LarrySellerz

Hey guys, how often do you ride on sidewalks? Are there roads that are sketchy enough that you stick to the sidewalk? As a kid I rode on the sidewalks all the time, but now I feel like they are pretty darn dangerous. I don’t feel comfortable on sidewalks but will take it if it seems like the best line (an occasion that comes to mind is when I came across a slower group of cyclists coming to a stop at a stop sign, I went to the right and took the sidewalk for a block.)

50PlusCycling

Here in Japan riding on sidewalks is illegal unless the sidewalk is specifically marked for bicycles (many are). The penalties for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk can be as severe as a 50,000 yen fine and 3 months in jail. However, this being Japan, where laws are either viciously enforced, or not enforced at all, the latter is the case, and about half of people ride on the sidewalks.

flangehead

Rarely. I’m induced to ride a sidewalk by these factors:

• Short distance.
• Trying to go against traffic (common in my area are places where I would have to ride 3 miles on 45 mph-posted to legally move 100 feet).
• Few or no curb cuts with heavy and fast MV traffic.
• Only available access to trailhead.
  

For sidewalks 6’ and narrower, I stop when pedestrians are nearby or wait to pass with a wide berth.

veganbikes

Yes ride on the sidewalk extra fast with your broken wheels and poor attitude, good idea.

Oy vey! For those actually thinking this might be legitimate or yeah what about riding on the sidewalk. Please don't do it unless an absolute emergency and there aren't pedestrians. If you must be aware of your surroundings heavily and don't ride with speed or recklessly, ride as if you really don't belong on the sidewalk. We have streets we have paths we don't need to also take the sidewalks.

Rolla

I generally find that sidewalks are horrible places to ride, but as long as I don't endanger or inconvenience others, I'll do whatever helps me get where I'm going. Laws don't apply to me, anyway.

dedhed

It's like the running a stop sign debate.
I got sidewalks that might see a pedestrian once every 3 days and then you have downtown business district at lunch time in nice weather or 5 PM. Two totally different scenarios that don't allow for a "The sky is falling, never ride on a sidewalk" philosophy.
I'll do my ride, you do yours.

ColonelSanders

If the sidewalks are not heavily populated by pedestrians and the roads aren't bicycle friendly, then sure.

beng1

I don't worry about it. If the road is clear I am on the road, if the road is sketchy then I jump onto the sidewalk, back and forth during a ride as it is needed. I will jump curbs and hit the dirt and grass too. I grew up in the country so I rode on alternative surfaces a lot growing up.

Daniel4

There's one sidewalk I have to ride on everyday if I want to get anywhere. It's either the sidewalk or I have to make a left turn in the middle of the 60 km/hr major arterial road to enter the park where the park trail gets me to everywhere else I want to go.

veganbikes

Yes no I get it if you aren't seeing pedestrians often sure but I was trying to give more generic info so people don't think Sellarz is good to listen to or think sidewalk riding is generally a good thing for many situations. There will always be special situations.

Chuck M 

I used to ride on sidewalks. Then dad took my training wheels off and I had to learn to safely ride in the street in front of the house. Now I ride wherever my heart desires except the sidewalk.

But a master of the fast pace lines like Larry should ride anywhere he pleases.

Kapusta

Sure, ride the sidewalk AND blow the stop sign.

LarrySellerz

I’ve been hit by a car only once (if you discount the bad weather events where nobody could stop their vehicle) and I was riding on the sidewalk. I agree that riders should be able to ride wherever they please, but sidewalks are very dangerous in my opinion.

mschwett 

for very short distances, where the roads are extremely unsafe and there are no or few pedestrians, i'll ride on a sidewalk.

when i'm riding with my daughter, i'll allow her to ride on the sidewalk (particularly on a steep uphill) while i ride adjacent on the street. here it's legal for children to ride on sidewalks, a fact i've have had to point out to MANY grumpy AF old people and dog owners who seem to think that the entire public way is their purview to do with what they please and yell at anyone who uses it differently than they'd like.

