. Maybe it's just one bad experience, still ... Where has respect gone?
Enough of my b*tching...

It's illegal to ride on the sidewalk anywhere in Boston. In fact, in all of Mass it's only legal outside of the central business district and even then the city (as Boston has done) may outlaw it.


(3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance.


You may not ride on sidewalks in the City of Boston (BTD Art. 6 Sec. 18).

On the other hand, tell that to the dozen bike cops I saw rounding the corner from the bike path down by the projects when I was walking the dog this evening. My hat's off to the three who actually had the brains and cajones to do the right thing and get in the street when they started to climb the hill up Centre Street.

I thought about crossing over and mentioning that it was illegal to ride on the sidewalk, but in my experience cops don't take that kind of thing with any sort of humor. Besides, they also habitually ride on the wrong side of the street, so I guess being idiots is just part of the SOP.

Article 6/ Section 18. Power in numbers,. Thanx Trevor!!!

hey whatever the cops don't seem to know or care about the laws anyways. i work on columbus ave right across from carter park, and i was outside and saw a state trooper on a motorcycle pull off the street, and it got on the bike path going the opposite direction! the dude had a ****eating grin and was scaring the crap out of pedestrians.

i admit i have to cheat and use the sidewalk sometimes because i live in the fenway (park drive), and it's just easier than taking the one ways all the way around the fens when i can just cut through. but i see a LOT of people on the sidewalks with bikes all the time. oh well.

yeah cops here at the oceanfront ride on the wrong side of the road, i dont get it

I understand that its a different situation over here and I've never been to America so I can't really compare but I don't understand why anyone would want to ride on the sidewalk.... Its slow and you have to dodge peds all the time. Sure cars are sh!tty but at leastyou can get some pace up on the road and you are within your legal rights to be there. I'm way too impatient to ride at walking speed.

Well, sometimes the sidewalk is faster... When there aren't many pedestrians but there is a traffic jam... one ways... light is red and you want to turn right...

Here in Hungary, you must ride on the road, too, unless it's "unfit" for biking, in which case you're allowed to ride on the sidewalk, but without getting in the way of pedestrians and at 6mi/h max. Ridiculous! Theoretically, that means 4 year-olds with their training wheels and beginners who can't kep a straight line are supposed to ride in the 30-40 mi/h traffic. And lately F'ing policemen have been known to fine bikers for using the sidewalk. B@stards.

Generally, though, bikers ride wherever they feel like and police couldn't care less.

Theoretically the motorcycle staties are patrolling the park.

But I see them mostly using it just as a shortcut around traffic on Columbus Ave. Just another reason I don't typically take the bike path.

Go to the commuting / Advocacy forum.

Just get off the damn sidewalk and ride in the street.

Seriously.

hey man , according to the awesome drivers of the boston city streets , i should "get the **** of the street". i think ill take the advice... because as we all know , joe yeah dude is always right.

ha. last time some lady told me to "use the sidewalk" I told her to "use a thighmaster"

anyone in Boston or NYC knows that the street riding and sidewalk riding is so much different. in the street God help you on the sidewalk you may live!

Uhh....no, not really.

Can this thread just be locked or moved somewhere else? I've recently sworn off being an asshat.

anyone in Boston or NYC knows that the street riding and sidewalk riding is so much different. in the street God help you on the sidewalk you may live!

In my experience, or rather, my observations and forays into practical logic would dictate otherwise. Drivers look for pedestrians on the sidewalk. Unless you are riding around the block (and what kind of moron only does that) you MUST cross a street. The second you leave the sidewalk and enter the street, crosswalk or not, you are more likely to be hit by a car than if you had been in the street the entire time.

Cars are expecting pedestrians moving at pedestrian speed and with pedestrian abilities (stopping, starting, turning) not bikes which, inherently move faster. Therefore, you are giving them something they don't expect thereby raising your chances of being hit. The best way NOT to be hit is to move and behave like a car. If you are moving at a cars speed (or as close to it as possible), you are least likely to be hit (of course i'm referring to traveling in the street now). But even if you are riding slowly in the street, the cars see you in front of them and don't need peripheral vision etc. to keep from hitting you. And all of this ignores the danger you are putting pedestrians in by riding on the sidewalk.

Remember, a cyclist is to a pedestrian on the sidewalk what a motorist is to a cyclist on the road. Personally, I'd rather have the driver be the jerk than myself.

Uhh....no, not really.

Can this thread just be locked or moved somewhere else? I've recently sworn off being an asshat.
lol, I second that. ...but since I'm typing, it's also illegal in DC in the ill-defined central business district.

I haven't sworn off a thing, so my "asshat" self is going to once again say that yous houldn't be riding on the sidewalk. Period.

Bikers on the sidewalk are a serious danger to pedestrians and to themselves. As much as I dislike peds, I dislike bikers riding on the sidewalk more.

Bikers on the sidewalk are a serious danger to pedestrians and to themselves. As much as I dislike peds, I dislike bikers riding on the sidewalk more.

werd.

I nearly came to blows with a messenger years ago in front of 60 State Street -- the terd was aimlessly riding on the sidewalk, nearly hitting several pedestrians (including myself). I told him that if a pretty-boy attorney like me was man enough to ride in the road, surely he was, too. He didn't like that. :D

anyone in Boston or NYC knows that the street riding and sidewalk riding is so much different. in the street God help you on the sidewalk you may live!

....wow..