Hey hipster. If you can pull-off sidewalk riding while watching for turning cars, more power to you. Just make sure you're going in the same direction as the cars. When going the opposite way, they are less likely to see you.
Originally Posted by
hipster_doofus
Newbie disclaimer so go ahead and school me: I live in a pretty rural community. There's a few five lane roads in the middle of town.. long stretches of mini malls on each side with a turning lane between two opposing lanes of traffic. There's a sidewalk on both sides of the road but pedestrian traffic is nil. You're lucky to ever see people, just cars everywhere. I ride the sidewalk since there's not a bike lane nor shoulder and there's no one in the way..
Is that acceptable? (I've never run into trouble and I feel the cars booking it at 50-60mph appreciate me keeping out.)
Also, I always stop at side streets to look behind me and be sure no one is turning right. I have this fear that if I just blow across the entrance to a side street, a car is going to remove my bike and place it in a serviceable position. Is stopping and waiting the correct thing to do even though it slows me down considerably or should I be riding out in traffic?