Is it ever ok to ride on the sidewalk?
05-29-12 | 01:08 PM
#1
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Is it ever ok to ride on the sidewalk?
Today was my first commute to work and it did not go as expected. I was half way there and saw that there was construction going on. I didn't notice the construction when I drove on Friday so it was a surprise. My option was to ride the opposite direction on the other side of the street in the bike lane (sidewalk was taken out) or turn back. I opted to turn back. I rode down to the next big street and discovered, after getting near the end, that it to was undergoing construction. Being on the bike I was able to chit chat with the construction guy that holds the stop sign. He told me to just ride on the sidewalk for the short distance. I did this and it was fine. Would it be ok to ride on the sidewalk for about 50 yards until the construction is over? I am commuting at 6 am and there are zero pedestrians at that time. The sidewalk is three times the width of a normal sidewalk. It would only be during the morning commute since the ride home direction is construction free.
05-29-12 | 01:15 PM
#2
12mph+ commuter
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From: Oak Park, IL
Was the only way to get through the construction (without taking a detour) using the sidewalk? If so, go for it! You can take advantage of a shortcut that motorists miss out on.
Do what feels right, and what you think is safe.
Do what feels right, and what you think is safe.
05-29-12 | 01:16 PM
#3
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I'd say that's perfectly fine unless you live in an area where riding on the sidewalk is illegal, but even then I'd probably consider it anyway if the visibility is clear and there are no pedestrians.
05-29-12 | 01:18 PM
#4
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Where do the cars go on that road while construction is happening? If it is safe I would ride with them so you can be seen just like them but I spose if the sidewalk is the only option then what's the harm.
05-29-12 | 01:21 PM
#5
Galveston County Texas
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From: In The Wind
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I have done the same on a cross country tour through a large city.
Be very carefull.
I dumped my bike in a construction zone.
Be very carefull.
I dumped my bike in a construction zone.
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05-29-12 | 01:22 PM
#7
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You're worrying too much. If your best and safest option was to jump on the sidewalk for a bit then do it. If you live in some area where cyclists are targeted for punishment for riding on sidewalks, you can always walk the bike around the obstruction. Just use your best judgement; it's not like the boogeyman is going to come get you if your bike touches the sidewalk.
05-29-12 | 01:23 PM
#8
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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4 lanes no space left and Log Trucks and Motorhomes on the State/US Route,
thru town, & I use the Sidewalk.. I slow down and the people walking are accommodating... I don't blow by them at high speed.
thru town, & I use the Sidewalk.. I slow down and the people walking are accommodating... I don't blow by them at high speed.
05-29-12 | 01:30 PM
#10
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From: the district
There are strong opinions here re: sidewalks. There's one small stretch of my commute that's just a lot easier on a sidewalk (going toward work), and the sidewalk is very wide, and it's legal, so I ride on the sidewalk for a bit each morning. Plenty of room for me and the peds, I feel safe, and it works for me. You just need to assess your situation and do what you think is best in each instance, assuming it's legal to do so. I'm generally of the opinion that it's safer to ride in the street, assuming that cars in your town are used to bikes on the road, as you're much more visible there. But there are times when that's not going to be the case.
Good luck with the commute!
Good luck with the commute!
05-29-12 | 01:31 PM
#11
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It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk here, but while I was doing it a cop going the opposite way saw and didn't seem to mind. What is happening is the road way is two lanes on each side, plus a bike lane. On the side I ride on, the bike lane and both lanes are closed. The sidewalk is open. The traffic from my side is being directed (via orange cones) to one of the lanes on the on coming side. The construction guy said he wouldn't ride a bike through there and said to just use the sidewalk. I can't use a detour since this was a detour from my original plan. The detour sign from this street directed me back to the original road I can't use.
05-29-12 | 01:35 PM
#12
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I would just do it. Don't even think about it. If a cop has a problem with it then just do something different next time. As long as you're not riding erratically and darting back and forth between road and sidewalk, I don't see it as being a problem.
