Be careful on college campuses.

[N_C]

http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/newsdisplay.asp?NewsID=1740

[markw]

That's pretty sad, and a reason to avoid sidewalks. At UCSD bicycles are banned from the sidewalks/paths around campus during school hours.

[Treefox]

At the university where I did my undergrad, the only way to get places was to cycle on the paths (it was designed so that people couldn't drive everywhere); even the cycle racks were deep back along paths. Everyone did it and it was considered entirely acceptable.

And if someone is on the left edge of the path, of course you'll pass on their right.

[wahoonc]

I am semi familar with the UNI campus and UNC and WCU and UNCG...the problem isn't the bicyle on the sidewalk, the problem is the out of control rider(s). For some reason some people think because they are on a bicycle all the basic rules of common courtsey and sense go out the window. I was always taught when you are riding on a sidewalks (as in a campus atmosphere) YOU are responsible for your actions and pedestrian traffic has the right of way. If there are to many people to ride safely you need to dismount and walk. In the case presented here, the cyclist was apparently going to fast for the conditions. It doesn't matter which side you tell someone you are passing on, it is the overtaking person's responsibility to do it safely! Ticket is sorry butt.

Aaron:)

[chephy]

At my university, nobody cares where you ride. In fact, the head of transportation planning for the university was sure that sidewalk cycling was perfectly fine, and recommended that to me over riding on a "busy, dangerous" road (which is wide like hell, has no intersections and carries nothing but buses going at 20 kmph - the speed limit there)....

[aMull]

Cycling in the middle of the day during a week on campus here at York is not a good idea, it is packed full of people. Last week i noticed there were lines for everything and everywhere, but it's maybe because school just started.

[TCNJCyclist]

At my university, nobody cares where you ride. In fact, the head of transportation planning for the university was sure that sidewalk cycling was perfectly fine, and recommended that to me over riding on a "busy, dangerous" road (which is wide like hell, has no intersections and carries nothing but buses going at 20 kmph - the speed limit there)....

Sounds like my school. Every vehicle uses our wider-than-normal sidewalks (bikes, campus trucks and vans, and even motorists in need of directions on campus). Riding on the sidewalk might seem like the best, most direct way to get somewhere, but there are so many problems with it.

Here is the college's map of the campus
http://www.tcnj.edu/~ccr/maps/

and here is a satellite image of what those things that are denoted as roads actually are
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=2000+pennington+road,+ewing,+nj&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=16&ll=40.26859,-74.776254&spn=0.008088,0.021458&iwloc=A

[catatonic]

This is why I'm an advocate of "If you are on the sidewalk, you are a pedestrian, and should not exceed any characteristics of pedestrian traffic".

If he was riding as a pedestrian would traverse that sidewalk, he would have slowed down, or even foot-coasted the bike around the pedestrian, instead of slamming into them.

NEVER pass on a narrow sidewalk, go on the dirt if you must pass....but then you would probably have been better off on the road, if the road's traffic is suitable for the rider's skill.

[San Rensho]

If you are going to ride your bike with pedestrians, you have to blend in. When I was in college, I rode on the streets most of the time. Occassionally, I would ride on a large, long pedestrian only thoroughfare and when I did, I became a pedestrian even though I was on a bike. I rode at a walking pace, passing when able to, but blending in with the peds.

Multi use pedestrian/bike just doesn't work. The bicyclists think its a bike path, the peds think its a foot path. I'll take my chances with cars any day.

[krazygluon]

the bikers at UK (not in the uk, and not at UofK... but at UKy) were generally trouble-free during the year I went there for postbac...as long as you were in central campus. There, they took the paths slow and safe. on the sidewalks between central campus and a lot of the off-campus residences, they didn't seem to know enough physics to realize that going full-speed on a sidewalk full of pedestrians might be hazardous.

[bmclaughlin807]

I got stopped by the campus police while crossing the corner of one of the campuses here on my way home one day. Seems I crossed a deserted sidewalk about 10 feet before the end of the 'no bicycles' zone. Never mind the fact that I was going slow because I was on a sidewalk (Which I DON'T normally ride on!) and I was looking for pedestrians (There were maybe 5 people total in sight... this was 5:30 PM on a Friday.

So... you really can't win. I avoid that campus totally now, and take my chances on the 6 lane road with no bike lane or shoulders that runs along the edge of the campus.

[trackhub]

Harvard university bans bicycles from the main yard at all times. The reason for this is simple enough: The walkways are narrow, and full of pedestrians on weekdays, and weekend days as well. So, the policy is that you simply dismount and walk your bike through the yard. This is enforced by Harvard university PD. I have never heard of anyone receiving an actual citiation, just a "little talk". Outside the yard proper, you may ride your bike. You are expected to keep a sensible speed, and you must yield to pedestrians.

In a world where so many people are listening to music players, or heavily engaged in cell phone conversations, yelling "on your right", or "on your left" is not effective, as this needless accident demonstrates.