Commuting - Sidewalk vs. lane

Howdy,

Long time bike commuter that has to vent about another commuter. I live in Austin, TX and commute 16 miles a day, and one of the roads I ride on is a 4 lane heavily trafficked road called Lamar. It has a bike lane for most of it, and there are a ton of alternate routes that parallel Lamar that can be used when the bike lanes are inconsistant. There is one spot, however, where there are no parallel routes and it is either ride on the sidewalk or ride on the street for about half a mile. I usually choose to ride the sidewalk because it is much safer and much less rude to cars to take up a lane during rush hour.

Yesterday, there was a guy on a recumbent bike in the right lane at rush hour going about 10 miles an hour causing a huge backup. It irritated the crap out of me and I come seeking advice and commuter bike etiquette.

The question: When commuting on a busy street and choosing between taking a lane or riding the sidewalk, what is the better thing to do and why?

I take the lane. It's the safer, more efficient, and more legal choice.

There is a section of my commute that sounds similar to yours. It's four lanes (two going each way) of fast moving traffic with no bike lane. I pop up on the sidewalk for that section because there are never pedestrians walking on it, its safer for me, and I'm sure the cars appreciate it. Also, there is a bi-law in my town that allows for cycling on the sidewalk.

I'd take the lane, but I don't know what the laws and standard practices are like where you are. Is cycling on the sidewalk legal / normal there? Is there a shoulder?

If I can't go the speed of traffic (marked speed I mean, not necessarily de facto speed), I don't take the lane. 99% of those places around here have a shoulder or bike lane. Sidewalk is also legal*, which I do if I need to wrong-way, I don't wrong-way in a bike lane or on a shoulder.


*except for one downtown business district but that's back in take-the-lane speed areas, except when my kids are on their bikes.

re: lostarchitect

There is no shoulder, and barely a gutter. I don't know the legality of it, but cops have passed me many a time and never done anything. Reckon they would rather have me on the sidewalk then in a lane at rush hour.

If it's a multi-lane road and he's on the right as a slow vehicle then cars should be passing on the other lanes. If it's congested enough that it's difficult to do so passing him probably wouldn't make a huge difference in the first place. I get what you're saying as there's places where I feel is safer on the sidewalk, legal or not, but everyone's judgement is a little different, and w/ the low visibility of a recumbent I could see getting on and off the sidewalk being especially dangerous.

Depending on your laws, you may be breaking the law by riding on the sidewalk.



I am all for more people riding to work, but if that guy really was only going 10mph during rush hour, then he may be a little nuts. That's a good way to get some aggressive cager to run you over.

There is no shoulder, and barely a gutter. I don't know the legality of it, but cops have passed me many a time and never done anything. Reckon they would rather have me on the sidewalk then in a lane at rush hour.


Many people in the commuting forums have examples of the police officers they encounter being ignorant of the road laws pertaining to cyclists. It may be worth your time to familiarize yourself with your local laws.

What part of Lamar are you on? South Lamar has signs specifically addressing this-- BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE. It is there because staying on the road is way safer than trying to weave on and off between the sidewalk and bike lanes.

To give some context to other posters: It is legal to ride on the sidewalks in most of Austin, except for several streets downtown on the University of Texas campus. FRAP applies everywhere else. Bikes are only explicitly prohibited from several major freeways/controlled entrance roads. The only real MUP that can be used for transportation runs E/W along the river downtown.

Here, riding on the sidewalk is less safe and illegal.

I do either , its situational, rather than Ironclad.

What part of Lamar are you on? South Lamar has signs specifically addressing this-- BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE. It is there because staying on the road is way safer than trying to weave on and off between the sidewalk and bike lanes.


It is on South Lamar going south, after the bike lane ends near Manchaca. I ride sidewalk until Panther Trail and cut over to Pack Saddle Pass.

I know I can use the whole lane on Lamar, it just seems rude to cars and gives bike commuters a bad name. One of the reasons to commute (at least for me) is to reduce my fuel usage and be a responsible citizen, it seems like causing a mini traffic jam and having people rapidly accelerate around a bike is counter to that purpose.

I know I can use the whole lane on Lamar, it just seems rude to cars and gives bike commuters a bad name. One of the reasons to commute (at least for me) is to reduce my fuel usage and be a responsible citizen, it seems like causing a mini traffic jam and having people rapidly accelerate around a bike is counter to that purpose.

Meh, you have a right to be there. What gives bike commuters a bad name is when they weave around, go the wrong way, or run stop lights.

If it's a four-lane road, what's the big deal with taking one lane? I *like* four-lane roads because I can take the right lane without holding people up much.

