bbtm

Ok; I don't drive yet (I'm 19; just never felt the need to) and I do ride a good amount of bike.

However; why do bike riders ride on the street; when there is obviously a sidewalk or other area only feet from the road? Am I missing something or is it a "because you can" type thing? I'd feel safer on a sidewalk then a road, with cars, etc.

Just thought I'd find out why ...

BigFloppyLlama

Sidewalks have pedestrians, poles, dips and whatnot. It just isn't fun (or really safe) to ride on them. It would seem safer, but as long as the driver has the least bit of skill, you're probably better off riding on the road where the cars can more easily see you.

Chris L

Statistically you're actually safer on the road than the footpath/sidewalk. One of the problems with riding on the footpath is the constant intersections with not only roads, but also driveways and other entrances. The fact is that cars using these are not looking for traffic on the footpath as readily as they are looking on the road - hence your chances of actually being hit are greatly increased on the footpath. Contrary to popular belief, most bike/car collisions are the result of these side-on interactions rather than car hitting bike from behind.

The other fact is, the number of bicycle accidents that involve cars is surprisingly small. The most common form of cycling accident leading to serious injury is simply falling off. For the reasons posted above - this is more likely on the footpath than on the road. Again, the road is safer.

MediaCreations 

It is also illegal to ride on the footpath.

If there is a quality bike path (I know that Chris doesn't believe they exist) then it's worthwhile getting off the road.

I have a wonderful, wide, smooth bike path with no intersections for a large section of my commute. I love riding on it but when what is meant to pass as a bike path is lumpy and winding, I'll stay on the road.

Chris L

Not here it's not. Well, maybe it's yet another of those things that could only happen in Queensland.

MichaelW

The road is by far the safest place to be if you ride your bike like a road vehicle.
Even dedicated on-road cycle lanes produce more danger than they prevent.
Sidewalks are mostly illegal to ride, and they put the cyclist in conflict with cars at every junctin. Conflict = potential crash.

chewa

It's illegal to ride on the pavement (sidewalk ) here.

Also, by riding in the street I maintain the right to do so.

Code Monkey

when you start riding on the street just remember to always take up more lane space than you'd have too, especially if the road has two lanes going one way... this would prevent drivers from passing you too close... except of course if they're over 60...

OregonBound

I weigh 212 pounds and my bike and commuting gear weighs another 50 pounds. Imagine that mass zipping down a sidewalk full of people, pets, and poles, while moving at 14-18MPH. Also remember that sidewalks don't exist in many areas, often lack cutouts, make a left turn suicidally dangerous, and are illegal for adult riders in many places.

Paul

propp2531

Its illegal here too.

Ken S

I saw a guy riding the other day with a small flag that came out horizontally from his bike (about 18 inches). At first I thought what a neat idea...it'll warn the cars off.
Then I realized it would just piss them off and make me more of a target.

...ken

Laggard

SIDEWALKS ARE FOR WALKING!!!!!!

multisport4life

Anyone ever try riding 25mph on the sidewalk? That would be some kind of frightening experience I'd think.

hibiscus09

Much better pace on the road!!

pjbaz

When I was a kid in MA we used to ride our BMX bikes downtown all the time, sidewalks, streets, whatever.

Then, a kid cranking a wheelie crashed into a cop coming out of a store and that ended the legal use of sidewalks for bicycles. Although, they never really busted our stones about it, just passed a local ordinance.

PJ

EagleEye

Yep, illegal here too. Some guy actually got a ticket for riding on the sidewalk near my house.

greywolf

you are pulling our collective legs, right ???

EagleEye

Nope, actually happened. The kid was biking really fast. Guess the cop thought it was unsafe.

firebolt

I ride on the street and I definitely think it's safer than sidewalk. One day, as I was riding along the usual route, I saw this car waiting to enter the street from a parking lot. The driver definitely saw me and waited for me to pass. Her car almost blocked the sidewalk. In the mean time, there was this guy on a bike (definitely not an avid cyclist), riding on the sidewalk, from the opposite direction, stubbornly trying to squeeze his way through the almost-blocked sidewalk. As I passed them, *BOOM*, the car hit him. I stopped, looked back and I saw the guy stood up holding his badly tacoed bike. No one was hurt, so I continued riding. That guy must have thought that it's safe to ride on sidewalk. Boy, was he wrong.

EastCoast

Illegal in NYC!

greywolf

I was refering to the original post but it would be unusual for a kid to get a ticket for rideing on the footpath here especialy if it was a busy road , the cops would turn a blind eye but they would pull him if he/she had no helmet !

caloso

Illegal here too. And more importantly, almost always unsafe.

Stubacca

I find it a more uninterrupted ride on the road, and much less stressful/far safer not having to constantly pass pedestrians and dogs, and not having to worry all the time about cars coming out of driveways. Sure there's the added danger of fast moving cars, but I'm pretty careful about what roads I ride on. I'll happily ride on a shared path, though.

Most of my riding is early in the morning, so the traffic is light on both the roads and shared paths.

roadfix

1) It is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in my town.
2) Even if it was legal, my 20 min commute to work would turn into 60 min on the sidewalk.
3) On our weekly training ride, can you imagine 150 riders on the sidewalk????
4) Mr. bbtm.........hope you learned something new today.
5)
6)

cAPSLOCK

Well I am not sure why I am saying this again but...

Sidewalks are way too dangerous rough for a road bike. A MTN bike is a different matter... sometimes I like riding mine on sidewalks where there are not people walking.

cAPS