smasha

i'm compiling a list of statutes that explicitly allow riding a bike on a sidewalk... or in different jurisdictions, a "footpath".

if you can help me add to this list it would be appreciated. thanks!

Bicycles on the Sidewalk (Portland Police)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HViAMpQXaA

Oregon Revised Statutes § 814.410 Unsafe operation of bicycle on sidewalk (1) A person commits the offense of unsafe operation of a bicycle on a sidewalk if the person does any of the following: (a) Operates the bicycle so as to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. (b) Operates a bicycle upon a sidewalk and does not give an audible warning before overtaking and passing a pedestrian and does not yield the right of way to all pedestrians on the sidewalk. (c) Operates a bicycle on a sidewalk in a careless manner that endangers or would be likely to endanger any person or property. (d) Operates the bicycle at a speed greater than an ordinary walk when approaching or entering a crosswalk, approaching or crossing a driveway or crossing a curb cut or pedestrian ramp and a motor vehicle is approaching the crosswalk, driveway, curb cut or pedestrian ramp. This paragraph does not require reduced speeds for bicycles at places on sidewalks or other pedestrian ways other than places where the path for pedestrians or bicycle traffic approaches or crosses that for motor vehicle traffic. (2) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, a bicyclist on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bi...013ors814.html

Revised Code of Washington § 46.61.261 Sidewalks, crosswalks — Pedestrians, bicycles. (1) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or bicycle on a sidewalk. The rider of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk or crosswalk.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.261

Revised Code of Washington § 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. (2) Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.755

Idaho Statutes, TITLE 49, CHAPTER 7, 49-721. Bicycles on sidewalks. (1) A person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicyclist. (2) A person shall not operate a bicycle along and upon a sidewalk or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, where the use of bicycles is prohibited by official traffic control devices. (3) A person operating a vehicle by human power, or operating a motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device upon and along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://www.legislature.idaho.gov/ids...SECT49-721.htm

Florida Statutes, Title XXIII, Chapter 316, 316.2065 Bicycle regulations – (9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances. (10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...0316.2065.html

Colorado Revised Statutes, § 42-4-1412. Operation of bicycles and other human-powered vehicles (10) (a) A person riding a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or pathway or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. A person riding a bicycle in a crosswalk shall do so in a manner that is safe for pedestrians. (10)(c) A person riding or walking a bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or pathway or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, including, but not limited to, the rights and duties granted and required by section 42-4-802.
https://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/pdf/c...kestatutes.pdf

At least 22 [US] states explicitly permit bicycling on the sidewalks, usually with exceptions. In most of the other states, sidewalk bicycling is implicitly permitted since there is no general prohibition against driving vehicles on sidewalks... Of the 22 states that explicitly permit bicycling on sidewalks, 12 specify that sidewalk cyclists have the rights and duties of pedestrians.
https://bicycledriving.org/law/guide-to-improving-laws

Bicyclists and other users on sidewalks, shared use paths, and crosswalks have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstance.
https://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-laws.asp

Code of Virginia, Title 46.2, § 46.2-904 - A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or foot-scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian... A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or foot-scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...0+cod+46.2-904

Ohio Revised Code, Title [45] XLV, 4511.711 Driving on sidewalk. (A) No person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.711

unterhausen

Pennsylvania:
https://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms.../chapter35.pdf
I never saw the bike lane prohibition, we have a street with bike lanes where you also have to watch for bikes on the sidewalk

squirtdad

Out of curiosity: Why?

dedhed

Good luck on that - in my metro area alone every city town or village has different ordinances. Some may only prohibit it in certain ares or age dependent.

https://www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageL...lbtf/ch102.pdf

Chris516

Maryland says no. But leaves it up to the counties. My county says yes. But leaves it up to the cities n' towns. The city surrounding the town I live in, says no. But the neighboring city says yes.

Basically like....I say tomato, you say tomatoe.