05-29-12 | 02:20 PM
#14
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I'm usually a pretty bold take-the-lane rider but on my commute route home there is a place where the roadway is narrow and there is a lightly used sidewalk alongside. I usually hop on that sidewalk to get out of the cars way for a short distance.
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05-29-12 | 02:42 PM
#15
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
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My current commute has me going through an extremely busy intersection with lots of lanes crammed into the original street width as designed 50 years ago. I've ridden through it on the street but never feel very comfortable.
So I hit the sidewalk a block ahead of the intersection and get back on the street a block after the intersection. It's not illegal here and I might encounter a pedestrian once per month so it's not like I'm a nusience. More often I encounter other riders doing the same thing on this stretch.
I generally don't like to ride on the sidewalk, but I don't sweat it for a couple blocks in rare situations.
So I hit the sidewalk a block ahead of the intersection and get back on the street a block after the intersection. It's not illegal here and I might encounter a pedestrian once per month so it's not like I'm a nusience. More often I encounter other riders doing the same thing on this stretch.
I generally don't like to ride on the sidewalk, but I don't sweat it for a couple blocks in rare situations.
05-29-12 | 02:48 PM
#16
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Whenever, I see that the traffic is getting far too hectic and there are no pedestrians on the sidewalk, I always take my liberties.
PS.
As a kid, when I first started to ride in the street, it felt like I was doing something wrong or illegal, because I was no longer riding on the sidewalk!
PS.
As a kid, when I first started to ride in the street, it felt like I was doing something wrong or illegal, because I was no longer riding on the sidewalk!
Last edited by SlimRider; 05-29-12 at 04:34 PM.
05-29-12 | 03:42 PM
#17
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You did the right thing. Part of my commute involves a slow ride on the sidewalk across the street from the police station and city hall. It's either ride there, ride the wrong way on the street for 2 blocks, ride way the heck around the block with the police station or ride through a busy drug store parking lot and I've done it for years. Last week I saw 3 different squad cars take off like they were going on a call, and the third one slowed to wait for me as I got to the corner where I can get back on the street and ride with traffic. I was worried they were going to say something about it, but they slowed to make it easier for me to get back on the street. The smile and wave let me know I didn't have anything to worry about, and I don't think you did either.
05-29-12 | 04:31 PM
#18
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There is an intersection in my commute where there is always a long line of cars waiting to make a right turn and they tend to spill onto the bike lane. If it's really hairy I get on the sidewalk and bypass them. More for my safety than anything else really. I don't want to get in line on the turn lane too because I know people on their way home after a long day are irritated and the last thing they want to see is "a bike getting in their way".
05-29-12 | 06:15 PM
#19
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From: Louisville, Kentucky
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I don't see a problem with riding on the sidewalk in a construction zone, or whenever traffic is just a bit too hairy for a cyclist to feel safe. I don't like leaving the road, but I'll do it if I feel it would be safer to be on the sidewalk.
05-30-12 | 07:55 AM
#20
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As most others said, I don't see a problem for stretches that warrant it. I don't often go on the sidewalk, but when I do it is usually a place with not (m)any peds, and I go slow. If there were a lot of peds and I needed to take the sidewalk for some reason, I'd probably get off and walk the bike.
05-30-12 | 08:02 AM
#21
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"I don't always ride on the sidewalk, but when I do, I like to ride slow. Keep pedaling, my friends"
05-30-12 | 10:28 AM
#23
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Where do you live that it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk? In some European countries it is strictly illegal, but in most US states it is a state decision as to what the rules are. In Michigan it is not illegal, but frowned upon (i.e. you can do it in circumstances like you described). Still, I get yelled at all the time to ride on the sidewalk, even when I am going faster than traffic...
More than you wanted to know (For the state of Michigan at least):
I've seen cyclists crunched when riding on sidewalk on the left side of the street. No motorist that I have ever seen (on this continent) stops before the sidewalk, or looks to the right when entering an intersection or crosswalk. Riding against the direction of traffic on the sidewalk is pretty dangerous.
