|
It is always best to know your state's bicycling laws, and local laws, if applicable. In MA, it is actually illegal to ride on the sidewalk in a zoned business district.
Outside of business districts, it is legal, unless regulated by a local ordinance. (MA general laws, chapter 85, section 11B) On your comment about the Northeast being bicycle friendly, and the southeast being un-friendly: I keep hearing this, with increasing frequency. |
Originally Posted by rydabent
(Post 16236899)
...slowing down heavy traffic roads during rush hour just because a cyclist has the right to be there does nothing to improve car/cyclist relations.
... Commuting cyclists don't ride on the road during rush hour "just because we have the right." We do it because it's the safest way for us to get our bikes from point A to point B. |
Originally Posted by rydabent
(Post 16236899)
Apparently you miss my point that slowing down heavy traffic roads during rush hour just because a cyclist has the right to be there does nothing to improve car/cyclist relations. Plainly put I would rather ride the trail even if it slows me down some.
|
Why are all these cars clogging up my streets and slowing down my ride? Why don't they have the courtesy to use the freeway that we built them just a few blocks away?
|
To quote Bike Snob NYC:
"Everybody's a little right?" You should be starting to get a little bit uncomfortable at this point. Drivers are "a little right" to be "furious at cyclists for clogging roads?" Do me a favor: tonight, at the peak of the evening rush, please head out to the BQE or the LIE or the 405 or your favorite local clogged automotive artery and find me the cyclists who are responsible for that particular cluster****. In fact, find me any situation (outside of annual charity rides or actual protests such as Critical Mass, which are statistically insignificant) in which cyclists are delaying motorists by more than a handful of seconds. Even the hated Sunday group rides that cause suburban motorists to lose their **** because a bunch of Freds are taking up the road really don't cause them any appreciable delay. All it means is that a driver has to go 20mph instead of 30mph for a minute or two--but of course every second counts when you're headed to the shopping center for those bagels. Meanwhile, all it takes is a fender-bender between two drivers to snarl traffic for hours. Delays, police, ambulances, insurance claims--all because one ******* put a tiny dent in some other *******'s Hyundai. Can you imagine if they closed 5th Avenue for half the day because a couple of pedestrians brushed shoulders and one of them spilled some Starbucks on his tie? It's really no different. |
Drivers that yell at you are probably the last ones you want to try to talk to, unless you're a professional MMA fighter.
|
Originally Posted by rydabent
(Post 16236899)
CB
Define "less safe" when it comes to riding hiker biker trails rather than riding in high speed traffic. Personally I guess I would rather be run off a trail and dump my bike in the grass than I would want to be run over by a 4000 pound car doing 45, whos idiot driver "didnt see the bike" because the idiot was texting on his smart phone. Apparently you miss my point that slowing down heavy traffic roads during rush hour just because a cyclist has the right to be there does nothing to improve car/cyclist relations. Plainly put I would rather ride the trail even if it slows me down some. I saw a local NU football pre-game show that kept cutting to the clogged parking lot style traffic on the freeway. At one point, the camera caught view of a cyclist on the shoulder of the freeway. In all seriousness, the pre-game show host blamed the lone cyclist for the game traffic back up. If the cyclist was headed to the game, he was probably one of the few shown on the TV that made it to the stadium before kickoff. It really gets tiring hearing you recreational cyclists trying to tell commuting cyclist how they should ride. Some of you are as bad as the verbal JAMs. |
Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
(Post 16237621)
Drivers that yell at you are probably the last ones you want to try to talk to, unless you're a professional MMA fighter.
|
Originally Posted by revchuck
(Post 16237092)
In the rare instance that bike trails are available, it makes sense to use them.
On the other hand there is another trail in my area that is way, way better then riding on the road because its a very good trail without any of those bad crossing situations and the main road is very narrow, high speed, with very little to no shoulder edge, with lots of curves many of them blind ones. Long story short ~ you can't make a blanket statement that a side-path is always safer then the road or vic-a-versa. Depends on the side-path conditions and the road conditions. It can go either way. |
Originally Posted by coasting
(Post 16234797)
I hate when cops yell at me to get on the pavement (sidewalk). They are such idiots.
|
You guys are ALL very informative! I know there are alot of "grey" areas in this subject.
|
Originally Posted by trackhub
(Post 16236960)
It is always best to know your state's bicycling laws, and local laws, if applicable. In MA, it is actually illegal to ride on the sidewalk in a zoned business district.
Outside of business districts, it is legal, unless regulated by a local ordinance. (MA general laws, chapter 85, section 11B) On your comment about the Northeast being bicycle friendly, and the southeast being un-friendly: I keep hearing this, with increasing frequency. Its SO VERY true! I dont understand what is wrong with these people down here. LOL. Im NOT trying to offend anyone from the southeast, but they absolutely HATE cyclist. There are a few cyclist around that are trying to make cycling more "common" but its not like other major cities in the US. I own a car also, as I work pretty far from home but I truly do share the road whether im on my bike or in my car. Im just counting the days/years until im moving.LOL. |
Where I live, its legal to ride on the sidewalk, unless there are signs posted otherwise. I spend 99% of the time on the road. There is one spot where I have a 400' climb (and I'm not a great climber), so I'll use the sidewalk, since I'm not much above walking speed, and the sidewalk is uninterrupted, so there is no cross traffic.
|
Originally Posted by CB HI
(Post 16237888)
Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
(Post 16237621)
Drivers that yell at you are probably the last ones you want to try to talk to, unless you're a professional MMA fighter.
|
Originally Posted by VeloNewbie
(Post 16250453)
You guys are ALL very informative! I know there are alot of "grey" areas in this subject.
You should also become aware of the traffic patterns(speed limit, road size n' road surface, shoulders, traffic lights/stop signs) and your skill level pursuant to those traffic patterns. Yes, You should learn the laws. But also try to gain an understanding of the traffic patterns in your locale. |
Originally Posted by CB HI
(Post 16237888)
Everyone of those type motorist I have run into are cowardly bullies. They run at the first tap on their nose.
So many people down here carry guns. I swear the longer it's been since they've seen their member, the more likely to carry. |
I have been know to ride on the sidewalk in a few locations but don't enjoy riding as slowly as necessary for safety in that position.
When motorists say something useful I listen and learn. Otherwise, their comments go directly to the well for forgetfulness. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:57 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.