# Attention Bicyclists: Unless Your Bike has Training Wheels, Get Back in the Street where You Belong **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 28, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649 "2016-06-28T21:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/41 "2016-06-29T22:16:34Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > So now, why is it that nearly everyday, I see grown-ass people zooming down the fucking sidewalks when the street is right there next to them? Are they all afraid of the traffic? Scared of the big bag SUV’s? Fuck you, you goddamn cowardly bastards!!! Ride in the street where you belong, or take the fucking bus like the rest of us!!! I heartily endorse this Piting and rant. This is why I wont support and work against bike lanes- the assholes would rather ride on the sidewalk than the designated bike lane “as it’s safer”(which it isnt, especially for the pedestrians). Fuck them. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/42 "2016-06-30T00:38:54Z")
Well _that_ makes sense. It’s almost as if you just don’t like cyclists in general and want to get at them in every way possible. Nah, that can’t be it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/43 "2016-06-30T01:03:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I heartily endorse this Piting and rant. > > This is why I wont support and work against bike lanes- the assholes would rather ride on the sidewalk than the designated bike lane “as it’s safer”(which it isnt, especially for the pedestrians). Fuck them. I love, love, love bike lanes. Use them at every opportunity and go out of my way to use them rather than a more direct route without them (within reason of course). Honestly where I ride sidewalks are WAY too crowded to be useful to ride on anyway. Literally so crowded I just walk my bike (which I actually do for a little bit of my daily commute). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/44 "2016-06-30T01:08:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I heartily endorse this Piting and rant. > > This is why I wont support and work against bike lanes- the assholes would rather ride on the sidewalk than the designated bike lane “as it’s safer”(which it isnt, especially for the pedestrians). Fuck them. Actually, no. Bike lanes, in my experience (and I’ve complained about these sidewalk riders above), actually have made things _much_ better around here. We need more bike lanes, not fewer. Unfortunately, my specific neighborhood is not one with dedicated bike lanes, but everywhere I’ve seen them, it’s helped to make the situation better, in my observation. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/45 "2016-06-30T01:50:16Z")
I’ve once again become an avid cyclist while here in China, and a lot of my early enthusiasm was the availability of dedicated bicycle lanes. I’m terrified about trying to ride on the roads when I return to Michigan next month, because I know that we are asshole drivers, and unless I want to live in the city of Detroit, there are very few dedicated lanes (and no, Detroit proper is now and forever outside of consideration despite the “revival” going on there). I’m actually considering certain neighborhoods exclusively based on their proximity to a system of trails that we have, but this has the unfortunate effect of causing the housing prices to be very, very high. Goodbye to my five years of savings! Riding on the sidewalks is suicide. I broke my foot and destroyed a bike when I was younger because I was riding on a sidewalk, against the flow of traffic. As an adult, I feel sorry for the driver that hit me because I now understand the ramifications of her legally-at-faultness for the accident. Morally I was wrong. Still, in exceptional circumstances I will ride on the walk, but only in a safe and prudent manner, e.g., to get from an adjacent street to the entrance of my neighborhood. However I’m always aware that _I’m in the wrong_ and conduct my behavior appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/46 "2016-06-30T17:20:06Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Well _that_ makes sense. It’s almost as if you just don’t like cyclists in general and want to get at them in every way possible. > > Nah, that can’t be it. Cyclists are just supposed to disappear when you deny them faciliites, don’tcha know. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/47 "2016-06-30T20:36:28Z")
I am 46 years old and never knew I wasn’t supposed to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Both my daughters do it too, I guess because I taught them wrong. Damn, another way I screwed them up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/48 "2016-07-01T00:40:05Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I love, love, love bike lanes. Use them at every opportunity and go out of my way to use them rather than a more direct route without them (within reason of course)… But you didn’t mention that you ride a Harley… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/49 "2016-07-01T00:57:43Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I am 46 years old and never knew I wasn’t supposed to ride a bike on the sidewalk. It’ll depend on your jurisdiction. You may live somewhere where it’s okay, but here in Chicago, it’s illegal if you’re 12 or older. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/50 "2016-07-01T04:53:46Z")
