.

Always the street. The only places I take the sidewalk are:

* There was one spot on a route that I used to take that it was easier to: cut across the opposing lane of traffic, get on the sidewalk mid-block, and cross the intersection in the cross walk and then head east (I was heading south up to that point), rather than wait in a row of cars for a gap in opposing traffic so I could turn left. There isn't a turn lane there, and there's always a lot of traffic going the other way, so I'd have to wait several light cycles to make it up to the front and then inevitably was turning from the middle of the intersection as the light turned red and one last car raced through from the other direction. Awful. I chose to take the sidewalk for half a block instead, but have finally settled on different routes now.

* Also on the same route, there'd almost always be a long traffic jam on a one way multi-lane street and sometimes the cars would block my ability to filter to the front, so I'd sometimes hop on the sidewalk for almost a block to get around that. There's actually a bike box at the front of that intersection and the sidewalk is wide and always deserted there, so it felt completely legit to do that.

* Every now and then the narrow streets here will be totally blocked, either by a large vehicle coming from the other direction (or parked), or a line of cars backed up waiting to turn (usually left, and I'm going to turn right), and I'll hop on the sidewalk to get around them. There's one spot on my regular commute home this happens pretty frequently, and this is where my bike takes a beating, because I'm often moving at speed and the line of cars is on a downhill and I exit off the sidewalk into the street by hopping off the curb. My only other option here (other than waiting a light cycle or two for no good reason) is the street before, which is very rough, very uneven cobblestones, on which my bike and my wrists take a beating. Still, I've chosen this most of the time recently, now that it is finally wet though, that might change. It's amazing how few options of through streets there are in the Seattle area.

Other than those special circumstances I always ride in the street. Depending on what I see in my rearview mirror and what each block of road is like, I may be controlling the lane, in the doorzone, in a bikelane (which is often the doorzone!). My preference is in the middle or to the left of a lane, and if there is a turn lane adjacent or another lane of traffic headed the same direction, this is where I usually am, no matter the speed of automobile traffic or the difference in our speeds. :thumb:

+3

sidewalks are for pushing baby strollers, children on scooters, dog walkers, mailmen......

+1

The only sidewalk I take is the one block that leads to the bike cage at the office. I ride on the sidewalk there simply because it's a one-way street against my direction. (FWIW, it's legal to ride on the sidewalk here.)

spot on:thumb:

I will ride the sidewalk for a short distance at the end or start of my trip, like from the nearest driveway to the door. Otherwise I stay off the sidewalk. It is a very slow place to ride, dangerous if any pedestrians are around, and often illegal. Very occasionally if I find myself on a section of road that is too dangerous to ride, I'll escape to the sidewalk, either walking or scootering or riding slowly, but this doesn't happen twice. I learn and don't go that route again. There is almost never a destination with only one road to get there.

For people who ride sidewalks regularly, I have to ask:
- Do you ride >5 mph? Riding much faster than that is dangerous, among pedestrians and cars in/out of driveways and people darting out from shop doors.
- Wouldn't it be faster to take an alternate route, on roads, where you can ride 15-20 mph? Even if it is 3X longer.

Street 99% of the time now. I used to do a street/sidewalk hybrid due to where I used to live (faster/easier taking the sidewalk up the mile to the base than crossing morning traffic), but one morning I encountered an ear-phone wearing ped and in avoiding them ended up doing an endo and busting my front tyre to hell. Almost pure street after that. The only sidewalk I take is the one near the local CVS, because it leads to several contiguous parking lots that gets me back to my current place. It measures about 5' long.

M.

EDIT: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...8&z=17&iwloc=A

That spot. I take the parking lots to the NW of it on the way to and from most times.

There are very few cases where I will get on a sidewalk. I know my route and these are very exceptional cases. Sidewalks that cross high density areas with lots of driveways are very dangerous unless you ride at walking speed. Doing it in the direction opposite the flow of street traffic borders on suicidal.

This is one of the very few cases I ride the sidewalk. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3623271
*It is up hill
*My speed is rarely over 10MPH because of the hill
*I have never encountered a pedestrian on it (I did once see a cyclist coming my way on it. He was being cautious and It seemed to me that he couldn't wait to clear that section of road and get back in the street-Sidewalk on other side was closed due to construction at the time)
*there is no cross traffic for this entire section

Look at the street view. It is three lanes, no shoulder, and vehicle speeds in excess of 40. There are bike lanes leading to it, and after it. I use those.

Street only. Discounting the issue of avoiding, scaring or just being rude to the pedestrians who belong there, sidewalk riding means a curb at every corner. It also means potentially entering intersections from a place that cars don't expect me, or crossing active driveways faster and at poor angle of vision. All in all riding in the street with traffic is far and away safer, except for small children on "sidewalk" bikes.

