Originally Posted by
Don in Austin
Sidewalk riding is NOT inherently unsafe in all circumstances -- depends on the sidewalk and it depends on the rider. Sometimes a sidewalk choice is almost like an empty MUP vs. an extremely hostile road. If so, go for it and take necessary precautions.
Don in Austin
That's pretty much my situation most of the time.
I live in the South, where walking is shunned, and most popular local running event involves running 2 miles to a Krispy Kreme (doughnut shop) eating a dozen doughnuts and running 2 miles back to the starting line. You can tell by our girths that we are not big walkers down here - there are very, very few pedestrians (at least at the times I am riding).
I have to be as vigilant about driveways and turning cars on the street as I do on the sidewalk, from what have observed so far. Assuming that a driver pulling out onto a street will see you if you are in a traffic lane seems like a great way to develop a first name relationship with an orthopedic surgeon.
From what I can tell, there are only two differences between riding on the street and riding on the side walk around here:
- I do not have to share the sidewalk with someone weaving amiably along at 55 mp in a 35 mph zone in their dually pickup truck while chatting on a cell phone. They mostly stay off the sidewalks.That's sort of a big deal to me.
- I have to slow down for pedestrians on the rare occasions when I see them. That's OK, there are so darn few of them that I feel like stopping and introducing myself anyway.
Note that this may change as I moved more from running errands to true commuting. But right now, I chose based on lane width, volume of vehicular traffic, and volume of pedestrian traffic.