I'm biking on a sidewalk on a University campus and there is a group of guys coming my way (on foot). They aren't really giving me room, so I go as close as I can to the side of the sidewalk and of course in my newbie-ness, end up bonking on down to the grassy part - I am okay at this point, it's when I lean to get back on the sidewalk that my tires say a big fat HELL NO and I start to fall. I'm going slow enough that I rather audibly, but still safely recover without actually falling.
I figure my options were as follows:
a) Find a non-sidewalk route to get to my building. This option isn't the most appealing as other routes are quite out of the way and as in _The Art of Urban Cycling_, I agree that cyclists should be able to use bike routes, sidewalks AND roads if they are safe and convenient for all parties. I dunno if this stretch of my commute is considered safe and convenient for all parties now, but there are plenty of bikers on it.
b) Pay more attention when I'm "off road" and learn how to properly get my bike back up on a sidewalk. This one is essential because the road and curb of several streets I ride on have a small height differential similar to this one today.
c) Stop if I see a group that refuses to budge. This is mostly why I wrote this entry -- should I've stopped? (And snarly commented that the could be a little nicer and make a little room for people walking or riding the opposite way.)
What would you've done (besides not almost wrecked)?
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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UCSB has a bike path. Nobody walks on the bike path. It would be death to you if you tried.
And there is no biking allowed on the walkways of campus. People still do, but they risk a ticket.
galen_52657
Did you fake your SAT's????
cerewa
If you're on a sidewalk, there's a good chance that you're on pedestrians' home territory, in a legal sense as well as in the sense of how people see the purpose of sidewalks. In that case, people expect you to (and you probably should) accept pedestrians' being in your way without complaint, stay out of their way when you can, and never make them feel unsafe about your riding. In the case of people coming towards you in a group, one of the options i would consider is to ride right up on the right side, stop, put a foot on the ground, and let your body language show that you have better things to do than sit there while they figure out how to get past you. If they're trying to go forward, they'll notice you. But it's essentially their right to be there and you can't change that.
recursive
I'd say find a road or walk the bike. How much farther would a road be?
rule
How 'bout just ride up to them. Stop. Let them pass. Then ride on.
If you want to, you can even say "Hi." ;)
10ch
I think I'll try a different route on my way home to see if I can avoid the sidewalks. AFAIK there is nary a bike path on Duke's campus that would get me to my building.
Larger question for those of you on college campuses >>> Are you walking your bike any time you have to be on a sidewalk? (College campuses are notorious for building entrances far from any street access.)
So far the sidewalks I ride on (minimal, less than 50 yards) are there because there is no road alternative. I am respectful of the (very rare) rudist and (more often) friendliest pedestrians. I let them know I'm coming, mind my P's and Q's, say thank you, excuse me or good morning, whichever fits the bill...
Are those of you suggesting no sidewalk riding, extremely against it or are so in this scenario?
recursive
I'm generally against sidewalk riding if it's a sidewalk regularly used by pedestrians unless it's a very wide sidewalk for practical reasons. In practice, I usually avoid unused and wide sidewalks too, but I can see certain situations where it would be useful. If there was 50 yards of sidewalk I couldn't avoid, I would walk it if it were heavily travelled, or ride slowly and cautiously if not.
John Wilke
b) Pay more attention when I'm "off road" and learn how to properly get my bike back up on a sidewalk. This one is essential because the road and curb of several streets I ride on have a small height differential similar to this one today.
This is my pick.
I'd nod my head to the group, smile (keeping my hands on the bars), hop onto the grass and continue on my merry way.
When it's time to hit the sidewalk again, attack it with a bit more angle ... should be no problem.
John Wilke
Milwaukee
NZLcyclist
When it's time to hit the sidewalk again, attack it with a bit more angle ... should be no problem.
John Wilke
Milwaukee
We have our answer.... :D
BeTheChange
I've found If I look a particular direction the people will part for where I need to go. It's just human nature to want to get out of the path of something if you know where the path is. Look where you want to go and just keep going, but slow down if you need to. People learn quickly if it hurts when they don't. Have fun!