Biking on the Sidewalk
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Biking on the Sidewalk
I have a question about biking on the sidewalks. This is not about the legality nor safety of doing it. My town ordnance allows it and there are hardly ever any pedestrians on the sidewalks. Whenever i do see a pedestrian, I always yield to them by going on the grass or on the road. I also do no bike fast. I am going at a leisurely pace, slightly faster than a person jogging. My question is whether or not biking on a sidewalk can be damaging to my bike. I have a Priority Ace of Spades. Its more of a road bike. The tires are 32H Alloy/WTB ThickSlick 700x28. There is also no suspension on this bike. My side walks are like any standard sidewalk, with a crack/line/divet every 2 or 3 feet. Will riding on a sidewalk, and biking over the cracks cause damage to my tire, wheel, or bike in general? I have always ridden mountain bikes. So I feel like I am noticing the bumpyness more often now that I have a road bike.
#2
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
It won't damage the bike.
Likes For GlennR:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,850
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 601 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times
in
530 Posts
I’ll bet our roads are way worse then your sidewalks!
Tim
Tim
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,084
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,946 Times
in
936 Posts
More hazards on sidewalks than the roads where I live.
What makes you think riding on a sidewalk is a safer way to go?
What makes you think riding on a sidewalk is a safer way to go?
#6
Riding after dark
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: on the trails
Posts: 66
Bikes: Raleigh Tripper (coaster brake), Raleigh One Way, '97 Specialized Rockhopper
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times
in
25 Posts
Riding over the sidewalk cracks won't break your bike. But, noticing the bumps is why I prefer riding on the road. Way back in the day I only rode a mountain bike and I could ride over anything without much notice. Now on my single speed bikes I feel all those bumps. Road is smoother so that's where I ride, plus my city has ordinances against sidewalk riding, unlike your city.
#7
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,067
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2512 Post(s)
Liked 5,430 Times
in
2,827 Posts
You will certainly feel more of surface irregularities on a road bike. It’s the nature of the beast. The good news is that the majority of rims and tires can take substantial impacts and keep on rolling.
When my wife and I used to ride our road/racing bike tandem, we were riding through a small town when a latte swilling Karen yelled at us, “Get off the road and on the sidewalk!” The funny thing was that we were riding very courtesly and well to the side of the lane, but she had to wait 5 seconds for us to go by her while she was trying to pull out from Safeway.
When my wife and I used to ride our road/racing bike tandem, we were riding through a small town when a latte swilling Karen yelled at us, “Get off the road and on the sidewalk!” The funny thing was that we were riding very courtesly and well to the side of the lane, but she had to wait 5 seconds for us to go by her while she was trying to pull out from Safeway.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#8
Senior Member
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,879
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3906 Post(s)
Liked 7,182 Times
in
2,905 Posts
When my wife and I used to ride our road/racing bike tandem, we were riding through a small town when a latte swilling Karen yelled at us, “Get off the road and on the sidewalk!” The funny thing was that we were riding very courtesly and well to the side of the lane, but she had to wait 5 seconds for us to go by her while she was trying to pull out from Safeway.
#11
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,461
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3638 Post(s)
Liked 5,316 Times
in
2,701 Posts
You could possibly damage the bike if you bump curbs to get on and off the sidewalk. More likely a motorist will pull up to the road from a driveway, not expecting a vehicle (your bike) on the sidewalk. That could damage your bike and/or your person.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#12
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,188
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
In that kind of environment, on the sidewalk, you approach the hazards, on the street, the hazards approach you.
Likes For Ironfish653:
#14
Member
I would think that the bike won't be damaged but the likelihood of flat tires rises with concrete cracks and imperfections.
#15
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,811
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times
in
3,262 Posts
No problem from the sidewalk. Although if it's in bad repair you have all the same problems of a road in bad repair.
One issue though is pulling off the sidewalk. You might get something in the tire that will cause you a flat later down the road... or sidewalk. Whenever I have run off the pavement of our MUP, It has been more likely that I'll flat if I don't stop and make certain there aren't any rock shards, glass or thorns in the tread.
One issue though is pulling off the sidewalk. You might get something in the tire that will cause you a flat later down the road... or sidewalk. Whenever I have run off the pavement of our MUP, It has been more likely that I'll flat if I don't stop and make certain there aren't any rock shards, glass or thorns in the tread.
#16
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,006
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Being struck by, or crashing into, a car whose driver didn't expect a rider coming from a sidewalk into an intersection is your bike's biggest danger. This is especially true if you are riding against the direction of anticipated traffic from the driver's perspective.
Also, Paris-Roubaix.
Also, Paris-Roubaix.
#17
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,067
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2512 Post(s)
Liked 5,430 Times
in
2,827 Posts
On a sidewalk, ALWAYS ride the same direction as traffic. If you ride opposing traffic your chances of getting hit by people pulling out of driveways turning right goes up exponentially.
I ride 99% of the time on the road except when I enter high traffic/high risk areas, then the sidewalk is more safe. If a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalk, then its a judgement call.
I ride 99% of the time on the road except when I enter high traffic/high risk areas, then the sidewalk is more safe. If a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalk, then its a judgement call.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times
in
1,823 Posts
If the OP is smart enough and skilled enough to ride safely on the sidewalk, and if it is legal in his region .... why not?
