jungovox

Tell me again... why I don't want to opt for the side walk were -

1. there is no shoulder
2. cars are doing 40-55

it seems that IF i copt to being a 'vehicle' that If I travel in the road at 10-20 MPH I am going to infuriate the CARS to a dangerous level.

Fritz

Doohickie

The Fundamentalist VCers will curse you for such blasphemous thoughts. I basically do whatever is the safest for me and others.

nahh

If i'm endangering myself by acting like a vehicle i'll use the sidewalk until the road becomes safe. I try to 'take the lane' as much as is feasible and safe, but in the end I just want to get back home safely.

CACycling

There are many variables (number of lanes, amount of traffic, number of peds on the sidewalk, alternate routes) but if there was not a resonable alternate route, I felt truly unsafe taking the lane and the sidewalk wasn't packed with peds, I'd use the sidewalk. There is a mile stretch of sidewalk on one of my weekend rides that is actually designated as a bike route. It runs along a 6 lane road with no shoulder and speeds of 45 + MPH. The first time I rode this way I didn't realize there was a designated bike route and just took the lane. Didn't make that mistake again.

tjspiel

Never say never !

I'm not going to tell you that it's never a good idea to choose a sidewalk. I will tell you that sidewalks are more dangerous to cyclists than most people realize. Further, in some areas riding a bike on a sidewalk is illegal. Choosing not to infuriate a driver in a motorized vehicle doesn't necessarily make you safer.

The main problem with sidewalks from a motorized traffic standpoint is that you are invisible to drivers and are putting yourself at risk at every intersection. If you are on the road and right in front of them, at least they see you.

Now if you have a long road with high speed limits, few intersections, no shoulder, and a sidewalk, the side walk might be a better choice if there's not a lot of pedestrian traffic.

unixpro

There is a short (maybe a mile?) portion of my commute where I ride the sidewalks. The road is narrow and without shoulder, but with a high curb. If I were in the road, I'd have to take the lane and I'm not willing to do that on one of the most heavily traveled roads through Bellevue, WA. during rush hour. Instead I ride the sidewalk, which is really more of an asphalt trail for the most part. There are very few pedestrians to deal with, and I make absolutely sure I'm good at each of the 3 intersections I have to cross.

I'm not a big advocate of sidewalk riding, but there are times and places where it's just plain safer all around. Use your personal judgment.

AlmostTrick

For the same reason some will tell you not to ever take the lane on a high speed road...

You most certainly will be killed almost instantly. See how that works?

BroadSTPhilly

Statistically speaking you are 500% less likely to avoid the noid if you ride on the sidewalk.

Bat22

I did more than my usual bit of empty sidewalk riding yesterday.
Using available driveways to exit and enter hectic traffic and congested corners.

markhr

Take the lane and force cars to at least pass in the passing lane. Better that than the 50mph wing/wing mirror brush past.

sideWALK - if I need to use it then I'll get off and walk the bike. Yes, it's a pain especially if you're just trying to get across that section of pavement/sidewalk but, at least in greater London, it's illegal to ride on. Also, in the City of London you're very likely to get a fine/ticket and a lecture.

d2create

Use common sense.

ChipSeal

Yah. You and everybody else who is using the PUBLIC road that day.

Do you stand in line when grocery shopping or getting tickets to a movie? Don't you get concerned that someone might get upset at how long the line is? Why shouldn't you change your schedule to accommodate them?

Your angst about annoying motorists is silly, in my opinion. Any driver angry at a cyclist using the public street will be angry at most other things on his trip as well, and none of those other things were cyclists.

Let me ask you, why should a cyclist compromise his safety for the momentary convenience of another driver?

chicbicyclist

Under 8mph, like when I'm riding with my dogs in tow, sidewalk. More than that, on the road.

KitN

In NYC, you are 500% more likely to hit a pedestrian if you ride on the sidewalk.

dwr1961

+1... Although Mark Twain once said that common sense ain't all that common.

