Do you ride only on sidewalks?
03-06-23, 06:42 PM
#1
pan y agua
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Do you ride only on sidewalks?
Some of you ride in bike lanes, like this, but it seems really dangerous
; one distracted driver and you’re toast Why risk it when you could just ride on side walks or Zwift?
; one distracted driver and you’re toast Why risk it when you could just ride on side walks or Zwift?
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-06-23, 06:49 PM
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It may be safer for you, but it is more dangerous for pedestrians. By the same logic, it would be safer for drivers to drive on the sidewalk.
Cycling on the sidewalk appears to be legal in Florida, but it is definitely not legal everywhere.
Cycling on the sidewalk appears to be legal in Florida, but it is definitely not legal everywhere.
03-06-23, 06:54 PM
#3
pan y agua
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dial up your sarcasm detector
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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03-06-23, 06:57 PM
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03-06-23, 08:02 PM
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Never ride on sidewalks. There is not enough reaction time when inattentive drivers pull into the roadway. Cars pulling across sidewalks do not expect the speed of bicycles unless it is a local thing or heavily touristed. I understand your hesitancy to ride in a bike lane, but with practice and a bit of courage you can do it. Or maybe not. Am not selling bike lanes - to each their own.
As an aside, today I road along a shoulderless state highway with vehicles doing 50 MPH. Can’t say I am super comfortable doing it but riding where there is a lot of traffic going in and out driveways makes me far more nervous.
As an aside, today I road along a shoulderless state highway with vehicles doing 50 MPH. Can’t say I am super comfortable doing it but riding where there is a lot of traffic going in and out driveways makes me far more nervous.
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03-06-23, 08:06 PM
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I use them once in awhile short distances where it's just not practical to cross the road or I have to make a bad turn or something. but its tricky because cars then to pull out without looking for someone on the sidewalk.
03-06-23, 08:07 PM
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No, never. Sidewalks are for walking, not riding.
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03-06-23, 08:19 PM
#10
pan y agua
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Apparently, some of you have not been around long enough to recognize the Bike Forums tradition of parody threads.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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03-06-23, 09:06 PM
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I ride my off-road bike on the sidewalk.
03-06-23, 10:21 PM
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Yes! I also carry an air horn on my handlebars and use it liberally. My front super-power blinky light is bright enough to blind oncoming pedestrians. Oh yes, one mirror on my helmet and another on my handlebars, also a safety vest with alternating lime green and emergency orange chevron stripes like the backs of some ambulances and fire trucks.
I don't just ride on one side of the sidewalk. I ride right down the middle: "Take the lane" I say.
Brent
I don't just ride on one side of the sidewalk. I ride right down the middle: "Take the lane" I say.
Brent
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03-06-23, 11:47 PM
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My "I have Covid" pool noodle clears people out of my way in a hurry.
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03-07-23, 01:22 AM
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03-07-23, 08:12 AM
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Funny you say that, because I actually used that argument a few years ago to a motorist that had passed by me so close that I felt his mirror brushing my elbow. I said : You know how far you need to get around people at the grocery store or when walking outside on sidewalks to respect social distancing? It's the same thing when you're driving and you pass a cyclist.
At that time, the pandemic had just started and people were all anal about the 2m / 6ft social distancing - they understood the distance better.
At that time, the pandemic had just started and people were all anal about the 2m / 6ft social distancing - they understood the distance better.
03-09-23, 09:34 PM
#16
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Haha, only a time or two have I had to retreat to the sidewalk, but along with that comes a real sense of shame. My daughter in law is an avid walker, 20K steps is average for her. She used to get mad at cyclists that would ride on the sidewalk, even resort to yelling at them. Now she has refocused her anger at city planners. Her reasoning is that they haven’t given cyclists a place to ride safely so they move to the sidewalk so they don’t get run over.
03-09-23, 10:04 PM
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Haha, only a time or two have I had to retreat to the sidewalk, but along with that comes a real sense of shame. My daughter in law is an avid walker, 20K steps is average for her. She used to get mad at cyclists that would ride on the sidewalk, even resort to yelling at them. Now she has refocused her anger at city planners. Her reasoning is that they haven’t given cyclists a place to ride safely so they move to the sidewalk so they don’t get run over.
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03-10-23, 04:45 AM
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03-10-23, 10:00 AM
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I commute in NYC metro, I ride on sidewalks almost daily.
I encounter more illegally parked cars in bike lanes than actual cyclists on bikes.
It's all about how fast you ride on the sidewalks, ride slow enough and nobody cares.
I encounter more illegally parked cars in bike lanes than actual cyclists on bikes.
It's all about how fast you ride on the sidewalks, ride slow enough and nobody cares.
03-10-23, 05:10 PM
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Thing is .... if I am riding at walking speed why am I riding?
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03-10-23, 06:27 PM
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03-11-23, 09:43 AM
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03-11-23, 08:28 PM
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03-11-23, 10:46 PM
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Like the old bumper sticker - "If you don't like how I drive, stay off the sidewalk!"
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