I don't like taking a lane on a two-lane two-way street with heavy traffic, but I'll do that if necessary.

All for the bicyclists using a lane at bicycle speeds it's safest that way. Also infrastructure won't get changed any other way.

Illegal here to bike on sidewalk. I get off and walk my bike if I use the sidewalk with my bike even if no one is around. Same goes for red lights. I always wait for green just as if I was a car even if there is no traffic and as a pedestrian I might cross.

I'm not a pedestrian I'm a vehicle.

Greg

SideWALK = walk
Ride the road . . . that's where we belong.
Yes, have ridden in heavy 6 lane traffic regularly.
Have ridden on Interstate freeway paved shoulders (legal in some places or if no other road is available).

re: lostarchitect

There is no shoulder, and barely a gutter. I don't know the legality of it, but cops have passed me many a time and never done anything. Reckon they would rather have me on the sidewalk then in a lane at rush hour.

Hmm. Personally I think I would take the lane. If I thought that was too dangerous, I'd walk the bike on the sidewalk for that half mile.

Sounds like the other commuter is riding legally, although not to the OPs taste. Perhaps you can arrange a trade; he rides the sidewalk, and you ride the bike he chooses for you, even if it's a recumbent.

Alternatively, chill out, let it go.

I have a section that sound similar: 4 lanes, no shoulder, high speed, a lot of semi traffic, up a hill. In this one instance I use the sidewalk. This is a section along a retention pond, so no driveways to confuse entering cars, and I slow down when I get to the one cross street. Though even there, I only rarely see a car turning onto or off of that cross street. Once I get up the hill and across the train tracks, I move back onto the street. I'm on the sidewalk for maybe the equivalent of 4 blocks. For me this potential "illegal" usage of the sidewalk is more than made up for with my sanity.

Howdy,

Long time bike commuter that has to vent about another commuter. I live in Austin, TX and commute 16 miles a day, and one of the roads I ride on is a 4 lane heavily trafficked road called Lamar. It has a bike lane for most of it, and there are a ton of alternate routes that parallel Lamar that can be used when the bike lanes are inconsistent. There is one spot, however, where there are no parallel routes and it is either ride on the sidewalk or ride on the street for about half a mile. I usually choose to ride the sidewalk because it is much safer and much less rude to cars to take up a lane during rush hour.

Yesterday, there was a guy on a recumbent bike in the right lane at rush hour going about 10 miles an hour causing a huge backup. It irritated the crap out of me and I come seeking advice and commuter bike etiquette.

The question: When commuting on a busy street and choosing between taking a lane or riding the sidewalk, what is the better thing to do and why?

What is the law regarding the riding of bikes on the sidewalk? Is this a regular 'bent or is it a trike? If it's a trike it might be too big to ride safely on the sidewalk.

If I can't go the speed of traffic (marked speed I mean, not necessarily de facto speed), I don't take the lane. 99% of those places around here have a shoulder or bike lane. Sidewalk is also legal*, which I do if I need to wrong-way, I don't wrong-way in a bike lane or on a shoulder.


*except for one downtown business district but that's back in take-the-lane speed areas, except when my kids are on their bikes.

Uh, just how often are you able to go the posted speed limit?

Riding on the sidewalk, ever, anywhere, is very dangerous and stupid.

Take the lane and let 'em fume behind you. Wave and smile at those that honk.

You don't drive a car or a bike on the sidewalk, as they are both vehicles.

re: lostarchitect

There is no shoulder, and barely a gutter. I don't know the legality of it, but cops have passed me many a time and never done anything. Reckon they would rather have me on the sidewalk then in a lane at rush hour.

Just because the cops aren't/might not be doing their job doesn't mean that your action is right or legal. I had a conversation a short while back with a person riding a motorized scooter on The Pinellas Trail here in Pinellas County. Part of his "logic" for riding on the trail is that he has been seen by the police plenty of times entering/exiting the trail and none of them have ever said anything to him. So he figured that it was "alright" for him to be riding his motorized scooter on the trail.

Another part of his "logic" was that it was "safer" for him to be on the trail vs. riding on the road/over the bridge with the other traffic. The problem is that he failed to take into consideration that he was now placing the pedestrians/cyclists who were using the trail in the same danger that he was trying to avoid.

It is on South Lamar going south, after the bike lane ends near Manchaca. I ride sidewalk until Panther Trail and cut over to Pack Saddle Pass.

I know I can use the whole lane on Lamar, it just seems rude to cars and gives bike commuters a bad name. One of the reasons to commute (at least for me) is to reduce my fuel usage and be a responsible citizen, it seems like causing a mini traffic jam and having people rapidly accelerate around a bike is counter to that purpose.