I support this pit if there is a bike lane or if there is a sane traffic flow. However I’m in a hotel in LA on Century Blvd down the street from LAX. On the way back from dinner we met a bicyclist on the sidewalk. I didn’t mind - he was riding slowly and safely, and he wouldn’t have lasted a minute in the road. So there are exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/51 "2016-07-01T04:59:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’ll depend on your jurisdiction. You may live somewhere where it’s okay, but here in Chicago, it’s illegal if you’re 12 or older. As far as I know it’s illegal in most places but only regularly enforced in places where people actually use the sidewalks to get around. Where I live, you’re probably more likely to hit a pedestrian in the street, because just about the only pedestrians are precious joggers who refuse to run on concrete. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/52 "2016-07-01T10:17:25Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I support this pit if there is a bike lane or if there is a sane traffic flow. However I’m in a hotel in LA on Century Blvd down the street from LAX. On the way back from dinner we met a bicyclist on the sidewalk. I didn’t mind - he was riding slowly and safely, and he wouldn’t have lasted a minute in the road. So there are exceptions. Why wouldn’t he have lasted a minute in the road? Do drivers in LA purposely aim for bike riders? Is there like a bounty on them? Fullerton didn’t have any bike lanes when I made that ride to Lake Michigan. No Chicago streets did back then, and traffic was just as bad as today, buses, trucks, everything. Once a passenger reached out of a car window while passing me on my bike and slapped my ass. Didn’t stop me from riding in the street. I’ll say it again, people who ride bikes on the sidewalk are chickenshits. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/53 "2016-07-01T17:36:56Z")
I’m on the north side of Chicago in Andersonville. Walking the side streets or on Ashland I pass a bicyclist on the sidewalk. Younger and older adults. They often zoom past me from behind and scare the bejeezus out of me. I haven’t been hit yet, but have had many close calls. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/54 "2016-07-01T19:24:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > This is why I wont support and work against bike lanes- the assholes would rather ride on the sidewalk than the designated bike lane “as it’s safer”(which it isnt, especially for the pedestrians). Fuck them. I heartily endorse this sentence. If I had my way no one over the age of 16 would be allowed to ride a bike. You’re 16 goddamned years old get a car loser. And don’t come at me with your stupid, “But I’m poor I can’t afford a car.” Well then stop being poor loser. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/55 "2016-07-01T19:39:14Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I heartily endorse this sentence. > > If I had my way no one over the age of 16 would be allowed to ride a bike. You’re 16 goddamned years old get a car loser. And don’t come at me with your stupid, “But I’m poor I can’t afford a car.” Well then stop being poor loser. Is this supposed to be sarcasm? If not, it is one of the most idiotic things I’ve read in recent memory. Hopefully I’m just getting wooshed… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/56 "2016-07-01T19:53:11Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Aaaaand I just saw another biker on the sidewalk at Bryn Mawr and Sheridan while coming home on the bus. > > I can keep posting sightings of this if folks still don’t think this happens with any regularity. I’m still trying to figure out why a motorist gives a rat’s ass about people riding bicycles on sidewalks. While we’re at it, let’s get those little 4 year old brats with tricycles out in the traffic too. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/57 "2016-07-01T19:58:13Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’m still trying to figure out why a motorist gives a rat’s ass about people riding bicycles on sidewalks. Because bikers on sidewalks tend to cross the street in crosswalks at speeds unexpected by cars. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/58 "2016-07-01T20:00:10Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Is this supposed to be sarcasm? If not, it is one of the most idiotic things I’ve read in recent memory. Don’t give up hope, he may respond to this too. I don’t bike because I don’t have a car. I bike because I like biking. At my previous job it was much quicker than driving anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/59 "2016-07-01T20:37:53Z")
I heartily endorse this pitting. I live in a California city where the bike lanes are plentiful and wide, and STILL I see adults riding on the sidewalk. Right next to the bike lane! I nearly got hit the other day when I was walking on the sidewalk and a bicyclist came careening around the blind curve. I managed to jump out of the way, but it was a near thing. Jerk. I’ve seen bicyclists riding on the sidewalk nearly get hit by a car because they are coming fast from a direction that the car is not expecting. Not only is it jerky to pedestrians, it is dangerous! When I bicycle somewhere with my kids (ages 9 and 12), we all ride in the street (or bike lane if available), single file. It’s not that difficult! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649/60 "2016-07-01T21:00:26Z")
> [@Wednesday\_Evening](#): > > I heartily endorse this pitting. I live in a California city where the bike lanes are plentiful and wide, and STILL I see adults riding on the sidewalk. Right next to the bike lane! I nearly got hit the other day when I was walking on the sidewalk and a bicyclist came careening around the blind curve. I managed to jump out of the way, but it was a near thing. Jerk. > ! I know, I have posted the same thing but the die hard cyclists here refuse to believe me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-bicyclists-unless-your-bike-has-training-wheels-get-back-in-the-street-where-you-belong/758649.md?page=4)