Messy

smasha

that's another story... a few weeks or months away. for now, i just need to compile as many statutory examples as i can, from anywhere in the world, to demonstrate that riding a bike on a sidewalk is explicitly legal, often with reasonable exceptions... more or less along the lines of "don't be a dick".

smasha

list of states that explicitly allow riding a bike on a sidewalk. list based on - https://bikeleague.org/StateBikeLaws

now i'm looking for help with a list of US municipal regulations that allow bicycling on a footpath, and statutes & regulations from outside the US.

Alaska Administrative Code, Title 13, 13 AAC 02.400. Riding bicycles on roadways and bicycle paths – (d)A person operating a bicycle on a trail, path, sidewalk, or sidewalk area shall (1) exercise care to avoid colliding with other persons or vehicles; (2) give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian; and (3) yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.
https://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/aac.asp#13.02.400

Colorado Revised Statutes, § 42-4-1412. Operation of bicycles and other human-powered vehicles (10) (a) A person riding a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or pathway or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. A person riding a bicycle in a crosswalk shall do so in a manner that is safe for pedestrians. (10)(c) A person riding or walking a bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or pathway or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, including, but not limited to, the rights and duties granted and required by section 42-4-802.
https://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/pdf/c...kestatutes.pdf

Connecticut General Statutes Title 14, § 14-286a. Rights, duties and regulation of cyclists. (b) Every person operating a bicycle solely by hand or foot power upon and along any sidewalk or across any roadway upon and along any crosswalk shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians walking in such areas as provided by the general statutes, except as provided otherwise by any ordinance of any city, town or borough or any regulation of the State Traffic Commission issued or adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 14-289.
https://cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap248.htm#Sec14-286a.htm

Delaware Code, Title 21,§ 4198B Bicycles on sidewalks and crosswalks. (c)A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or pushing a bicycle across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc12/#4198B

District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, 1201.9 - There shall be no prohibition against any person riding a bicycle or personal mobility device upon a sidewalk within the District, so long as the rider does not create a hazard...
https://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/Fin...sionID=4383447

Florida Statutes, Title XXIII, Chapter 316, 316.2065 Bicycle regulations – (9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances. (10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...tute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2065.html

Hawaii Statutes §291C-148 Driving upon sidewalk. (b) Unless otherwise prohibited, a bicycle may be driven at a speed of ten miles per hour or less on a sidewalk or sidewalk area; provided that the driver of the bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and that bicycle riding shall be prohibited on sidewalks in business districts.
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscur...0291C-0148.htm

Idaho Statutes, TITLE 49, CHAPTER 7, 49-721. Bicycles on sidewalks. (1) A person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicyclist. (2) A person shall not operate a bicycle along and upon a sidewalk or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, where the use of bicycles is prohibited by official traffic control devices. (3) A person operating a vehicle by human power, or operating a motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device upon and along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://www.legislature.idaho.gov/ids...SECT49-721.htm

Illinois Compiled Statutes, §11-1512(c) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?
ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=130800000&SeqEnd=133400000

Massachusetts General Laws PART I, TITLE XIV, CHAPTER 85, Section 11B (3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance. A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Gener...r85/Section11B

MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE, 257.660c Operation of bicycle upon sidewalk or pedestrian crosswalk. (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.
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(uut...))/mileg.aspx?
page=shortlinkdisplay&docname=mcl-257-660c

Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169, Section 169.222, OPERATION OF BICYCLE - Subd. 4. Riding rules (f) A person lawfully operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/...es/?id=169.222

Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 300, § 300.347.1, Riding bicycle on sidewalks - 2. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
https://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/st...000003471.html

Montana Code Annotated, § 61-8-608. Bicycles on sidewalks - (3) Except as provided in subsections (1) and (2), a person operating a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/61/8/61-8-608.htm

Ohio Revised Code, Title [45] XLV, 4511.711 Driving on sidewalk. (A) No person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.711

Oregon Revised Statutes § 814.410 Unsafe operation of bicycle on sidewalk (2) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, a bicyclist on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bi...013ors814.html

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, § 3508. Pedalcycles on sidewalks and pedalcycle paths. (a) Right-of-way to pedestrians.--A person riding a pedalcycle upon a sidewalk or pedalcycle path used by pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
https://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms.../chapter35.pdf

