In Chapel Hill, NC, where I live, a city ordinance specifically gives permission to bicyclists to ride on all sidewalks except in the central business district.
There is a street that I have yo ride along on accasion. This street is basically a freeway that runs through San Francisco. The car traffic is substantial and fast. There is literaly no foot trtaffic on the sidewalks. When riding on the sidewalk I pose no threat to pedestyrians, but if I rode on the street those tons of machinery going 45 to 60 mph pose a great risk for me on m,y bicycle.
vickey - 14 years ago
I try to stay on bike paths, which are often for pedestrians as well, and let me tell you many of the pedestrians don't like bike riders any more than many car drivers. I either walk or bike to and from work and cannot tell you how many times I have nearly been hit by a cars, once even on a sidewalk. There are few sidewalks or bike paths so pedestrians and bikes find themselves all together with street traffic. In some ways it makes for more courteous pedestrians as they are more watchful than when they are on a sidewalk. I am a slow bike rider being older and heavy. I use a bell or say "behind you" before passing pedestrians and am courteous and safe, but until there are lanes only for bikes there will still be problems between bikes, pedestrians and cars.
TS - 14 years ago
I think all three are valid. I bike with my two kids on the back of the bike and try to bike on the road as much as possible. I have been honked at and yelled at (for endangering my kids and many will yell that the sidewalk is right over there). When there isn't a sidewalk-I don't have a lot of issues with the drivers around me. I did get stopped by a police officer once who said its okay to bike on the sidewalk with kids. Sometimes there are places where it is safer to be off the road (for all involved).
Stephen - 14 years ago
My answer is "all three". Bikes should almost always be on the road; the road is usually reasonably safe, and we have no right to endanger pedestrians to protect ourselves. But in the rare occasions when the road is particularly dangerous and the sidewalk is particularly safe, using the sidewalk is fine. And of course, making a city bike-safe is the best answer...dream on.
It's in the word, the sidewalk is made for walking. I understand that in many cities, roads are not bicycle-friendly, but that's no reason to spoil the life of pedestrians. I'm very careful of cyclists when I'm driving, but when I'm on a sidewalk, I don't to pay attention to anything that could be faster than my walking.
Symbie - 14 years ago
Where I live (Richardson, Texas - a city in the DFW metroplex) there is a huge biking community and on the weekends (and some weekdays) the bikers are out in full force so they ride on the road. There is safety in numbers. They are much less likely to get side swiped or run over. There are no dedicated bicycle lanes anywhere near me and riding on the road in 5 o'clock traffic makes me uber nervous so I don't do it (Dallas drivers are impatient, hungry, angry, etc all the freaking time).
It's too stinky hot outside for anyone to be walking on the sidewalks so I ride on them. Puts them to good use. Annoyingly, the sidewalks aren't in very good shape and they sometimes end for no reason which will then cause me to ride on the road. But until it is safer for a cyclist, I just won't ride on the road consistently. Sidewalks here I come!
In Chapel Hill, NC, where I live, a city ordinance specifically gives permission to bicyclists to ride on all sidewalks except in the central business district.
There is a street that I have yo ride along on accasion. This street is basically a freeway that runs through San Francisco. The car traffic is substantial and fast. There is literaly no foot trtaffic on the sidewalks. When riding on the sidewalk I pose no threat to pedestyrians, but if I rode on the street those tons of machinery going 45 to 60 mph pose a great risk for me on m,y bicycle.
I try to stay on bike paths, which are often for pedestrians as well, and let me tell you many of the pedestrians don't like bike riders any more than many car drivers. I either walk or bike to and from work and cannot tell you how many times I have nearly been hit by a cars, once even on a sidewalk. There are few sidewalks or bike paths so pedestrians and bikes find themselves all together with street traffic. In some ways it makes for more courteous pedestrians as they are more watchful than when they are on a sidewalk. I am a slow bike rider being older and heavy. I use a bell or say "behind you" before passing pedestrians and am courteous and safe, but until there are lanes only for bikes there will still be problems between bikes, pedestrians and cars.
I think all three are valid. I bike with my two kids on the back of the bike and try to bike on the road as much as possible. I have been honked at and yelled at (for endangering my kids and many will yell that the sidewalk is right over there). When there isn't a sidewalk-I don't have a lot of issues with the drivers around me. I did get stopped by a police officer once who said its okay to bike on the sidewalk with kids. Sometimes there are places where it is safer to be off the road (for all involved).
My answer is "all three". Bikes should almost always be on the road; the road is usually reasonably safe, and we have no right to endanger pedestrians to protect ourselves. But in the rare occasions when the road is particularly dangerous and the sidewalk is particularly safe, using the sidewalk is fine. And of course, making a city bike-safe is the best answer...dream on.
It's in the word, the sidewalk is made for walking. I understand that in many cities, roads are not bicycle-friendly, but that's no reason to spoil the life of pedestrians. I'm very careful of cyclists when I'm driving, but when I'm on a sidewalk, I don't to pay attention to anything that could be faster than my walking.
Where I live (Richardson, Texas - a city in the DFW metroplex) there is a huge biking community and on the weekends (and some weekdays) the bikers are out in full force so they ride on the road. There is safety in numbers. They are much less likely to get side swiped or run over. There are no dedicated bicycle lanes anywhere near me and riding on the road in 5 o'clock traffic makes me uber nervous so I don't do it (Dallas drivers are impatient, hungry, angry, etc all the freaking time).
It's too stinky hot outside for anyone to be walking on the sidewalks so I ride on them. Puts them to good use. Annoyingly, the sidewalks aren't in very good shape and they sometimes end for no reason which will then cause me to ride on the road. But until it is safer for a cyclist, I just won't ride on the road consistently. Sidewalks here I come!