Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Of course, for someone who understand how traffic works, and rides accordingly, sidewalk cycling is no more dangerous than roadway cycling.
The assertion that sidewalk cycling is more dangerous is based on studies of average cyclists who probably have little understanding of what situation is more hazardous than another, and are essentially riding at the mercy of motorists seeing them. Those people are less likely to be seen on sidewalks, and, hence, are more (1.8 times, apparently) at risk than when riding on the roadway.
This is one of the most rational posts in this thread.
On very rare occasions, I resort to a bit of sidewalk cycling to bypass a specific problem, such as having to make two successive left turns in heavy traffic or to get around an impassable curb-to-curb traffic jam. I select sidewalk segments which are wide, which have few, if any pedestrians, and which have few driveway cuts, I proceed at low speed, and I do not re-enter the street directly at an intersection without repositioning myself in a vehicular fashion.
I accept John Allen's risk statistic as a GENERAL AVERAGE guideline and note that it does not apply to me, for the reasons Serge mentioned above.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069