Rhode Island Codes Title 31, § 31-19-12 Bicycles on sidewalks and crosswalks – Rights and duties. – A person propelling a vehicle by human power or operating an electric personal assistive mobility device ("EPAMD") upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances...
https://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/S...9/31-19-12.HTM

South Dakota Codified Laws, Title 32, Bicycle Regulation § 32-20B-2 Operation on sidewalk or crosswalk - A person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances...
https://law.justia.com/codes/south-da...tion-32-20b-2/

Utah Code, Title 41, Chapter 6a, Section 1702 - (1) Except for a bicycle or device propelled by human power, a person may not operate a vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area.
https://le.utah.gov/code/TITLE41/htm/41_06a170200.htm

Code of Virginia § 46.2-904 - A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or foot-scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/leg...0+cod+46.2-904

Revised Code of Washington § 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. (2) Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.755

Wyoming State Codes, Title 31, Chapter 5, § 31-5-120. Driving Upon Sidewalk - No person shall drive any vehicle except motorized wheelchairs other than by human power upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
https://legisweb.state.wy.us/statutes...e31/T31CH5.htm

dpeters11

Keep in mind, at least for Ohio (and probably others), while it is legal at the state level to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk, local jurisdictions are able to prohibit it. In Cincinnati, it's illegal for those over the age of 14 (and illegal for those 14 and under where a building directly abuts the sidewalk) to ride on a sidewalk that isn't designated as shared use.

smasha

i showed up to court with 8 pages of written defence. i asked if i was in the right place, and the prosecutor asked for my name, then told me that she reviewed the file and would request the charge be withdrawn, as it was not in the public interest to prosecute.

so the charge was dropped and the case was thrown out. i didn't even have to say anything but "thank you".

there's a funny back-story to this, but i'm waiting for some files from police before i post a video...

GovernorSilver

Actually, in Washnington DC, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk within the Central Business District.

From WABA's Pocket Guide to DC Bike Laws:
https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/fil...de-Oct2012.pdf

Is it legal to ride on the sidewalk?

While not recommended safe cycling practice in
most instances, DC code states that cyclists are
allowed to ride on the sidewalk as long as they are
outside the central business district (CBD). The
CBD is bounded by 2nd Street NE and SE, D Street
SE and SW, 14th Street SW and NW, Constitution
Ave NW, 23rd Street NW, and Massachusetts Ave
NW. Within the CBD, bicycling is allowed on lands
under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
including places like Lafayette Park, Farragut
Square Park, the National Mall and Dupont Circle.
However, if cyclists do ride on the sidewalk they
must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians

Map of DC's CBD:
https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/fil...ct_bikes_0.pdf

So far, though, the only place I consistently hear stories about DC cops giving tickets/warnings to cyclists is on 15th St (yes, outside the CBD) near the Washington Monument. Seems like half of them go after cyclists who blow the red light, and the other half yell "Why are you waiting for the light? You can go ahead!".

Camilo

In my experience, in US cities it is just as often illegal as legal, maybe more often. It's definitely governed city by city, regardless of what state law says.

FBinNY 

I don't know if it's true everywhere but it's SOP in many jurisdictions. Bicycle related cases are scheduled for trial, and if you don't appear you're guilty by default. OTOH of you do appear, the prosecutor will enter a motion to drop the charges.

Even with MV moving violations, a great many are dismissed outright if the defendant simply appears. If not dismissed outright, many others are negotiated down significantly in the hallway outside the courtroom.

vatdim

Riding a bike on the sidewalk is illegal for adults in most of Europe, and the reason is that it's really dangerous. Also, the bicycle is a vehicle and belongs with the other vehicles, not with pedestrians.

baron von trail 

It's legal in Ohio but illegal in most of its municipalities. Go figure.

asmac

In Ontario it's up to municipalities to create bylaws. The Highway Traffic Act or Motor Vehicle Act or whatever yours is called doesn't have anything to do with sidewalks. In Toronto it's illegal to ride on sidewalks if your bike's wheels are larger than 20". Anyhow, it's a fairly small fine and does not impact your driving license or insurance so just a nuisance at worst.

