Road or Sidewalk? Am I wrong?
 

I have a question that I think I know the answer to but I need to ask you guys/gals just to make sure. I have been road cycling for 2.5 years. I am from the Northeast USA(cyclist friendly somewhat), but I currently reside in the Southeast(unfortunately). Lately, I have been getting motorist yelling, "get out of the road" or "get on the sidewalk"! I think its ok for me to be on the road, right? Im averaging 17-22mph so im trying to keep up with inner city traffic. And im sharing the road, giving motorist enough room also. People in the south seem to hate a person on a bicycle. I swear. I dont think they knew what a bicycle was until a year ago. LOL. They are making me feel like im in the wrong(maybe I am). So, is there ever times I should be on the sidewalk? Or should I be on the sidewalk all the time?

P.S. How do yous deal with motorist that yell things like that? I get a little agitated. I can control myself though.

This question has been addressed multiple times. Have you tried searching the forums?
Bottom line: with few exceptions, stay OFF the sidewalks!

Yes, I did search and came up with a few topics on the subject. But I had a few more concerns in my posting that werent addressed in those topics. Ok so staying off the sidewalks is what I thought. These people are making me feel like I am in the wrong so I dont know how to deal with it. Chase them down or catch them at a light and explain it to them, or just let it go?

Even though you mention the southeastern US, it doesn't really matter where you are. There will always be motorists' who feel not only, that the road is made only for cars. But also, that bikes should only be on the sidewalk. Apart from the misguided emotions of some motorists', if by chance(not implying you should) you want to ride on the sidewalk, check your state, county, and city(or municipal) laws first.

In Maryland, the state law says 'no' to riding on the sidewalk, but allows for the county governments' to disagree. Then the city governments' have the right to agree with the state, or the county.

My county disagrees' with the state. But the city closest to me agrees' with the state. Whereas, the next city south of me, agrees' with the county.

When someone tells me to get, off the road/on the sidewalk, I ignore them. Except when I am stopped at a traffic light. Because, Just like any motorist, if I am not paying attention to the light when it goes green, I expect them to honk at me. I go 20-30mph. But even on some local roads with 30mph speed limits, I still get yelled/honked at.

The bike has been on the road since 1880. But the motorized vehicle, only since around 1903(The Wilbur n' Orville Wright flew the Wright Flyer and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina).

When drivers yell get on the sidewalk, I answer " I'm not walking ", I doubt they hear me.

In effect, you are being bullied by motorists because they are bigger faster and stronger. Me, I choose to stay in the road, but ride prepared to bail if things escalate. I have only a couple of times in the last 40 years had to bail. But I have to put a few drivers on ignore too.

Ignore them if possible. They think they know better than you, otherwise they wouldn't be yelling their instructions or commands, so it's unlikely that you can educate them.

Riding on the sidewalk increases the chances of you getting hit. Motorist have a harder time seeing you as you approach intersections and on the sidewalk, you have to cross driveways at which you may be hit.

You should always ride in the same direction as traffic and stay out of the door zone.

Cycling is very safe, but it pays to ride in the safest manner.

"Cycling is very safe, but it pays to ride in the safest manner."

Great advise CBHI-I stand in awe accurate and succinct. Thanks

The motorists who yell things are the least likely to know what they are talking about. Don't fret over the rantings of a few ignorant folks. Pity their ignorance and perhaps their reading comprehension skills and enjoy your rides (legally, on the street per every state's laws).

I have to admit, I'm conflicted over the right answer to this. I do believe that the kind of motorist who honks and yells at you to "get on the sidewalk" is the sort of person who is oblivious to reasoned arguments. However, they also may respond to humiliation. In other words, these are the sort of people who are driven by emotions rather than reason. The problem is this -- it's not easy to humiliate a motorist surrounded by two tons of steel while you are on a bicycle. And in some areas, you may actually inspire them to use physical violence against you.