That said, my business is on a one way street, and I'll often use the empty sidewalk for the last half block to avoiding going around the block (especially if it's raining).

To me it seems pretty hard to believe that someone can be an avid cyclist and "never" ride on a sidewalk, unless they ride the same route all the time that doesn't require.. Of course as a general rule the street is the best option and should be used most of the time. I think cycling is like most things in life in that wisdom needs to be used in every situation to do what is best for the given situation. If I have an option of riding up a long steep hill on a road with with no shoulder and multiple lanes of cars speeding along at 50-60mph or riding up the deserted sidewalk next to it, do some of you really think I should take the busy street? Which solution would be worse for the reputation of cyclists? I'll take the sidewalk, and in fact, I do everyday. On the other hand, perhaps the reason why we cannot agree on this discussion is because we live in different cities, or rural areas, therefore, we deal with different situations.

Just 5 minutes ago I nearly ran over a kid who came flying into a crosswalk from the sidewalk. If you are sidewalk riding, at least stop at every intersection and look.

You're right. Never is a very strong word and most of us who say "never" really mean very rarely, or only in exceptional situations. Infer "almost" in front of never in most posts, unless the poster or syntax makes it clear that never means never.

True, and actually I did notice that you didn't use the word never in your street only post, and you even gave an exception to the rule example. Some people have given some literal "never" blanket statements. I suppose maybe they do actually always get off the bike and walk. And your right, every post cannot be taken as entirely literal, or as someones concrete opinion.

How is it "hard to believe"?
As an avid cyclist, I practise following the rules of the road.
Cars have no problems passing slow cars in the right/curb lane, what's the difference whe its a bike?
I never have a problem with this when I'm driving, in fact I have more courtesy toward cyclist who ride on the road, than I do on the sidewalk.

Is there a law or minimum speed limit a cyclist must follow going up a hill?
Not that I know of, so for me to carry on @ my own pace, I'm following the rules of the road, & staying within my local laws.
If I feel the need to use the sidewalk I dismount. How hard is that to understand? Even if its deserted I'll "scoot" with one leg unclipped using that to propel me where I need to go.
Its common courtesy, & common sense. Its a sidewalk where we're meant to walk.
If someone is crossing the street do you weave around them like you would when you ride your bike on the sidewalk?

I'm glad theres a few who agree with me on this subject.
"Its hard to believe" there's so many who disagree.
:rolleyes:

Again not telling any of you not to use the sidewalk, this is just my opinion.
The more you use the road, the more comfortable you get using it, you find it much easier to map out your route too.
Like all things, the more you practice, the better you'll be.

There are exceptions to everything.
What's wrong with me dismounting & walking?

Yes,I know. The way you used it came off as condescending.

Or ride on the sidewalk and move faster. If there are no peds,this isn't and issue.

I don't think you have to deal with the drivers we do. Rob22315 and I are both in DC.

Not ours. Not in DC(except the downtown BID),and not in Montgomery County,MD,where the hill I mentioned is located.

You're not getting the point. If some of the drivers around here have an issue with a cyclist,they're not going to complain,they're going to do something. They're going to pass too close to teach you a lesson. Or brake check you. Or ride inches off your rear wheel and hold down the horn button. While they may not be trying to hurt you,if anything goes wrong,if they miscalculate or you move,then you can get seriously hurt or killed. And it'll realistically be about a 50/50 chance that if they hit you they'll stick around. And if they do,there's a pretty good chance the cop will find you at fault. This is what we have to deal with here:
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...u-are-a-biker/
http://www.thewashcycle.com/2010/04/...1st-st-nw.html
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ke-collision-/

You don't live in DC,you don't know exactly what we deal with. If you want to give your opinion,fine,but don't criticize what we do your try to offer us advice because you think we're wrong.

I never said you guys were wrong, I just don't agree with you guys. I never once said you had to do as I say.
You make it seem like DC is the worst place to be a cyclist, or you're somewhat more prone to "road ragers". We all have to deal with this crap where we live. If its so dangerous for you wear a camera.
We have some of the most stupid drivers where I'm from, you should see the amount of cycling related deaths we get yearly.
No one is immune to this except maybe the folks in the Netherlands.
You're crazy if you believe you have it the worst.

I guess it depends on how long the sidewalk stretches uninterupted. You can't ride through crosswalks, even slowly. The car won't stop until after it hits you.

Yes.

Never intended to infer that there was something wrong with walking, I just meant that it is probably the only way a cyclist can possible go without ever riding on a sidewalk. If walking is the best thing to do in a given situation, then by all means walk. I would, and have. :thumb:

OK, I have to admit that I will use the sidewalk when climbing some hills. But you have to understand. I'm really bad at hills. I HAVE been passed by joggers while climbing some hills. Somehow, when going that slow, it just doesn't feel right to take a traffic lane.