I presume that you work, right? So you are paying income tax which helps to support the roads that you are riding on. I presume that you live in either a house that you own or rent or an apartment that you rent, right? Then you pay property tax, which again help to support the roads that you want to ride on. I presume that you also buy goods, on which you pay sales tax. Which again goes to support the roads that you want to ride on.

You are apparently "buying" into the thought that roads are "designed" solely for cars and anyone not in a car is just "getting in the way."

The roads are made for EVERYONE to use, regardless of the type of vehicle that they are using.

I mostly use the lane, but if needed to I use the side walk.

Meh, you have a right to be there. What gives bike commuters a bad name is when they weave around, go the wrong way, or run stop lights.

Agreed, as commuters (and as cyclists in general) we have a right to be on the road. If drivers don't like it they need to get over it. And learn how to share the roads.

Riding on the sidewalk, ever, anywhere, is very dangerous and stupid.

Take the lane and let 'em fume behind you. Wave and smile at those that honk.

You don't drive a car or a bike on the sidewalk, as they are both vehicles.

Well, I also don't drive down the road in my car doing 10 mph at rush hour hogging a lane on a major commuter road. Part of being a bike commuter is being a good ambassador to the community; he is dealing bike commuters a huge PR blow.

Riding on the sidewalk, ever, anywhere, is very dangerous and stupid.

Take the lane and let 'em fume behind you. Wave and smile at those that honk.

You don't drive a car or a bike on the sidewalk, as they are both vehicles. It is dangerous and stupid if you make it so. It is possible to ride on the sidewalk and yield to all pedestrians, if, indeed, there even are any on that particular sidewalk. It is possible to check all driveways for cars coming in or out. You can ride stupid or dangerous on the street or sidewalk both. Depends on the street or sidewalk, depends on the rider.

When enough people are fuming behind you, you run a risk that somebody will pass you in a very unfriendly and dangerous manner. Road rage and safety to cyclists do not go hand in hand.

Don in Austin


Don in Austin

I mostly use the lane, but if needed to I use the side walk. For sure this is one of the more reasonable responses on this topic.

In other words, "depends?" Depends on how ugly the street traffic is? Depends on how packed the sidewalk is with pedestrians? Depends how many driveways intersect the sidewalk? etc. etc. Wonder why that is so hard for some people to get?

Don in Austin

Here's the deal I make with my fellow road users: I will conduct my vehicle safely, efficiently, predictably, and legally; it is up to others to do the same. I am very little concerned whether they are offended or annoyed by my presence.

I take the lane. It's the safer, more efficient, and more legal choice.

+1

The cyclist was not causing the huge backup, the infrastructure was, don't blame the cyclist who was behaving as the law instructed him to do, blame the city engineers who created that situation.

I know I can use the whole lane on Lamar, it just seems rude to cars

Cars are rude to each other all the time. Don't sweat it. And even if you think they perceive it as rude, it is legal.

Alternatively, chill out, let it go.

This is what you really need to do. If you aren't comfortable taking the lane and want to ride the sidewalk, that's your choice. The other guy made his choice. Respect that.

I think the OP is in the wrong forum... perhaps "carforums.net" is the place to complain about a cyclist riding in the traffic lane, going slower than cars, and making cars slow down!

Seriously, just take the lane, and don't sweat that a motorist might be slightly delayed getting to Starbucks!

+1 also for taking the lane.

Here where I live, it's against City Ordinance to ride on the sidewalk UNLESS:

a) the sidewalk is part of an established Bicycle Route and is marked as such, or

b) when within 250 ft. of your destination where you can DISMOUNT and walk the bicycle to your destination.

Here it's a ticket-able offense... a case in point:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/811754-Student-hit-by-SUV-cited-for-riding-on-the-sidewalk

Well, I also don't drive down the road in my car doing 10 mph at rush hour hogging a lane on a major commuter road. Part of being a bike commuter is being a good ambassador to the community; he is dealing bike commuters a huge PR blow.

It's impossible for a vehicle to hog a lane.

Lanes are there for vehicles.

Here's the deal I make with my fellow road users: I will conduct my vehicle safely, efficiently, predictably, and legally; it is up to others to do the same. I am very little concerned whether they are offended or annoyed by my presence. The logical extension of that is that you are very little concerned with your own safety. Motorists who are offended by cyclists are the motorists who typically pass cyclists way too close or much worse. You can be in the right and be more likely to get hit by a car -- it only takes once to make you a paraplegic. Or you can be pragmatic. While it is "up to others to do the same" in the real world they often don't. Concern for your personal safety dictates that you don't provoke those situations -- the right or wrong of it won't protect you. In Utopia your deal would be honored, in the real world it is not.

