Sidewalk bicycling
05-31-15, 10:02 AM
#1076
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Sidewalk riding is legal in Ohio, but I rarely use them. There is a one-mole stretch on my commute, however, near where my work industrial park ends and the bike trail begins, on which I ride the sidewalk. It's the safest option, IMO.
05-31-15, 12:37 PM
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Noone here gave My Theory about this reverse problem; >At Least< where I have cycled.
Joggers in the Bike-Lane.
Rollerbladers in the bike-lane.
As roller-bladers (along with joggers belong on the sidewalk. Roller-bladers/joggers are classified as pedestrians.
Cities with triathalons won't enforce such laws, because of $pecial interests.
Joggers in the Bike-Lane.
Rollerbladers in the bike-lane.
As roller-bladers (along with joggers belong on the sidewalk. Roller-bladers/joggers are classified as pedestrians.
Cities with triathalons won't enforce such laws, because of $pecial interests.
07-09-15, 03:59 PM
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I prefer to ride in the roads but there are some roads where I definitely feel safer on the sidewalk.
I do admit however that sidewalk riding can be dangerous. specifically cars backing out of driveways and cars coming out of side roads onto a main road.
they typically will blow right past the sidewalk and stop at the intersection at a point that gives them greatest visibility.
I sometimes ride the sidewalks despite these hazards because the speeds cars travel on some roads is so fast that an "accident" is sudden death.
And fuggedaboudit when a big truck blows by. I'm a pancake waiting for the griddle.
I do admit however that sidewalk riding can be dangerous. specifically cars backing out of driveways and cars coming out of side roads onto a main road.
they typically will blow right past the sidewalk and stop at the intersection at a point that gives them greatest visibility.
I sometimes ride the sidewalks despite these hazards because the speeds cars travel on some roads is so fast that an "accident" is sudden death.
And fuggedaboudit when a big truck blows by. I'm a pancake waiting for the griddle.
07-09-15, 04:13 PM
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When I was a kid spending the summer on long island it was fun to bicycle the board walk. It was also ileagle to do so. The cops use to get fustrated when they told kids to hault, because they want to write them a summons. Most of the kids knew most of the cops could not run you down on foot, so we just turned, and rode off.
But honestly I see zero reason today where I live to ride on a sidewalk. Our roads are very wide, very clean, and honestly the sidewalks are for people on foot, in wheel chairs, and their grandkids visiting the old folks.
But honestly I see zero reason today where I live to ride on a sidewalk. Our roads are very wide, very clean, and honestly the sidewalks are for people on foot, in wheel chairs, and their grandkids visiting the old folks.
07-12-15, 01:07 PM
#1080
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I find riding on sidewalks to be unnecessary most of the time, and tedious as Hell in areas where I would want to do it. In the street I am in the flow of traffic and vehicles entering from side streets, driveways, mall entrances, service stations, fast food drive-thru exits are not in my way as they wait to enter the road. On the sidewalk, all of the above would be BLOCKING the sidewalk.
I live near a suburb where nobody walks. Sidewalks are totally vacant there and in really good condition. It seems silly in that case to not use them when it makes sense and I am in no big rush. There are special dangers to look for - like cars cutting across my path as they overtake me and turn into driveways or side streets. I have a device on my helmet visor called a MIRROR that helps me handle that challenge nicely.
In short, if sidewalks are available, pedestrians are not/never using them, and you understand the extra dangers and hazards, why not use the sidewalks? Who does it hurt?
I live near a suburb where nobody walks. Sidewalks are totally vacant there and in really good condition. It seems silly in that case to not use them when it makes sense and I am in no big rush. There are special dangers to look for - like cars cutting across my path as they overtake me and turn into driveways or side streets. I have a device on my helmet visor called a MIRROR that helps me handle that challenge nicely.
In short, if sidewalks are available, pedestrians are not/never using them, and you understand the extra dangers and hazards, why not use the sidewalks? Who does it hurt?
09-02-15, 05:27 PM
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95%+ of the sidewalk riding I do is up a mile long, 15% grade on a 4 lane arterial. In the am going down the hill I use of the lane, but in the pm I'm simply not willing to ride at 4 mph on a congested 40 mph road.
In all the years I've lived in the area, I've never seen a bike use the lane to go up the hill, most take the bus or use other routes.
In all the years I've lived in the area, I've never seen a bike use the lane to go up the hill, most take the bus or use other routes.