So the consensus seems to be that the best thing to do is just go on your way and ignore these asshats. I freely admit sometimes this is VERY hard to do.

This post brings several things to mind. First motorist think that the roads belong to them. In fact it was cyclist around the turn of the last century that demanded and got good roads. Therefore cyclist could make the claim that motorist are using our roads.

Most laws allow bicycles to use most any road or hiway as well as cars.

As far as sidewalks are conserned, here in Lincoln I see some cyclist using a major street during rush hour when there is a very good hard surface bike trail running next to it. And yes the cyclist may have to slow down for walkers, but it is no different than cars having to slow down for cyclist. Especially during rush hour I suggest the cyclist use some common sense and ride the bike path. Riding in traffic during rush hour slowing down traffic only gives motorist even more reason to hate cyclist.

I hate when cops yell at me to get on the pavement (sidewalk). They are such idiots.

people that yell out of cars are solidly in the demographic that the best you can say of them is that they act as a negative example for others. But I see how it could make you doubt yourself. The only thing to keep in mind is a significant number of them probably yell nasty things at cyclists on the sidewalk

People that yell negative comments out car windows are in the exact same league as Pedophile's. Regard them all as such.

And how many chilrens lives have been ruined by being yelled at our of a car window? I am grossly offended that you would discount the effects of pedophilia so much. Not that people who yell unsolicited advise out of car windows are worth much of anything except contempt, comparing them to child molesters is way overboard.

And for the OP, here is an example of a cyclist who should know side paths are less safe for cyclist, and someone who recreationally cycles but does not commute during rush hour, yet he feels he has the right to decide how and where commuting cyclist should ride.

Oddly enough, during "rush hour" the cars are at a near standstill, blocking my urban streets which were laid out and paved years before cars were common. Who is impeding whom?

Strange comment about "use some common sense and get on the bike path during rush hour" when all the cars are backed up and slowed down during rush hour is one of the safest and easiest times I find to rind VC style in the road taking my place in traffic just like a car. Very relaxing slow pace with multiple little rest stops along the way. At least in town on the low speed square grid stop and go traffic roads.

So every state is a little different. Some areas of the country it is a big no no to ride on the sidewalks, anyway the sidewalk is not conducive to road biking no matter. I mostly ride vintage cruisers, they are fun to ride on the sidewalk. In suburban Detroit many people ride on the sidewalks, in fact when I was young if you were to ride in the street before you were 12 the police would write you a citation that you had to have signed by your parents and returned to the court. I had like 20 of them lol they would also write you up for riding 2 on bicycle.



Anywhere you are you have a right to ride in the road on any kind of bicycle. My response when yelled at to get on the sidewalk is to give the double bird and drop the f bomb, probably not the best response lol.
One guy told me I had the gravel shoulder to ride on, I told him to drive his car on the shoulder and to f off.

Just be careful some people hate cyclists.

My motto is to have fun, I ride about 100 miles a week all year long, mostly on a cruiser. I am seldom on time constraints like people who commute. If you are just make sure you leave early enough so you dont do dangerous things just to be on time.

Verbatim:thumb:

I think this a generalization that is not true in all areas of the country, in Michigan if you are riding cruisers or mountain bikes there are areas that are probably much safer to ride the sidewalks.

In my experience, this behavior is more prevalent in urban areas, with geographic location being irrelevant.

As for the legality - this forum has members all over the anglophone world. You need to look up your local laws. In Louisiana, bicycles are considered vehicles, and as such have the same right to the road as other vehicles. This is pretty common across the South.

I'm pretty sure you ride responsibly and obey traffic laws. The problem is that many of our fellow cyclists don't, and this is what gives us a bad reputation. You can only do what you can do, so keep setting the example.

That's what I was thinking but then I realized that I do sometimes get on the sidewalk when the rush hour traffic is locked up - they are way too slow!

In my defense that only happens every month or two when the weather is miserable, and there are no pedestrians. No intersections or driveways either, so it's a minor transgression on my part ...

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.