Rant- Bicyclist on sidewalks
05-09-08 | 11:38 AM
#77
look, for some it works, for some it doesn't. it's not a black and white issue.
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"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
05-09-08 | 01:11 PM
#78
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Convergence Zone, WA
Hi. n00b here, and first post. I'm not strictly a commuter, because I work at home, but I'm rapidly cutting down my car use and expanding my range for local trips. As my wife and I are learning to find our way places by bike, I've been thinking about sidewalks a lot.
I understand the reasons for not using the sidewalk, but on the other hand, I live in a suburb designed only for cars. For several of my frequent destinations, there simply is no practical street route without using sidewalks. One trip includes a significant (for me) climb up a narrow curve with two lanes and no shoulder. The one sidewalk goes the wrong way up the hill, but there are very seldom any peds, and if there are, I'm climbing slowly anyway. After the climb, and a bridge, the road is more hospitable and I can get back in the lane. Another example is a mile of 5-lane 50+ mph highway, also very curvy, but with extra wide empty sidewalks running both ways. Re-routing either of these trips to use better roads would add a minimum of 2 miles, which at my age and fitness level is significant. (The first trip itself is a re-route around a busier freeway entrance cloverleaf with blind curves and no shoulder or sidewalks whatsoever.)
I don't know why I feel the need to justify myself here. Sure, I want to legitimize bikes and take my rightful place as part of traffic, but not enough to endanger myself unnecessarily. I've adopted the idea that any pavement that gets me there in one piece, without endangering anyone else, is good pavement. Is this really the kind of sidewalk riding that some people are bothered by?
I understand the reasons for not using the sidewalk, but on the other hand, I live in a suburb designed only for cars. For several of my frequent destinations, there simply is no practical street route without using sidewalks. One trip includes a significant (for me) climb up a narrow curve with two lanes and no shoulder. The one sidewalk goes the wrong way up the hill, but there are very seldom any peds, and if there are, I'm climbing slowly anyway. After the climb, and a bridge, the road is more hospitable and I can get back in the lane. Another example is a mile of 5-lane 50+ mph highway, also very curvy, but with extra wide empty sidewalks running both ways. Re-routing either of these trips to use better roads would add a minimum of 2 miles, which at my age and fitness level is significant. (The first trip itself is a re-route around a busier freeway entrance cloverleaf with blind curves and no shoulder or sidewalks whatsoever.)
I don't know why I feel the need to justify myself here. Sure, I want to legitimize bikes and take my rightful place as part of traffic, but not enough to endanger myself unnecessarily. I've adopted the idea that any pavement that gets me there in one piece, without endangering anyone else, is good pavement. Is this really the kind of sidewalk riding that some people are bothered by?
05-09-08 | 01:21 PM
#79
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: midwest
SOme bike lanes around here are a lot more dangerous to be in than the sidewalks (bad placement, cars don't pay attention to them, they end in weird places at intersections, etc)- which whereI bike are almost never used by pedestrians. I will ride whereever is safer - as long as there are no pedestrians.
I prefer the road itself.
I prefer the road itself.
05-09-08 | 01:36 PM
#80
Just remember that "safe" is entirely dependent on the person saying it.
Start a poll:
the longer you ride the more you:
- ride in the street
- ride on the sidewalk
The answer, which we all know already, is telling.
Start a poll:
the longer you ride the more you:
- ride in the street
- ride on the sidewalk
The answer, which we all know already, is telling.
05-09-08 | 03:14 PM
#81
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
05-09-08 | 05:23 PM
#83
64°08′N 21°56′W
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Reykjavik, Iceland
I have absolutely no problem whatsoever riding the sidewalk. It's legal here, it's deserted and it's way safer than mixing it up with cars going close to or over 100km/h on some portions of my commute. Most days I pass not one pedestrian on my commute, there and back. If there are pedestrians I'll slow way down, ring my little bell to let them know I'm coming and pass them safely.
I'm a year round commuter, in a place where it means something (not that it doesn't mean something in Ottawa). I also mountain bike, ride road bikes and fixies. I resent the allegation that riding on the sidewalk makes me any less of a cyclist. I'm fully capable of riding on the road, but it would be stupid to risk my life mixing in with high speed traffic when there's an empty sidewalk right next to it. The only downside is crossing streets where I have to be more careful of turning traffic, but at least I have some degree of control there. In comparison, my influence on whether I'm rear ended on the road is negligible. Oh, and just to be clear, on the deserted sidewalks where I can see far and wide, I go flat out.
I'm a year round commuter, in a place where it means something (not that it doesn't mean something in Ottawa). I also mountain bike, ride road bikes and fixies. I resent the allegation that riding on the sidewalk makes me any less of a cyclist. I'm fully capable of riding on the road, but it would be stupid to risk my life mixing in with high speed traffic when there's an empty sidewalk right next to it. The only downside is crossing streets where I have to be more careful of turning traffic, but at least I have some degree of control there. In comparison, my influence on whether I'm rear ended on the road is negligible. Oh, and just to be clear, on the deserted sidewalks where I can see far and wide, I go flat out.
05-09-08 | 07:09 PM
#84
Been Around Awhile
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,657
Likes: 1,975
From: Burlington Iowa
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Depends if you like to socialize with Ranters who can't mind their own business and Smugsters looking for a reason to feel superior to the "other" guys.
05-10-08 | 10:05 AM
#85
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Bikes: MTB Agressor for now.
I use the sidewalk when....
1. A bus stop is near and I know the bus is coming
2. A police car is in the bike lane pulling somoene over
3. There is no bike lane
4. If the bike lane is crappy
Some people I know will ride opposite of traffic and wont ride in bike lanes because they are afraid to get hit. They don't know that going the wrong way will have a much higher percentage of them getting hit than not. I see so many bikers doing this that I just keep my mouth shut. I see people going in the bike lane the wrong way and I just want to tell them to get on the right side of the road, but that would just cause problems. The people that do these kinds of things are paranoid of getting hit by bad drivers usually.
1. A bus stop is near and I know the bus is coming
2. A police car is in the bike lane pulling somoene over
3. There is no bike lane
4. If the bike lane is crappy
Some people I know will ride opposite of traffic and wont ride in bike lanes because they are afraid to get hit. They don't know that going the wrong way will have a much higher percentage of them getting hit than not. I see so many bikers doing this that I just keep my mouth shut. I see people going in the bike lane the wrong way and I just want to tell them to get on the right side of the road, but that would just cause problems. The people that do these kinds of things are paranoid of getting hit by bad drivers usually.