To elaborate a bit further, when folks use the word "never" they are inviting questions like the one you've asked. And there are certainly times where violating the axiom of NEVER riding on sidewalks is the wise thing to do.

Personally, I have a highly developed sense of fear / respect for automobiles traveling at triple my speed. If the lack of space between me and them creates a certain degree of puckering, clenching and sweating - then I'm on the sidewalk right now!

You'll have to develop your own guideline...

degnaw

Why don't you ride at 3mph on the sidewalk? Sure, some momentary convenience is sacrificed, but its safer for everybody.

Less sarcastically, I tend to avoid the sidewalk; that said, I take roadside MUPs when they exist and the road has few passing opportunities for cars (making sure to check for turning cars at intersections, which in my area are few and far between generally). I also ride the sidewalk at 3mph when I'm feeling dead (tired).

Torrilin

Depends.

I generally will take the lane if it's a 4 lane road, because it is easier for a driver to see me and there's plenty of space for them to pass. If it's a 2 lane road, or I can't readily get to the "right" side of the road, I may well walk my bike on the sidewalk. I may not too... some roads that have two lanes and no shoulder have *very* wide lanes, so passing is still plenty safe.

I don't usually ride on the sidewalk because sidewalks don't have good sight lines and they do often have terrible surfaces. Three to five inch jumps in the surface are common, so I need to watch that *and* for drivers pulling into or out of driveways *and* for pedestrians. Too confusing and stressful... usually a road is a lot easier.

If walking doesn't work and biking doesn't work, I try to find another route.

Longfemur

I wouldn't recommend "taking any lanes" on a road like that. It's too fast.

No exceptions, though. What if cars just rode up on the sidewalk to bypass another car? What about mopeds (gasoline or electric), or farm tractors, or slow machinery? If there are no alternative routes (which is relatively rare except in the country), walk your bike on that section of sidewalk... and consider starting a campaign with your local municipality to improve the road so cyclists can be better accommodated. Sidewalks are not MUPs, but I imagine some of them could be partly converted into one if wide enough. That would be different, because there would be signage and lines, and pedestrians would know what to expect.

JeffS

Please don't.

The average person's "common sense" is either missing or wrong. "common sense" tells you that the sidewalk is safer than the road. Real world experience tells the majority of us exactly the opposite.

ghettocruiser

Absolutely. Keep VC topics in the VC subforum.

thirdin77

As always, it depends on the situation.

Sometimes I do use the sidewalk though I hate it. It's slow, awkward and I think it probably makes me look like a less confident, less able road cyclist.

However,
in such a case as this where there is a strong headwind slowing me down and lots of 35-50mph cross traffic which includes drivers who don't know which freeway exit to get onto and veer to the right at the last minute, I'll often use the sidewalk.

Of course, I have to be extra careful at the crosswalks and when re-entering the roadway. I could easily get whiped out in such a situation.

That's a problem with sidewalk riding in general is crosswalks and re-entering the roadway.

chipcom 

My 40+ years of experience riding on the roads tells me otherwise, but what do I know.
You do whatever you feel safe doing.

Allen

Currently I'm on Peachtree St. in Atlanta. I've got my bike with me but for the most part there is no way I would ride it in the road down Peachtree. It's barely wide enough for the cars. Riding in the street when the traffic starts to become thick one would quickly become street pizza. I'll ride the sidewalk until I hit the first cross road and then I'll take to the street.

Some roads are just not safe. Most are safe, but some are death traps.

thirdin77

^ Those are probably the worst, where the road narrows but traffic is still fast or it speeds up.

JoeyBike

When I run errands in the burbs on Veterans Memorial Blvd, I often ride the sidewalks. Nobody walks on them - if they do I just bounce into the street for a bit. Nice thing about the sidewalk besides keeping me off of some blue-hair's hood is the fact that I can "window shop" the stores at leisure.

I think some folks picture NYC when you mention riding sidewalks. I would not spend much time on sidewalks in Downtown USA where the clueless peds actually belong. If I harmed one hair on their ground-dragging knuckles - on their own turf - I would be humiliated. And a little sad.