Sidewalks or road?
#1
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Sidewalks or road?
Noob commuter here. I have started riding my (e) bike to work and parked my car for about 2 weeks now. Its great I am far less stressed out and I'm a better mood overall. One question i do have though, do you ride on side walks or the road?
I have been riding the sidewalks for the most part, I don't trust the drivers here in Korea to pay attention enough to see me. Drivers, and everyone else, are too preoccupied with their phones and I honestly dont think they would even see me on the side of the road...
I have been riding the sidewalks for the most part, I don't trust the drivers here in Korea to pay attention enough to see me. Drivers, and everyone else, are too preoccupied with their phones and I honestly dont think they would even see me on the side of the road...
#2
Senior Member
It's [EDIT] absolutely legal or illegal depending on where you live [/EDIT] to ride your bike on the sidewalk here in (all, if not the nearly all) of the US. If you're worried about drivers noticing you, a fluorescent riding jacket, lots of reflective tape, and a rear flasher should help your visibility.
Last edited by phenry24; 05-05-15 at 02:11 PM. Reason: Letting internet vigilantes deal with greater issues
#3
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Depends on conditions really. I myself ride on the street most of the time, but on the sidewalk when traffic gets so heavy it's not safe.
I'd check on local laws. Here in the states it's legal to ride on the sidewalk in most places, though prohibited in others. Not sure about Korea though. If it's legal and the speeds are too high, then ride on the sidewalk, but just be cautious at intersections (and always yield to pedestrians as you are the intruder in their space).
I'd check on local laws. Here in the states it's legal to ride on the sidewalk in most places, though prohibited in others. Not sure about Korea though. If it's legal and the speeds are too high, then ride on the sidewalk, but just be cautious at intersections (and always yield to pedestrians as you are the intruder in their space).
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Noob commuter here. I have started riding my (e) bike to work and parked my car for about 2 weeks now. Its great I am far less stressed out and I'm a better mood overall. One question i do have though, do you ride on side walks or the road?
I have been riding the sidewalks for the most part, I don't trust the drivers here in Korea to pay attention enough to see me. Drivers, and everyone else, are too preoccupied with their phones and I honestly dont think they would even see me on the side of the road...
I have been riding the sidewalks for the most part, I don't trust the drivers here in Korea to pay attention enough to see me. Drivers, and everyone else, are too preoccupied with their phones and I honestly dont think they would even see me on the side of the road...
#6
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In most cases I feel much safer on the roadway than on sidewalks since motor vehicle drivers are not expecting anyone to be moving faster than about 5mph on a sidewalk when they cross intersections or enter/exit driveways. As a result, the safety statistics on bicycle riders on sidewalks are not favorable.
Last edited by prathmann; 05-04-15 at 09:53 PM.
#7
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I believe a safe rule of thumb would be to say that it's illegal within the business district(s) of most (if not all) major cities and legal most everywhere else.
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#9
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I sidewalk ride about a 1 1/2 miles on my pm. commute home through a busy business and apartment area which is all up hill, I've never had any issues while riding the sidewalk there. On the other hand, I occasionally encounter an impatient/discourteous driver In the am. riding in the traffic lane on the same stretch of road.
There are plenty of circumstances where the sidewalk is the safest option if the cyclist is capable of using a minimum of common sense and self control.
#10
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so far I haven't had any issues riding on the sidewalk for my commute. Here in Korea i don't think they really care, motorcycles and scooters also use the sidewalk (its dangerous and scary as heck).
#11
Depends on conditions really. I myself ride on the street most of the time, but on the sidewalk when traffic gets so heavy it's not safe.
I'd check on local laws. Here in the states it's legal to ride on the sidewalk in most places, though prohibited in others. Not sure about Korea though. If it's legal and the speeds are too high, then ride on the sidewalk, but just be cautious at intersections (and always yield to pedestrians as you are the intruder in their space).
I'd check on local laws. Here in the states it's legal to ride on the sidewalk in most places, though prohibited in others. Not sure about Korea though. If it's legal and the speeds are too high, then ride on the sidewalk, but just be cautious at intersections (and always yield to pedestrians as you are the intruder in their space).
This obviously works if there is a continuous sidewalk. On such roads there usually is not a lot of pedestrian activity, and hence not always a continuous sidewalk either. I find the appropriate situations mostly in older suburban towns here in the US.
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Always the road. I have ridden on the sidewalk twice...once bc I was trying out a new route and wanted to observe traffic on a particular road, the other bc that bike had brakes that would take a full half mile to come to a stop. I really need to work on that bike
#13
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Time to ticket all the families going for weekend rides to the park using sidewalks!
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Well there ya have it- you did ride your bike in the road all thru your childhood.
#16
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#17
Somewhere around 45% of bicycle fatalities are being hit from behind when riding on the roads with traffic. Riding on the sidewalk largely takes this out of the equation. If you are cautious where driveways cross the sidewalk and at junctions, as well as being considerate of pedestrians, a sidewalk is the safest place to ride (assuming no protected bikeway).
#18
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No, many states do not regulate sidewalk riding but leave it up to individual communities. That's true both here in California and in your state of Nebraska. Quite a few towns designate a business district where sidewalk riding is prohibited, e.g. that's the case in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Somewhere around 45% of bicycle fatalities are being hit from behind when riding on the roads with traffic. Riding on the sidewalk largely takes this out of the equation. If you are cautious where driveways cross the sidewalk and at junctions, as well as being considerate of pedestrians, a sidewalk is the safest place to ride (assuming no protected bikeway).
#19
Given the statistics I have no problem riding on sidewalks if I believe them safer than the roadway.
#20
Senior Member
It's all situational though. From what I've seen of Asian cities, I'd be very afraid on the roadways.
#22
Banned
Locations differ read the local statutes.. Sidewalks, at a Courteous slow rate of speed , are OK here , everywhere but the 6 blocks on the shopping streets..
getting off and walking your bike is always OK.
getting off and walking your bike is always OK.
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#24
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For my commute, the last 100 yards or so, instead of using the road and a left-turn with a stoplight that is not set to be triggered by bikes, I cross the street and ride wrong-way on the sidewalk. It's earlyish in the morning and almost nobody is ever walking.
Also I live just off the main business street in my town. If I need to leave my house turning left, it's a pain to get across the busy 4-lane street and I don't want to turn right (the way I don't want to go) to get to an intersection and have to backtrack. So I ride on the sidewalk until I get to the nearest light and cross over.
BUT, whenever I ride on the sidewalk, I ride as I'm not entitled to be there. Very slow, cautious, making every effort to not startle or endanger any pedestrians, or make them feel that they have to get out of my way (I have to get out of theirs!). Most importantly, being very cautious crossing every driveway. Vehicles coming out don't expect me to be coming up on their right (and I don't expect them to expect me).
Also I live just off the main business street in my town. If I need to leave my house turning left, it's a pain to get across the busy 4-lane street and I don't want to turn right (the way I don't want to go) to get to an intersection and have to backtrack. So I ride on the sidewalk until I get to the nearest light and cross over.
BUT, whenever I ride on the sidewalk, I ride as I'm not entitled to be there. Very slow, cautious, making every effort to not startle or endanger any pedestrians, or make them feel that they have to get out of my way (I have to get out of theirs!). Most importantly, being very cautious crossing every driveway. Vehicles coming out don't expect me to be coming up on their right (and I don't expect them to expect me).
#25
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