TheDTrain

I've had it with riding on sidewalks. I know, I know. I should be riding on the road and I do. But on some busy stretches near me I tend to retreat back to sidewalk doing 10mph or less. Still a bit wimpy.

But I'm done with that.

I'm so pissed off because today I had 2 scary situations all with cars backing out of driveways. I swear these drivers must have neither eyes nor rear view mirrors.

First I'm going slow and this ******* backs up even though he clearly should've seen me. The car bumped into my knee but nothing happened. Imagine if it were a little kid on a tricycle there instead of me!

Then later on I'm going a bit faster but still less than 12mph and this guys floors it on reverse and just barely slammed on the brakes. And he had a look on his face like "wtf are you doin!"

From now on, road bikes on the road for me.

Don't forget about those damn unexpected cracks and bumps on sidewalks.

chroot

There is no more dangerous place for a bicycle than a sidewalk. Don't ever, ever ride on one. As you become more experienced with road riding, you'll be more assertive with your lane positioning, signals, and so on. Motorists will stop trying to walk all over you as you grow to be more assertive. Don't worry!

- Warren

sydney

It's the ones that run you over that make for a very bad day.

puddin' legs

Sidewalk riding is illegal in most places, eh?

TheDTrain

No, eh.

baj32161

baj32161

Hey D...you may want to check that and be sure. That law is different everywhere. I know sidewalk riding is illegal here. But now you have found out that even if it is not illegal where you are, it can be a very bad option.

Brian

UmneyDurak

Around here riding on sidewalk is illegal. That said I totally agree that people can't drive worth sh*t. My car was hit three times by people who are backing up and don't see where they are going, or just don't care.

va_cyclist

12 mph on the sidewalk. Four times faster than the average pedestrian. That pretty much sums it up right there.

TheDTrain

No, it isn't illegal to ride bikes on sidewalks. I didn't think it would be anyway.
I mean parents tell kids to ride ONLY on sidewalk round here. I don't know about you.

Guest

You shouldn't be riding them anyway. All's well that ends well!

Koffee

viper5dn

Its illegal here, and my brother lives in Bean-Town and says that its illegal there too. Perhaps you live in a suburb and its legal there, but either way... sidewalk is never a good idea, especially on a road bike. Bad for you, bad for pedestrians.

DocRay

I know your a teen, but you have to stop making statements with authority when you have no idea what your talking about.

Of course sidewalk riding is illegal in Mass, its only legal in Georgia that I know of.

"In Cambridge, MA, the city bicycle committee has discussed enforcement since the committee was established in 1991. Despite the objections of some members, the committee took the "facilities before enforcement" position. The committee asked the police to distribute informational forms, but not citations, to violators. By contrast, pedestrians unhappy with bicyclists riding on sidewalks lobbied the City Council to take action. In the summer of 1996, the Police were directed to begin issuing citations to bicyclists riding on sidewalks and for other violations, although most were given a warning instead of a fine. Police have not had problems with stopping cyclists."

https://danenet.wicip.org/bcp/dilemma.html

If you hit a pedestrian on a sidewalk, you will have your butt sued into perpetuity.

puddin' legs

No he doesn't doc, he's a thug.

dekalbSTEEL

Found this on Mass. state website:

Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product safety standards, effect; races; violations; penalties
Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right to use all public ways in the Commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the Commonwealth and the special regulations contained in the section, except that: (1) the bicycle operator may keep to the right when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way, (2) the bicycle operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn, and (3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance. A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.

JoeKipp

Where I’m from, Louisville, KY, the City of Louisville ordinances provide that no person over 11 years of age or older may operate a bicycle on a sidewalk. No person regardless of age may ride on the sidewalk in the Central Business District. Also prohibited is the riding of a bicycle in a public park or playground except on a roadway or in a parking lot except within a designated bikeway that the Works Department is supposed to mark with signs. The penalty for any of those violations is a fine of not less than $6 and not more than $50.

Thanks
Joe

ovoleg

phff Ive taken left hand turns in the left lane next to cops. The more you ride on the road the more confident you get. As long as you are predictable(to drivers) you will have no problem. Just dont do wild things and be consistent. You should be fine.

Sidewalk = obstacle course for MTB's

bransom

Well, just FYI, here's the Missouri law:

300.347. Riding bicycle on sidewalks, limitations - motorized bicycles prohibited.
(1) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district;
(2) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian;
(3) No person shall ride a motorized bicycle upon a sidewalk.