More than you wanted to know (For the state of Michigan at least):
Must a cyclist ride on the sidewalk? Is it legal? What about crosswalks?The MVC does not require bicyclists to ride on the sidewalk and we do not recommend it because of safety hazards to the bicyclist and other sidewalk users.
However, Section 257.660c of the MVC says:
(1) “An individual operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedes-trians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
(2) “An individual shall not operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk if that operation is prohibited by an official traffic control device.
(3) “An individual lawfully operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk has all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a pedestrian using that sidewalk or crosswalk.”
Dangers of Sidewalk Riding — Remember that you are “invisible” on sidewalks! Cycling on sidewalks is VERY dangerous. Motorists are looking in the road; they are not looking for vehicles — like bikes, which may be moving at nearly traffic speed — on the sidewalk. They commonly don’t “see” you there, especially at driveways and intersections.Cyclists are not required to use bike paths or sidewalks. However, If you must ride on a sidewalk (and local ordinance permits):
• Yield to pedestrians and walk bikes in crowded areas.
• Provide an audible approach warning by calling out “Passing on your left,” or by ringing your bell.
• Watch for inattentive motorists; don’t assume they see you.
• Whenever possible, ride with the direction of traffic (on the right side of the road).
However, Section 257.660c of the MVC says:
(1) “An individual operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedes-trians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
(2) “An individual shall not operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk if that operation is prohibited by an official traffic control device.
(3) “An individual lawfully operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk has all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a pedestrian using that sidewalk or crosswalk.”
Dangers of Sidewalk Riding — Remember that you are “invisible” on sidewalks! Cycling on sidewalks is VERY dangerous. Motorists are looking in the road; they are not looking for vehicles — like bikes, which may be moving at nearly traffic speed — on the sidewalk. They commonly don’t “see” you there, especially at driveways and intersections.Cyclists are not required to use bike paths or sidewalks. However, If you must ride on a sidewalk (and local ordinance permits):
• Yield to pedestrians and walk bikes in crowded areas.
• Provide an audible approach warning by calling out “Passing on your left,” or by ringing your bell.
• Watch for inattentive motorists; don’t assume they see you.
• Whenever possible, ride with the direction of traffic (on the right side of the road).
Last edited by chas58; 05-30-12 at 10:35 AM.
05-30-12 | 10:48 AM
#24
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From: Eugene, Oregon
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Sounds like riding on the sidewalk was a totally reasonable course of action to take. I'm normally one for the "boldly take the lane" position, but you've got to use common sense. F'rex, as much as I rail against salmon there's a ~30-40 yd section of highway right next to my apartment where I salmon in order to get to another road. If I tried to get to it, I would have to cross a busy 5-lane highway with no signals or crosswalks or lights twice in that same 40 yard space. So I turn my vigilance up to 11 and remain aware that *I'm* the one who is doing something unexpected, and act accordingly so I don't cause other road users inconvenience or confusion.
05-30-12 | 12:31 PM
#25
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From: Riverside, CA
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Where do you live that it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk? In some European countries it is strictly illegal, but in most US states it is a state decision as to what the rules are. In Michigan it is not illegal, but frowned upon (i.e. you can do it in circumstances like you described). Still, I get yelled at all the time to ride on the sidewalk, even when I am going faster than traffic...
More than you wanted to know (For the state of Michigan at least):
I've seen cyclists crunched when riding on sidewalk on the left side of the street. No motorist that I have ever seen (on this continent) stops before the sidewalk, or looks to the right when entering an intersection or crosswalk. Riding against the direction of traffic on the sidewalk is pretty dangerous.
More than you wanted to know (For the state of Michigan at least):
I've seen cyclists crunched when riding on sidewalk on the left side of the street. No motorist that I have ever seen (on this continent) stops before the sidewalk, or looks to the right when entering an intersection or crosswalk. Riding against the direction of traffic on the sidewalk is pretty dangerous.