LarrySellerz

you've had people yelling at your kid????

debade

The research I have seen suggests
sidewalk riding is more dangerous than road biking, especially at intersections. So as a general rule, I ride on streets and take the lane if needed. For one of my rides, I add about a 1/3 to 1/2 mile on street to avoid a sidewalk bike route since it is lined with retail stores with cars coming and going from all directions.

But when I do use a sidewalk, I try to bike with traffic so I will likely be more visible to a right turning motorist. I still need to be careful with the motorists from other directions that I assume do not see or expect me. This was a suggestion from Cycle Savvy

LarrySellerz

yup a cager got me when I was riding on the sidewalk about a year ago. I knew he didn't see me (didn't even look in my direction) and saw my line closing, so I decided to send it rather than wait. Was a poor choice. If I was riding in the road he would have been more likely to see me.

mschwett 

multiple times. always old people and usually old people with dogs yelling things like “get off the sidewalk!” “watch where you’re going!” “that’s illegal” “my dog !!!!!!!!”

i love dogs.

i do not love a sizable percentage of urban dog owners, and unfortunately sidewalks are a frequent point of intersection.

Clyde1820

Don't, myself, unless there is no other way. I do ride on MUPs some of the time, so it's unavoidable, but otherwise it's on the right third portion of the RH lane in the street for me. All things considered, it tends to be much safer.

Frequently rode on a "boardwalk" sidewalk along the beach, many decades ago. Typically at off-hours when most people weren't anywhere around, so usually no issue at all. But I finally came upon a person expecting to walk out onto the sidewalk (gee, imagine that) without risk. She wasn't looking. But, to be fair, she probably couldn't have processed the fact I was going far too fast for the spot and conditions. Laid it down, got bad abrasions on my arms. Amazingly, never did get infected, probably due to the cleansing and bottles of iodine used to disinfect. But, I can only imagine how many decades it had been since the last time that sidewalk had been completely scrubbed and washed.

These days, I'm often on a MUP for at least some of my ride. And I make it a point to do passing of others at "crawling" speeds, so that even if they lose their minds and change direction without warning it's unlikely anyone will go down due to the speed differential.

DonkeyShow

The few sidewalks I see on my routes typically have stairs soo...

making

I try to ride in the safest way possible all the time. I used a sidewalk to get through a one way high traffic area for years because it was undeniably safer than the alternatives. There was almost no walking traffic and if there was I stopped to let them through. I think transitions are the most dangerous part of commuting or riding in the street and you have to get on and off the sidewalk.

Ironfish653

I tend to avoid SIDEWALKS as possible, since it's usually faster and smoother on a street surface. However, here in the suburbs, there are a lot of 4 and 6-lane 'arterial' roads with 45mph limit (55mph operating speed) and curbs on both sides, so no shoulder.
The speed and volume of traffic and lack of an 'out' on these roads does not permit reasonably safe cycling except in the wee hours of the morning, so I ride the sidewalks there. Typically pedestrian traffic is very low on these roads so it's not a big deal.If I am on a sidewalk, I will slow and yield the pavement to oncoming pedestrians. I use a bell when overtaking pedestrians (or the occasional rider) I also give as much room as possible. If the road's clear, I 'll jump the curb, and overtake in the traffic lane, and get back to the sidewalk at the end of the block.

GlennR

Sidewalks are for walkers and children on bicycles.

Adults belong on the road.

Koyote

You should stop using that word.

The motorist didn't see you because bikes aren't supposed to be on the sidewalk.

gpburdell

In my state it's illegal for anyone over 12 years old to ride on the sidewalk... though I've also never heard of it being enforced.

Even with no pedestrians to contend with, sidewalks present their own set of risks/dangers - particularly at any driveways or entrances to subdivisions or shopping areas. Those risks can be mitigated though with observant riding and a slower pace, but they're still there. Conversely there are some high traffic / narrow lanes / no shoulder roads which are riskier to be on than the near-abandoned adjacent sidewalk.

I'd say folks ought to make their own evaluation of the safest way to travel through a particular area.