Having said that I try to avoid riding on them as it seems to be dangerous and is always bumpy.

howeeee

To compare Europe bike riding to how it is in most of America is silly.
IN most of Europe the bike is a real alternative to driving a car
and has much better bike infrastructure
there is no comparison here in America

IN Michigan where I live sidewalks is where most leisurely bike riding is done
In fact when I was growing up if you were under 12 it was illegal to ride in the street.
They used to give tickets that you had to have your parents sign and turn it in
of which I had 16 by the time I was 12 lol

Even to this day I get yelled at to get on the sidewalk
by many people who think that is illegal to ride a bike in the street

vatdim

Of course, there are some big cultural differences and that certainly makes a cyclist's life harder in North America. My comment was aimed at the OP who has entered "Wellington, NZ" in their location and specifically pointed out that they are looking for statutes around the world that will offer a legal backing to cycling on the sidewalk: "i just need to compile as many statutory examples as i can, from anywhere in the world, to demonstrate that riding a bike on a sidewalk is explicitly legal, often with reasonable exceptions". I wanted to demonstrate that you can't really make the point that riding on the pavement is explicitly legal around the world.

Rollfast

People actually USE sidewalks a lot more in Europe. Maybe walking is commonplace in New York City etc but most people don't walk to get places, they walk for fun and exercise. Even Lewis and Clark took a canoe.

Rex G

It is illegal, as far as I know, to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in the CBD of Houston, Texas. (Last I knew, HPD was ticketing for it, anyway.) I have not seen anything in the Texas Transportation Code prohibiting cycling on sidewalks.

Personally, I am annoyed by cyclists who seize the might-of-way on sidewalks, whether it is Houston, Texas, or Washington, DC. One of my knees does not work so well, anymore, so avoiding a collision with a cyclist, when I am on foot, can be perilous.

GovernorSilver

In the US, people use the sidewalks for foot transportation too - at least in the big cities.

When I first started riding a bike a couple of months ago, I rode on the sidewalk on my first ride out of my neighborhood and quickly suffered bruises because I didn't expect to ride around garbage bins, boxes, and other junk left lying on the sidewalk. I wiped out a couple of times trying to go around those obstacles and that's when I got cut and bruised. Also, even though the traffic overall is light, there's always somebody walking on the sidewalk - whether for business or pleasure - and seemingly half of these pedestrians have baby strollers and/or dogs with them.

Sidewalks can also have broken glass and other debris that could cause flats. I know roads can have debris like that too, but in some neighborhoods there seems to be more of it on the sidewalks.

So now I only ride on the sidewalk when circumstances demand it (eg. the road is a one-way road in the wrong direction).

FBinNY 

Of course they walk to get places, maybe not far places, but I'll venture destination is important all over the country, not only in NYC and other downtown areas. Children and parents use the sidewalk to get to friends' houses, school, especially elementary school, to small neighborhood parks, and maybe small store clusters (mini strip malls). Areas where things are too far to walk, generally don't have sidewalks in the first place.

I'll grant you that suburban walking has declined materially, which is truly a shame. Part of that is how new developments are laid out, often as island clusters with only one or two ways in or out. They do this to discourage through traffic, and it's logical as far as it goes, but makes walking to anywhere off island impractical.

One zoning or design change can fix that at little or no cost, or sacrifice of the island benefits.

Decades ago, in the 50's some smart thinkers laying out neighborhoods in this area realized how isolating they can be, so along the backsides, opposite the connecting roads they provided narrow easements paved as foot paths, to connect the islands. That meant that people could walk around the back to visit folks on the next island in the archipelago, and/or children could walk to school without venturing out onto busy main roads. I only see this in a few places, but it makes transiting the suburbs by foot or bicycle so much easier.

It also makes life better because mom doesn't have to drive kids to school or pick them up, nor are they reliant on school buses. It's good for the kids because they actually walk as much as a mile each way to get to school, but it's still faster then the school bus would be.

Simple, smart, and virtually unheard of.

Of course, with these places being in Westchester, walking for errands can't happen (too far), but I know folks that walk all the way to the golf course using these shortcuts.