Don in Austin

Hey Don,

Sorry, I can't respond to your PM until I hit 50 posts. Have you tried a route up through Lost Creek and over through Westlake? Stay safe!

I'm plenty concerned with my own safety. And I've found that the safest place, as counterintuitive as may be to many drivers (and a shockingly large number of cyclists), is to be in the lane out of the doorzone. If there's a bike lane, great. If there's a wide shoulder, great. If not, I'll take the lane. Especially if it's just for a half mile.

Now, if it's a much longer section, I'd probably just try to find a different route. And I don't want to be completely dogmatic. If you're not comfortable taking the lane, then don't. But personally, I would much rather be in the lane, off the sidewalk, out of the doorzone.

1. Is riding on the sidewalk in your county legal?

2. It is a judgement call on your part. Do what you feel safe with. Don't risk your safety.

3. Is there a safe way to get on/off the sidewalk? Or would you have to slow way down to get up there and maybe get unpredictable and confuse the drivers? You don't want to do that.

If it is 4 lanes you should be able to take lane without too much trouble. On my return route from when I escort my wife to her work on bike, there is a 2 lane ~.25 mile section of roadway. It is 35mph posted, no shoulder, but sidewalk available.

I take the lane because it is faster than the sidewalk, and, as I understand, all counties in Maryland have outlawed riding bikes on sidewalks, except for Montgomery county.

It seems to work fine for me. Remember, the cars have 3 other lanes to use. Unless the mph is high, I just take the lane.

Around here, although not advisable, it is legal to take the sidewalk. But, you are required to ride at 8mph or less.

I see so many bikes barreling down the sidewalk and looks to me like they are cruising for a bruising.

How often do bikes ride at 8mph? Answer = not many.

Which is why we suggest taking the lane. Legal and do-able in most circumstances.

I'm plenty concerned with my own safety. And I've found that the safest place, as counterintuitive as may be to many drivers (and a shockingly large number of cyclists), is to be in the lane out of the doorzone. If there's a bike lane, great. If there's a wide shoulder, great. If not, I'll take the lane. Especially if it's just for a half mile.

Now, if it's a much longer section, I'd probably just try to find a different route. And I don't want to be completely dogmatic. If you're not comfortable taking the lane, then don't. But personally, I would much rather be in the lane, off the sidewalk, out of the doorzone. I am comfortable taking the lane in many situations. But I have found there are areas of Austin where drivers are used to, and accept, cyclists taking the lane and there are areas where the opposite is true and they will pass you with very little clearance, because they are annoyed and resentful. If the demographic really sucks and the sidewalk is empty I might use the sidewalk. Agreed the door zone is not a good place to be. I try to weigh all the factors and make the best decision for my safety, and the prevailing attitude of the drivers on a given road is a big factor. There is one road I ride, only one lane in either direction, limited shoulder, but drivers by and large respect me taking the lane. Try it at 1:00 PM Sunday when the old people are getting out of one of the churches there and its suicide!

We are not really that much in disagreement, I think. Just saying it DOES make a difference what the prevailing attitude of the motorists you are surrounded by is.

Don in Austin

Hey Don,

Sorry, I can't respond to your PM until I hit 50 posts. Have you tried a route up through Lost Creek and over through Westlake? Stay safe! I have not. I don't really have a clue how that would work. Can you elaborate? I live off Circle Drive past the "Y." Check the "MapMyRide" links for how I do it. Pretty clever if I may say so. The trick is coming through the neighborhoods to the service road that comes in the back of ACC Pinnacle Campus. (You have to go around a closed gate, no big deal.) You can come straight down the hill from ACC Pinnacle Campus and directly across 290 to Convict Hill Rd. I can leave the house at 5:50 AM and be sitting at Once Over Coffee on South First St. well before they open at 7:00 AM. Its 15 miles and I don't see but maybe 10-15 cars the whole way. Before I figured that out I told people there was no way I could ride to work because I'm damn sure not going to ride on 290!

Don in Austin

This is such a strange topic. There are those in the middle; they approve of doing one or the other based on circumstances. And then there are the die-hards with the 'no quarter asked, no quarter given' attitude.

Though I have my opinions, I'm not pointing this out in order to judge. It just seems curious to me that there's so much rigidity in this area. It's a lot like politics.