I strongly dislike riding on the sidewalk, but I have decades of experience fighting for space at the side of the road with drivers who would swerve, open a door, or throw stuff (back before there were bike lanes and "Share the road" signs, in certain regions, cyclists were always in season.)
If the OP really thinks sidewalk cracks will break the bike, though ......
I strongly dislike riding on the sidewalk, but I have decades of experience fighting for space at the side of the road with drivers who would swerve, open a door, or throw stuff (back before there were bike lanes and "Share the road" signs, in certain regions, cyclists were always in season.)
If the OP really thinks sidewalk cracks will break the bike, though ......
#20
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times
in
1,798 Posts
There's your culprit. ThickSlicks are mostly used by fixie riders. The thicker, tougher tread lasts longer with skid stops (or skidding just for fun). But the ride is harsh. Another popular choice by fixie riders in my area is the Conti Gatorskin, especially more cautious riders who don't skid stop much or skid for fun.
At a minimum, try a more supple tire on the front wheel, which rarely skids and is less vulnerable to wear and punctures. Most of the perceived comfort issues are related to the front wheel/tire/tubes. Almost any tire, other than Gatorskins, would be more comfortable than ThickSlicks.
Latex tubes can really tame the jolts and vibrations too. Pricey, a bit fussy to install correctly, but a pleasure to ride. I use 'em on my road bikes, but not on my hybrids.
Or go tubeless. With just liquid sealant all you'll feel is the quality of the tire. The better the tire, the better the ride.
Regarding riding on the sidewalk, it's no big deal as long as you're riding as safely as possible. Be aware that drivers won't be watching for you. They don't even watch for pedestrians on sidewalks. There are more blind spots -- parked cars, trees, shrubs, etc -- so even attentive drivers might not see you until the last moment.
The entire paved portion of our multi-use path is just a sidewalk. For years it was standard suburban width, around 4', with cyclists weaving around pedestrians, and passing each other at combined speeds upward of 40 mph. Only recently did the MUP authority widen some of the paved segments, mostly in the higher traffic areas used by recreational riders and pedestrians. But it's still just a sidewalk made of segmented blocks of concrete that will eventually rise and fall with the soil and be a mess to ride on.
So while we don't deal much with motor vehicles on the MUP (although very fast electric motorcycles and mono-wheel skateboards are becoming a nuisance), it is just a sidewalk with all the attendant drawbacks. Yet I rarely hear any Elite MUP Strava Triatholon Aero Bar-riding Kings and Queens griping about that particular sidewalk.
Except for me. I gripe about it at the slightest provocation.
At a minimum, try a more supple tire on the front wheel, which rarely skids and is less vulnerable to wear and punctures. Most of the perceived comfort issues are related to the front wheel/tire/tubes. Almost any tire, other than Gatorskins, would be more comfortable than ThickSlicks.
Latex tubes can really tame the jolts and vibrations too. Pricey, a bit fussy to install correctly, but a pleasure to ride. I use 'em on my road bikes, but not on my hybrids.
Or go tubeless. With just liquid sealant all you'll feel is the quality of the tire. The better the tire, the better the ride.
Regarding riding on the sidewalk, it's no big deal as long as you're riding as safely as possible. Be aware that drivers won't be watching for you. They don't even watch for pedestrians on sidewalks. There are more blind spots -- parked cars, trees, shrubs, etc -- so even attentive drivers might not see you until the last moment.
The entire paved portion of our multi-use path is just a sidewalk. For years it was standard suburban width, around 4', with cyclists weaving around pedestrians, and passing each other at combined speeds upward of 40 mph. Only recently did the MUP authority widen some of the paved segments, mostly in the higher traffic areas used by recreational riders and pedestrians. But it's still just a sidewalk made of segmented blocks of concrete that will eventually rise and fall with the soil and be a mess to ride on.
So while we don't deal much with motor vehicles on the MUP (although very fast electric motorcycles and mono-wheel skateboards are becoming a nuisance), it is just a sidewalk with all the attendant drawbacks. Yet I rarely hear any Elite MUP Strava Triatholon Aero Bar-riding Kings and Queens griping about that particular sidewalk.
Except for me. I gripe about it at the slightest provocation.
Likes For canklecat:
#21
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times
in
5,053 Posts
#22
Member
I get there is danger on the sidewalk, but you have to pick your poison.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,291
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,910 Times
in
1,884 Posts
if you just bomb away on those sidewalks without any care, you'll probably damage yourself before your bicycle.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,084
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,946 Times
in
936 Posts
As a driver exiting and entering a driveway, you are not expecting a cyclist at 15 mph closing distance fast and often visually impaired by vehicles and trees.
Certainly some streets are to be avoided, however, do not convince yourself sidewalks are a safe haven.
Certainly some streets are to be avoided, however, do not convince yourself sidewalks are a safe haven.
Likes For CAT7RDR:
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times
in
1,823 Posts
A sidewalk seems far safer to me than a road with two lanes in each direction, lots of businesses and side roads, no shoulder and people doing at least 45 between lights. I have seen cars barely clearing a bike as the operator tries to time drifting partway into the left lane to clear the bike without getting hit by the cars in the left lane. It sure seems safer to me to be on the sidewalk.