FiftySix

Same here when I ran keeping fit for soccer. Dark asphalt seemed to feel hotter on summer days.

livedarklions

If it's a sunny day, black absolutely gets hotter than grey or white.

JTSpeedDemon

Well, kind of late to this thread, but here's my bit.
I know one is technically not supposed to ride on sidewalks, but there's also a point where one has no real safe alternative. In my town here in North Texas, bike lanes are VERY rare, my current bike is not up to the task of riding on the road, and to top it off:

The drivers here are absolutely NUTS!!!!

So I just ride on the sidewalks when I can, and otherwise stick to the curb.
And unfortunately, the sidewalks here are riddled with curbs and driveways. *sigh*

wphamilton

Here at least, in suburban areas where there are few pedestrians, the choice to ride on a sidewalk is completely up to the cyclist's discretion as far as I'm concerned. Although local statutes state otherwise.

There are a couple of streets where a wide sidewalk is marked as a bike route, but it's not marked where that status begins and ends. It's almost a concession that most bikes along there will be in the sidewalks regardless, which really begs the question why have the stay-off-sidewalks statute to begin with and is another reason to not take the statute too seriously.

Notso_fastLane

Ahem, [thermodynamics nerd mode on] different colors (aka reflectivity) only affect the rate at which something heats/cools. The equilibrium temperature (if it sits more or less non-changing conditions) is the same regardless of color. [/Thermo nerd mode off]

Of course, constantly changing daylight creates non-equilibrium conditions, so as a general rule. You are correct.

livedarklions

Now do different types of pavements through the heat death of the universe.

I'm just happy someone out-nerded me today.

wphamilton

In rough strokes, 56 million Americans ran or jogged in 2017, and about 19 million ran in a race. So 1/3 overall could be said to be training for races. I would surmise that runners on the road are somewhat more likely to be training for races than runners overall.

There is little to no difference measured in impact and shock, road vs concrete. Personally I stay off the road as much as possible when running due to attenuation of exhaust pollution alone - I've looked into it and it's drastically higher in line with traffic and drops quickly even 10-15 feet away. I know, the same thing could be said for cycling and I avoid sidewalks for the road, but I don't claim to be perfectly logical.about that.

scott967

At home there's no particular reason to use a sidewalk, but I've been in the New Orleans area for a while, and my observation is that 100% of bike riders are transportation cyclists and about 98% are on the sidewalk, or grass if no paved walk. The very few on the road are all salmon. Judging by the traffic here, I would say that's the only sane way to ride.

scott s.
.

dkatz1

once in a while, at traffic jammed intersection, I will venture onto a sidewalk if there are no pedestrians (but only for 30 yards or so)...
and I've also done so, at spot near my house, to be able to turn left from a busy fast moving four lane road (never any pedestrians).
On the other hand, I'm walking on busy Boston sidewalks frequently, and cyclists who ride through that get me steamed, though NOT as much as the guy I saw the other day on motorcyle.

OBoile

People really do have an odd assessment of risk. Asphalt may (and I'm as skeptical as you) be slightly softer, but it also has cars on it. The people that do this don't seem to factor being hit by a car in their calculation of injury risk.

Glyndwr

It's called a sideWALK, not sidebicycle - except for small children, no one should be riding on a sidewalk. Be an adult, get on the street - if you don't feel comfortable riding where you live, then don't ride. Take your bicycle somewhere where you do feel safe to ride, or if a cycling lifestyle is that important to you, move somewhere with more bike paths or with less traffic, but don't endanger people on the sidewalk.

...and another thing, cycling on the sidewalk doesn't necessarily make you safe from drivers, especially at intersections. I was at my local bike shop and when leaving the parking lot, making a right-hand turn, I was watching towards the left, looking for a break in traffic. Just as I was ready to go, a kid on his BMX jumped down from the sidewalk on my right to cut across in front of me. He was nearly on my hood! Now, you can say, "You have to look both ways," but how many of us look back to the right several times before making a right-hand turn? Drivers are certainly not looking for cyclists riding against the flow of traffic (man, THAT is a whole other can of worms, right?) on a sidewalk!

Marci

We have been having a lot of road construction on our major road this year. Was supposed to be done in Oct but here we are in Feb almost March and its still going on. Since they continue to put the road signs in the middle of the bike path I ride the empty sidewalks. If I see someone I get off but usually I do not.I only do this on our major roadway and as soon as I can I get off that road. I even had to change my route as the road is impassable except for cars on that stretch. Especially after dark-hidden potholes that come up suddenly are a norm. I will be so relieved when its over.
We have one seperate bike path in town and I love it, I wish there were more so that we wouldn't have to share the roadways with cars.

Retro Grouch 

Assessment of risk is based upon one's personal experience, that is, conditions where you personally live. Whatever those conditions may be, don't expect them to be the same for everybody who posts on BF.

crewdog

I have no problem with using sidewalks when the roads are unsafe and/or have very little or no shoulder to ride on. It's illegal here in San Antonio, unless the sidewalk is also a bike path. I end up using the sidewalk for about 5 miles of my normal 20 mile ride. Over half of my normal ride is on some the great park trails we have in our city. I would much rather pay a fine than suffer injury or death while riding on some of the busy local roads, especially from the big pickups with the towing mirrors that stick way too much. Whenever I meet pedestrians on a sidewalk, which is very rare, I always slow down and give them the right-of-way.

Rajflyboy

being an adult is being safe both for you and also the motorists on the road

Rajflyboy

this people

TheLizard

Some parts of my routes I do ride on the sidewalk. It's either that or get buzzed by cars going 50 mph because they can't be bother to move over or slow down.

There's never anybody walking on those sidewalks, anyway, so why not?

Batstar

Cycling on sidewalks is permitted in my hometown unless prohibited by signage. There are designated bike routes around the city which I use 6-7 months of the year. However, during the winter when street plowing occurs, those same routes are covered in snow and can become hazardous during freeze/thaw cycles. Deep ruts in the road caused by passing traffic make it extremely difficult to navigate even with my studded tires. I cautiously hop onto and ride the sidewalks in these situations when I know it’s generally the safer choice. For me, getting to the multi-use trails in the winter involves a combined strategy of road/sidewalk usage when leaving the house but fortunately it’s not that far of a distance.