Cyclosaurus

What it appears you are doing is comparing riding in traffic without taking precautions to riding on the sidewalk with taking precautions and then declaring sidewalk riding safer. If practiced correctly, either one is equally safe. You say about sidewalk riding "Just make sure you ride..." and give the important safety tips. Why do you think riding on the road is any different? You just use different techniques to stay safe.

Leebo

Yowzer. Post up a pic of your local sidewalks. Lets start with driveways, peds, kids and dogs with leashes. All hazards on the sidewalks near me (North of Boston, MA.)
Driveways with fences, gates and bushes, really poor sight lines for drivers, not expecting you there. I pedal 10-20 mph, how fast are you going on the sidewalk? 6 mph? Lets start with all the business driveways near me. Part of the bikepath crosses right in front a Starbucks, way hazardous.

vincent713

I'm very aware the necessary precaution method to take while riding on the road and compare with the precaution on the sidewalk, IMO I think sidewalk is still safer because cars don't drive on the sidewalk.
My state and locals do not prohibit cyclist on the sidewalks, I live in a huge suburb and the sidewalks are often vacant. I do ride on the neighborhood streets but on a main street with a 40+ mph speed limit I'm on the right side sidewalk. I ride on average between 15-17mph (plenty fast for me) on the sidewalk and when I approach a pedestrian which is not often, I slow down and let them know I'm passing them or sometimes they move out the way for me.

Leebo

Post a pic please, how many driveway crossings? Good luck with that.

vincent713

Why does it matter how many driveway crossing if I'm using precaution method?? As I stated earlier I DO NOT ride on the neighborhood's sidewalk where there are home driveways if that's what you're referring to.

Leebo

So, trying for the ninja, salmon darwin award? YRMV

vincent713

I think you are clueless as to the sidewalks that I ride on which are on main fast roads that go on and on for miles without any intersection or "driveways". It's best to "get a clue" before you assume.

350htrr

Mayhap you aren't actually riding on sidewalks then... More like a MUP, witch is different pretty well in every way than a sidewalk...

vincent713

MUP or sidewalk it doesn't matter, the point is they are safer IMO.

350htrr

For an 8 year old it's certainly safer to ride on the sidewalk or MUP, but for an adult that rides at 15+MPH or even 20+MPH no, it's not...

vincent713

Well...everyone has their own opinion and I'll let you know when I get a car accident on the MUP. You can start holding your breath.

2old

chefisaac --- plenty of cargo bikes your friend could ride; look at yuba, juiced riders, currie as well as those others have mentioned

in socal (60+ cyclists killed by cars last year AFAIK; plus at least one riding on the sidewalk; and a couple walking on the sidewalk); don't think that ebikes will become viable means of commute until something is done to make the roads safer

I ride my ebike on the sidewalk when in places with fast traffic; fortunately, very few if any individuals on the sidewalk in those areas. Except for a driver hitting me when I'm on the sidewalk (a finite possibility), I have control of my safety when crossing intersections or whatever, so trading some jerk texting and hitting me on the road for me looking out for myself - no brainer

vincent713

Don't forget also the drunk drivers and road ragers as well. This is the message and point I've been trying to make but these dudes just likes to argue just for argument sake. You can tell them the sky is blue and they will contradict you. LOL! Trolls I tell you, they are EVERYWHERE!

2old

The "environment" in the few on road areas that I frequent (ride my ebike and other bikes almost exclusively off road) may be different from others who have posted, many who I've learned a lot from and respect (like 350), in that the roads are very dangerous (TO ME) and the sidewalks very empty. This facilitates my decision.

350htrr

I never said the roads aren't dangerous at all, and nobody has said that here, what I was bringing up to peoples attention, is that sidewalk riding has it's own different kind of dangers that can equal, even surpass riding in traffic... So, mayhap, it isn't quite as "safe" as some believe. And if ridden on faster than a pedestrian walks it will have it's own dangers from interaction with pedestrians, dogs, kids, cars turning... Tho there are statistics that say bike riding is one of the safest thing you can do, even riding the roads...

vincent713

I know exactly what you're talking about, I love to ride and I'm a daily rider. The fast moving roads are just too dangerous and there are no bike lanes around where I live. I also ride mostly at night with bright front/rear lights and some dumb person could be texting or drunk accidentally swipe me and I hit the pavement hard and will be wondering why the hell did I ride on the road for...? It's just not worth it for me, the sidewalks here are abundance and 95% of the time it's empty so why not use it and be away from cars?

2old

Just to be clear; I'm not disagreeing with anyone or trying to take part in an argument; just saying:
1) Don't think that socal is the right place for ebike commuters to answer the original question --- time will tell whether this is correct
2) Part of my road riding is on the sidewalk where I feel safer, but not saying that this is better --- each individual makes his own choice

InTheRain

Wow. This thread took a strange turn.

350htrr

I think People thinking riding a bike on the roads is dangerous, that is a big part of why E-Bikes aren't as popular as they could be. There, back on track...

2old

Good point ITR; Where I reside the average commute is too far to even consider ebikes (50 - 100 miles EACH WAY for some of my friends), and we're too freeway - oriented. My 20 mile commute (25 - 40 minutes by car depending on traffic) would take at least 90 minutes by surface streets and the innumerable traffic lights would be intolerable. However, I use my ebike or pedal only bike for errands where I don't have to carry any heavy materials. Have only seen three other ebikes ever and all on a bike trail presumably sightseeing.

powell

Lack of infrastructure is one of obvious reason for ebikes not being popular in general .
I ride on sidewalks in certain situations also. I mean certain.
IF I ride 7:00AM on weekend of course I would use the street, but
no way I would use the same street at 3:00-5:00PM Mon-Fr.
where I live -
it is crazy how cyclists would risk their lives or serious injuries while empty sidewalks offer such a seperation from traffic.
Of course on sidewalk is slower but safer for sure.
where I live city already started to convert sidewalks into paths simply by painting yellow lines on sidewalks not worrying
about interractions with cars.

osco53

I was happily pedaling along in a proper bike lane once. I was watching on coming traffic in my bar end mirror, closely.

I saw this raised up pick up truck with tall mud tires as wide as the whole bike lane drifting into the bike lane behind me doing about 55 in a 45 mph zone, my estimate
I took a parking lot opening up onto the side walk,

The trucks wide mud tire scraped the curb right next to me all the while the driver never stopped texting staying in the bike lane for the next 100-150 feet.
It would have been Instant, sloppy and very very red......

That was my last bike lane ride with traffic.

I ride my LWB recumbent on the MUPS now, I ride my folder on sidewalks and my Mountain bike Is my freedom machine

vincent713

Actually you and others were arguing that riding on sidewalk is MORE dangerous than riding on the road.

Doc_Wui

I was scarred for many years, when given a ticket at age 15 for riding a bike on the sidewalk (business district). Many kids my age were riding in cars with their friends and wouldn't be caught on a bike. It seemed like every vehicle that passed me and the cop was full of my peers laughing at me. So I went down to the police station fearing I would be put in a traffic school with pre-schoolers, but all they wanted was my $2 fine. When I did get a motor vehicle, I drove it too wild and too fast to compensate, but I grew out of it. Still to this day, 52 years later, I still say #%#^m those traffic cops, but I walk my bike in business districts.

Leebo

A mup, multi use path is designed for peds and bikers, no cars allowed. So is it a sidewalk or mup? Makes a difference. A photo is worth 1,000 words.