09-03-15, 05:14 AM
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I find riding on sidewalks to be unnecessary most of the time, and tedious as Hell in areas where I would want to do it. In the street I am in the flow of traffic and vehicles entering from side streets, driveways, mall entrances, service stations, fast food drive-thru exits are not in my way as they wait to enter the road. On the sidewalk, all of the above would be BLOCKING the sidewalk.
I live near a suburb where nobody walks. Sidewalks are totally vacant there and in really good condition. It seems silly in that case to not use them when it makes sense and I am in no big rush. There are special dangers to look for - like cars cutting across my path as they overtake me and turn into driveways or side streets. I have a device on my helmet visor called a MIRROR that helps me handle that challenge nicely.
In short, if sidewalks are available, pedestrians are not/never using them, and you understand the extra dangers and hazards, why not use the sidewalks? Who does it hurt?
I live near a suburb where nobody walks. Sidewalks are totally vacant there and in really good condition. It seems silly in that case to not use them when it makes sense and I am in no big rush. There are special dangers to look for - like cars cutting across my path as they overtake me and turn into driveways or side streets. I have a device on my helmet visor called a MIRROR that helps me handle that challenge nicely.
In short, if sidewalks are available, pedestrians are not/never using them, and you understand the extra dangers and hazards, why not use the sidewalks? Who does it hurt?
…I rarely ride as a wheeled-pedestrian, almost always for convenience, like a shortcut on the sidewalk.
Actually, not to raise the usual controversy, IMO when I’m on the bike, I consider myself as an amphibian. Like the biologic species between reptile and fish, I exist as a cyclist and wheeled pedestrian. I obey traffic laws, and respect fellow road-users, but as noted above, I may assume pedestrian privileges, like circumventing traffic by going on to the sidewalk, and even some ”bad” habits of pedestrians, not appropriate for mention on a car-free centered forum.
…
Actually, not to raise the usual controversy, IMO when I’m on the bike, I consider myself as an amphibian. Like the biologic species between reptile and fish, I exist as a cyclist and wheeled pedestrian. I obey traffic laws, and respect fellow road-users, but as noted above, I may assume pedestrian privileges, like circumventing traffic by going on to the sidewalk, and even some ”bad” habits of pedestrians, not appropriate for mention on a car-free centered forum.
…...Last week I visited the family in Macomb County[Michigan]. IMO, that is some of the nastiest road riding I have ever encountered. The main roads, to get anywhere, are six lane concrete slabs with bumps about every 20 feet, and many cracks and potholes especially on the right, with no shoulders, and heavy, zooming traffic with little patience for (slow) cyclists. Sidewalks alongside are frequently discontinuous, and often non-existent.
Even as an experienced urban commuter, I will often flee to the sidewalks, little used by pedestrians out in suburbia. Some major roads though, like Schoenherr and Gratiot do have continuous sidewalks for long distances. I have developed a technique for riding under such circumstances I call ”bolus riding.” (Bolus = “a small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing”; think of swallowed food as it passes down the esophagus.)
Since the flow of traffic is coordinated by traffic signals, traffic usually flows as a bolus. So using my rearview MIRROR, when I see a bolus of cars behind me, I go onto a driveway or intersecting street (all with sidewalk curb cuts) and on to the sidewalk. After the bolus passes as seen in the MIRROR. I go back onto the street where I can ride much faster, until the next bolus of cars arrives. I estimate that more than one-half of the distance can be ridden comfortably on these otherwise hazardous roads...
I used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks, but now I accept it as the way it is. I’m a visitor, and must accommodate. To further the evolutionary analogy I am a small furry mammal (cyclist), whose survival depends on avoiding being trampled by the dinosaurs (autos), whose evolutionary pathway may eventually lead to much less ferocious lizards…
Even as an experienced urban commuter, I will often flee to the sidewalks, little used by pedestrians out in suburbia. Some major roads though, like Schoenherr and Gratiot do have continuous sidewalks for long distances. I have developed a technique for riding under such circumstances I call ”bolus riding.” (Bolus = “a small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing”; think of swallowed food as it passes down the esophagus.)
Since the flow of traffic is coordinated by traffic signals, traffic usually flows as a bolus. So using my rearview MIRROR, when I see a bolus of cars behind me, I go onto a driveway or intersecting street (all with sidewalk curb cuts) and on to the sidewalk. After the bolus passes as seen in the MIRROR. I go back onto the street where I can ride much faster, until the next bolus of cars arrives. I estimate that more than one-half of the distance can be ridden comfortably on these otherwise hazardous roads...