Me? I do believe in taking the lane. But only when I have no other choice. Or where traffic is light enough that it doesn't matter. But I get out of traffic when I can. Sometimes that means taking the sidewalk. But around here pedestrians are about as common as bicyclists. If there were no cars, then I'd be alone on the roads. So pedestrian/bicycle safety issues are non-existent. The heart of a big city would clearly be a different matter.

In your case, the sidewalk/lane question would be decided over the matter of pedestrians plus driveways or other motor vehicle-type impediments. You'll have to evaluate, and keep on evaluating, those things yourself.

As another poster suggested, he made his choice and you're making yours. That's okay. And if you change your mind in the future, then that's fine too.

I take the sidewalk. Our sidewalks are wide, well maintained and empty most of the time. If I have a choice along busy streets, especially at rush hour, I'll be on the walkway. My reasoning is this: my safety is my first priority, always. Why compete with drivers texting, cell phoning, putting on makeup, boozing when the sidewalk is clear.

This is such a strange topic. There are those in the middle; they approve of doing one or the other based on circumstances. And then there are the die-hards with the 'no quarter asked, no quarter given' attitude.

Though I have my opinions, I'm not pointing this out in order to judge. It just seems curious to me that there's so much rigidity in this area. It's a lot like politics.

Me? I do believe in taking the lane. But only when I have no other choice. Or where traffic is light enough that it doesn't matter. But I get out of traffic when I can. Sometimes that means taking the sidewalk. But around here pedestrians are about as common as bicyclists. If there were no cars, then I'd be alone on the roads. So pedestrian/bicycle safety issues are non-existent. The heart of a big city would clearly be a different matter.

In your case, the sidewalk/lane question would be decided over the matter of pedestrians plus driveways or other motor vehicle-type impediments. You'll have to evaluate, and keep on evaluating, those things yourself.

As another poster suggested, he made his choice and you're making yours. That's okay. And if you change your mind in the future, then that's fine too.

Very well said.

Those who say riding on the sidewalk is stupid/dangerous, or where it's supposedly illegal: what do you say about little kids riding their bikes on sidewalks, or what does the law say? Would you have them ride out in the street in traffic? At what age does it become stupid, dangerous, or illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk?

I'm not saying everyone should always ride on the sidewalk, not at all. I ride in the road pretty much 100% of the time, but I have no problem with using a sidewalk in a heavy traffic situation.

Actually I was on a group ride a few weeks ago and was in the road the whole way, but was quite surprised about how many hipster fixie riders were all up and down, on and off the sidewalks, in the roads, back and forth, etc. Seemed very unsafe to me.

Depends on the situation. I ride on the sidewalk only where there is no safe spot on the street. Taking the lane on a street where the flow is over 35 mph is not something I would do lightly, and not with out being damn sure the car behind sees me.

Sidewalks have their own inherent dangers, but if you are aware of them, and ride accordingly, it is manageable, but if done safely, usually much slower. If they are heavily traveled by pedestrians, riding the sidewalk is also rude, but this is Southern California, and there are more joggers on the MUP's than walkers on sidewalks.

I am comfortable taking the lane in many situations. But I have found there are areas of Austin where drivers are used to, and accept, cyclists taking the lane and there are areas where the opposite is true and they will pass you with very little clearance, because they are annoyed and resentful. If the demographic really sucks and the sidewalk is empty I might use the sidewalk. Agreed the door zone is not a good place to be. I try to weigh all the factors and make the best decision for my safety, and the prevailing attitude of the drivers on a given road is a big factor. There is one road I ride, only one lane in either direction, limited shoulder, but drivers by and large respect me taking the lane. Try it at 1:00 PM Sunday when the old people are getting out of one of the churches there and its suicide!

We are not really that much in disagreement, I think. Just saying it DOES make a difference what the prevailing attitude of the motorists you are surrounded by is.

Don in Austin

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Travis+Cook+Rd&daddr=30.28371,-97.8243+to:30.28307,-97.82383+to:S+1st+St&hl=en&ll=30.233561,-97.857971&spn=0.118205,0.165138&sll=30.269372,-97.812138&sspn=0.059081,0.082569&geocode=FcLDzQEduFUq-g%3BFb4XzgEd1FEr-inh944xhkpbhjEYNZvyeDg1tQ%3BFT4VzgEdqlMr-ilVgw0RhkpbhjEXba-24gTYYw%3BFRmfzQEdM2Ys-g&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1,2&t=m&z=13&lci=bike

Lost Creek has some pretty amazing hills, so be prepared :)

Dunno if it is any shorter, but it is a gorgeous ride and Westlake is really bike friendly. And of course Zilker is always a pleasure.