I prefer to ride in the streets except when the cars are too crazy! The most recent bike lane i rode was in the middle of of a narrow street with cars:(. Thats crazy.

As I've said before, it perplexes me how mad someone in a Magic Go Box capable of a mile a minute for no physical effort can be over a one second delay caused by passing.

Hell, today on the way into base I had someone get danger close for no discernible reason (no traffic backup, no one in the other lane). Probably should have told one of the guards, but there isn't much they could have done I think.

M.

in the city of los angeles it is legal to ride on sidewalks. many people do, especially on busy streets without bike lanes. some adjacent cities dont permit riding on sidewalks ie santa monica.

i avoid biking on sidewalks as i know the dangers. some streets are dangerous too however so the best thing to do is try to bike on the safer streets. ive taken some falls on sidewalks earlier ie tree roots uplifting sidewalks, large cracks, debris, weird changes in sidewalk heights or unexpected curbs or barriers, projections from storefronts ie a concrete block holding a door open, or landscaping retaining walls of a few inches high, skateboards from people waiting for a bus, cars darting out from driveways, etc. street is more predictable. i find the biggest challenge is when im tired ie on way home from long ride or tired from work or not feeling well. then i might think i cant or dont want to ride in street, too taxing but in that situation ive learned sidewalk is worse.

To make thing worse for cyclists in our city...
We are now considered to have the busiest/most congested roads I'm North America. We rival some European cities.
More cars on the roads than California, & its illegal to ride on sidewalks.

I don't complain cause I don't have to ride in India, or China!
That's what you can consider dangerous! Our North American roads are tamed compared to them.

Please don't try to shame people into doing things that they don't feel comfortable with,or that are actually dangerous. You don't live here,so you don't know what our traffic conditions are like.

Well said.

On my daily commute I ride the edge of the pavement of an access road in the morning going with traffic, coming back in the evening I ride about a half-mile of sidewalk against the direction of traffic. Pedestrians are few, especially at night, and I give them the right of way.

Another 50 yard section at the very top of a steep hill in the morning I get onto the sidewalk, stop in a driveway to look back, and then cross four lanes of traffic to get to the sidewalk on the other side and ride against traffic on that sidewalk through a busy intersection and then 70 yards across a major highway overpass. After the busy intersection on the other side of the overpass I stay on the sidewalk against traffic a short distance further before turning left into a quieter area and resuming riding on the street again.

Works for me. If I were to stay on pavement I'd have to contend with right-turning traffic at that intersection while laboring uphill, then ride across a busy overpass with narrow lanes, once past the overpass I'd have to get over to a left lane across two lanes of traffic in a busy commercial area.

Coming back on that same stretch I ride the pavement, with a fast downhill roll on the steep hill.

Traffic law enforcement re: bicycles in my area is essentially non-existent, hardly anyone is on a bike. But neither do I ride like an idiot.

Mike

Well, I shall shame myself with this post. Yesterday, when dropping Lola off at the LBS, so that they could install her new Brooks saddle/grips, and do some other minor stuff, I will admit that I rode on the sidewalk some of the time. I did so, because some of the route was hilly, and I am still working to get myself into shape, so I tend to get winded easily (partially due to me being a 3 mo. early premie & having some breathing issues throughout my life). I took to the sidewalks, just to be safer, although, I generally take the bike lanes 90% of my riding time.

Mostly street but as another poster stated, I too suck at riding up hills and don't wish to slow up traffic behind me, so onto the sidewalk I go.
BTW, my bike weighs well over 40lbs with panniers and a boat anchor of a Ulock.

Add to the already overwhelming majority, streets or bike lanes because sidewalks are for walking. However, in the silly little town where I live there are portions of the downtown bike path that are on the sidewalk, I think this is stupid but it is what it is if you want to remain on the bike path.

I ride on the street, sidewalks, alleys, bike trails, driveways, parkways and dirt trails, across grass and gravel, through parking lots and small bodies of water on occasion, whatever makes the most sense at the time. While I probably ride 98% of the time on the street or bike path, sometimes the safest (or convenient) way is to take a detour off the street. If you are not getting in anyone's way, I don't see what the problem is. My commute goes through industrial areas and past cemeteries where there are almost no people on the sidewalks and very little chance of cars pulling out of driveways. If I do resort to a sidewalk with people on it I will slow down to walking speed, but usually stay on the bike.

You reminded me... there are a few places in Seattle where an MUP runs directly on the sidewalk. For the Seattle-area riders, it's the Interurban Trail running north-south near Shoreline City Hall...