I used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks, but now I accept it as the way it is. I’m a visitor, and must accommodate. To further the evolutionary analogy I am a small furry mammal (cyclist), whose survival depends on avoiding being trampled by the dinosaurs (autos), whose evolutionary pathway may eventually lead to much less ferocious lizards…
09-03-15, 07:57 AM
#1084
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I used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks, but now I accept it as the way it is. I’m a visitor, and must accommodate. To further the evolutionary analogy I am a small furry mammal (cyclist), whose survival depends on avoiding being trampled by the dinosaurs (autos), whose evolutionary pathway may eventually lead to much less ferocious lizards…
I suppose there is likely a place I might decide to use a sidewalk in place of the road, but I have yet to find it. I'd feel like a chump riding the few sidewalks on my commutes. And I'd have to go MUCH slower. No thanks!
09-03-15, 08:32 AM
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Why do you automatically assume the autos will trample you if you don't exit to the sidewalk? Seems an irrational fear in my experience, and not backed with any real world evidence.
I suppose there is likely a place I might decide to use a sidewalk in place of the road, but I have yet to find it. I'd feel like a chump riding the few sidewalks on my commutes. And I'd have to go MUCH slower. No thanks!
I suppose there is likely a place I might decide to use a sidewalk in place of the road, but I have yet to find it. I'd feel like a chump riding the few sidewalks on my commutes. And I'd have to go MUCH slower. No thanks!
09-03-15, 08:44 AM
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I hear ya, and that's why I said there may be a situation where I might choose a sidewalk... like on your 4 mph up a hill example. Even so, I believe this choice comes down more to rider comfort, and motorist convenience, than it does safety. And that's ok!
09-03-15, 10:07 AM
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The skill and respect of drivers in the area are far worse than average, 95% of all incidents and hostile drivers I encounter are within those two miles.
As someone who primarily rides VC, there's no doubt in my mind safety is the primarily consideration when I use the sidewalk.
09-03-15, 12:45 PM
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…I used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks, but now I accept it as the way it is. I’m a visitor, and must accommodate….
Why do you automatically assume the autos will trample you if you don't exit to the sidewalk? Seems an irrational fear in my experience, and not backed with any real world evidence.
I suppose there is likely a place I might decide to use a sidewalk in place of the road, but I have yet to find it. I'd feel like a chump riding the few sidewalks on my commutes. And I'd have to go MUCH slower. No thanks!
I suppose there is likely a place I might decide to use a sidewalk in place of the road, but I have yet to find it. I'd feel like a chump riding the few sidewalks on my commutes. And I'd have to go MUCH slower. No thanks!
...Last week I visited the family in Macomb County [Michigan]. IMO, that is some of the nastiest road riding I have ever encountered. The main roads, to get anywhere, are six lane concrete slabs with bumps about every 20 feet, and many cracks and potholes especially on the right, with no shoulders, and heavy, zooming traffic with little patience for (slow) cyclists…
BTW, Michigan is a great cycling state, but like so many major metropolises, the car-centric suburbs can be intimidating.
09-03-15, 05:44 PM
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Maybe myself?
You posted that you "used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks", so maybe it's somewhat the same thing I feel, in different words.
You posted that you "used to feel resentful that I was self-relegated off to the sidewalks", so maybe it's somewhat the same thing I feel, in different words.
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 09-03-15 at 05:52 PM.
09-05-15, 08:37 PM
#1090
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I've been riding only a week after a 30+ year I-hate-us from cycling, so my conditioning is pretty poor. For now I'm using sidewalks in some areas where there's rarely any foot traffic, vehicle traffic is heavy, and shoulders are narrow. Especially uphill, where a kid on a Big Wheel could outrun me.
As my conditioning improves I'll probably use the sidewalk less on uphills. But in some areas it'll be safer to use the sidewalks, especially in areas where I might see one person every 15-30 minutes. Very few people walk or cycle in my area - it's mostly vehicles or buses - so there's very little risk to using sidewalks in some non-residential zones.
As my conditioning improves I'll probably use the sidewalk less on uphills. But in some areas it'll be safer to use the sidewalks, especially in areas where I might see one person every 15-30 minutes. Very few people walk or cycle in my area - it's mostly vehicles or buses - so there's very little risk to using sidewalks in some non-residential zones.
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