FBinNY 

I can't believe how heated this thread is.

State laws vary, sidewalks vary, roads vary, and speeds and conditions vary. While it's generally a bad idea to ride on sidewalks, there's plenty of gray areas where it might make sense.

Can't we agree that there are situations where it's fine, or even sensible, provided speeds are sensible, and due courtesy is given the the rightful users of sidewalks.

Ghost Ryder

Sounds like you're the control freak.
Living in such a sheltered world, not open to others opinions.
I'd hate to see you in a car, by the way your describe the way you ride your bike.
If you don't enjoy cycling, drive, or take public transit.
I love cycling, & never really feel the need to be hostile while on any of my bikes.
My vehicles hate my bikes!

Here's to you, & your closed mine/sheltered life!

Walter S

I couldn't love cycling more. I do it every day of my life. I just do it my way, not yours. Sorry.

Ghost Ryder

Again your lack of reading comprehension showing.
I've stated many times, I am in non way trying to tell anyone that they have to follow what I say.
I'm just voicing my opinion like I've already stated earlier as well.
Calm down, take a breath, & read what's posted instead of making heated comments out of nothing.

Walter S

Well said.

Walter S

I'm open to them. I just don't agree with a policy of never riding on the sidewalk. There's nothing more to it.

As I've said several times I generally avoid sidewalks because of all the valid objections raised here. But you apparently won't be satisfied by anything other than me staying off of them entirely and respecting the letter of the law.

Paramount1973 

Yup. I commute on a drop bar MTB with 1.75 Panaracer Tservs on it. It can go just about anywhere and does. At one point on my commute, I have the choice of riding on the shoulder on a long steep uphill grade, into the setting sun, with traffic whizzing by me at 50-70 mph. Nothing between me and a texting teenager but a white line. Or, I can cross the road at the light and ride up the sidewalk, protected from oncoming traffic by a double guard rail. Pedestrians are few and far between. It took me all of 10 seconds to decide what to do when I first rode the route. Farther up the hill, I make a left turn into a parking lot (the business is closed by this hour), ride through to the end, cross a grassy stretch into a cul-de-sac, ride down the street, cross another grassy area into the back end of another parking lot, ride out to an intersection and turn left onto the bike path leading to home. And so it goes. Once you ride some single track, the definition of a navigable path becomes somewhat plastic.

daihard 

Agreed.

Sasquatch.

I agree.

I try and avoid the sidewalk but there is two spots on my commute that I don't have a choice. I asked the local PD what I should do and they said walk my bike while in those situations. Balls to that! Several Cops have passed me while I was riding "illegally" and usually they just wave or nod.

goldfinch

Sometimes there isn't another route and the local authorities don't give a rip.

rekmeyata

Not only did I not say I don't know where you ride on the sidewalk, but I also said I wasn't going to argue with you about it so how is that judging? All I did was post a site that discusses it, and you have to decide, which you have, which is best for you. Again there wasn't one ounce of judgement there. You need to read with understanding and not with anger.

And as far as you not caring about the law...well that's a whole different can of worms.

Ghost Ryder

This doesn't make it legal to do it, it just proves you have incompetent/lazy police officers.

You got to be kidding me, are you living in a 3rd/4th world country? Or are you stuck in the 1800's?
Only 1 road for everyone, give me a break.
I just turn over to the next block/street over.

Much faster than walking with your bike on the sidewalk.


No use wasting anymore time on that one..
Hey stuck in his old school ways.
Walter Matheau is a more appropriate name for our friend Walt.

nyrealitydose

Completely illegal to ride on the sidewalk here, and it's cycling enforcement week. I don't really want a $70 ticket!

goldfinch

Back to Clearwater, Florida. The are only a few streets that are through streets, many go no where, are just locked into their own neighborhoods. There is no street one block over. It can be very difficult to get around if you are not off of one of the bike paths. I am from the north, I had never seen cities set up like this where I am from.

So, in Clearwater I:

Take the bike paths if I am near the path.
Take the very few bike lanes until they disappear.
Take the sidewalk if the street is dangerous until I can get to a safe route; or
Take the bus to a safe route.

Sasquatch.

Just to be clear I never said that makes it legal, I fully admit to breaking the law when I ride on the sidewalk. I also break it if I am 1 MPH over the speed limit or don't come to a complete stop at stop signs while driving. Sometimes I don't even wait for the "walk" sign to flash before crossing the street.

As far as "my" police officers being incompetent/lazy. I actually respect them a lot more for having basic common sense in the situation when I am on the side walk. Common sense is so refreshing to see. Unfortunately I am not seeing a lot of it in this thread.

Ghost Ryder

Exactly!

I guess our cops have no common sense.
Our cops are like ninjas! They camp out, & pop out of now where to catch you without a helmet, or violating any other laws.
Its funny, our mayor is an avid cyclist/ advocate. He's trying to make our city more bike friendly in general. Our cops not so much. They're just out to get their monthly quotas.

Standalone 

this picture is posted as another vote for "street."

Ghost Ryder

That's funny!
This is the type I see riding on the sidewalks.

Walter S

Oh, you're just sharing ideas. You're not being judgemental of others. You're benevolent soul that just wants to share some of your ideas with the bicycling community. I get it.

you: sidewalks are for walking
me: My safety comes first. I could care less about arbitrary rules. Especially when the sidewalk is very rideable, safe, and empty.
you: Sidewalks are NOT the safest place to ride much to your disappointment and disbelief.
(that's not an argument against my behavior?)
me: There are select places where I'm quite glad I have a sidewalk available. But usually I avoid them. I'm only saying they can be the safest option.
you: it's against the law in most states!
(giving up on the safety issue and diving into the law now? still not arguing? I already said to you, and in other posts that I don't care about rules)
me: I really could not care less about the law.
(to emphasize points I've already stated)
you: as far as you not caring about the law...well that's a whole different can of worms.
(a can you've already opened in multiple posts but persist in restating. for what? not to change people's behavior apparently)

The banter really went back and forth several more times if you include redundant comments by others alongside me and you specifically. Each of our positions were stated multiple times in various ways. Need we say more?

Walter S

That's true here in Atlanta also. Atlanta has a history of poor bicycling options. In recent years they've been trying to make that much better. I pretty much never hear about the police hassling bicyclists here with regard to traffic laws. I suspect that's because they know or have been told to leave the cyclists alone as they try to make the best of a bad situation.

Walter S

Kind of off topic but thank you. I used to love watching The Odd Couple back in the day. One of my favorite actors

Walter S

Are you living in an ivory tower? Or a parallel universe where simple rules apply to all situations?

Walter S

I don't get it. What "type" is that exactly?

rekmeyata

LOL, I love that Walter Matheau comment! Wait, why aren't we judging him by calling him that? LOL!!! Why does it not surprise me he loves that actor?

Dwayne

+1 The stretch of sidewalk I ride is the road that leads to the I-285 overpass. There is no "just go another street over" because there just aren't many roads that go over the interstate. The "alternative" route is to play Frogger on the interstate.