What total nonsense. It depends entirely on the nature of the sidewalk and how it is ridden. We have lots of sidewalks in Austin with virtually no pedestrian traffic and very few driveways, some of them adjacent to streets that are not very friendly. Riding on such a sidewalk at something less than racing speed and scanning the occasional driveway for traffic -- includes looking behind you on the street for someone who might turn in, or ahead, depending on which direction you are going-- and being prepared to yield to anything and everything is not jackass.

Nobody hold a gun to your head and forces you to behave like a jackass because you are on the sidewalk.

Don in Austin