# Bicycles on the sidewalk **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 29, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975 "2013-04-29T01:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/61 "2013-04-29T17:52:19Z")
It’s a wide path. There are actually 2 “lanes”. It’s plenty wide enough for peds and bikes. But some bikers still ride on the windy road where I can’t see them around turns. And there’s really nowhere to “go” on this path; it’s just a ride through the park. Cyclist+pedestrian=potentially nasty collision, but everyone walks away. 2 ton car+cyclist=maimed or dead cyclist. Stay on the path. That’s why it’s there. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/62 "2013-04-29T17:57:25Z")
Thanks for the cites to my question. Although they’re old, and they themselves admit it’s a small data set, the results are overwhelming. Having acknowledged that, I’m still going to bike on the sidewalk along [Lake Avenue](https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.078106,-87.835704&spn=0.002341,0.003449&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.078551,-87.835866&panoid=rJqxHL3fdFDFJG-dlY2Mcg&cbp=12,97.64,,1,9.38) where the speed limit is 45, the sidewalk is separated by a fence, and there aren’t any intersections for a mile at a time. So…if the roadway is so much safer, _why_ do we tell kids to bike on sidewalks? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/63 "2013-04-29T17:58:06Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Cyclist+pedestrian=potentially nasty collision, but everyone walks away. [everyone walks away …](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/S-F-bicyclist-charged-in-pedestrian-s-death-2289316.php) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/64 "2013-04-29T18:04:56Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Thanks for the cites to my question. Although they’re old, and they themselves admit it’s a small data set, the results are overwhelming. > > Having acknowledged that, I’m still going to bike on the sidewalk along [Lake Avenue](https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.078106,-87.835704&spn=0.002341,0.003449&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.078551,-87.835866&panoid=rJqxHL3fdFDFJG-dlY2Mcg&cbp=12,97.64,,1,9.38) where the speed limit is 45, the sidewalk is separated by a fence, and there aren’t any intersections for a mile at a time. > > So…if the roadway is so much safer, _why_ do we tell kids to bike on sidewalks? Because kids don’t know how and are too young to handle being in traffic. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/65 "2013-04-29T18:06:31Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > This park also has a very nice, well maintained, dedicated bike path completely separated from the road. It is in THIS situation where I will get bent out of shape when a biker insists on riding in the road. I ride in the road along side a bike path because I want to go far and fast, not dawdle along with the rollerbladers, dog walkers, and kids in strollers. I will use the bike path for a casual ride, or to cross a major highway, but otherwise I’m better off in the road. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/66 "2013-04-29T18:09:53Z")
Get off my goddam sidewalk! If you’re a sweet little old lady with a walker or a cane, I’ll go to impulse power, slow down to a crawl, creep around you and smile as nice as I can, or less scary than usual. But if you’re diddy-bopping down the street with your ear buds in your I-phone while you text about walking down the street with your ear buds in your i-phone and can’t hear the polite tinkle-tinkle of my handlebar bell… Your ass is mine. I’ll run you over, go around the block and see if you’re still there so I can do it again. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/67 "2013-04-29T18:12:11Z")
> [@For You](#): > > [everyone walks away …](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/S-F-bicyclist-charged-in-pedestrian-s-death-2289316.php) > **[Driver Runs Over Cyclist, Discards Severed Arm – Cyclists International](http://cyclistsinternational.com/2013/03/12/driver-runs-over-cyclist-discards-severed-arm/)** [http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21010186796434/police-search-for-hit-and-run-driver-that-killed-cyclist/](http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21010186796434/police-search-for-hit-and-run-driver-that-killed-cyclist/) [http://ktla.com/2013/03/24/cyclist-left-for-dead-after-hit-and-run-near-griffith-park-2/#axzz2RsRs5wE4](http://ktla.com/2013/03/24/cyclist-left-for-dead-after-hit-and-run-near-griffith-park-2/#axzz2RsRs5wE4) [http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Cyclist+killed+Griffintown/8191314/story.html](http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Cyclist+killed+Griffintown/8191314/story.html) > **[Truck crushes cyclist after bike fall](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/truck-crushes-cyclist-after-bike-fall-20130222-2evfk.html)** > > A cyclist has died after falling from his bike and being run over by a truck near Geelong. > **[Cyclist killed by Olympic bus: witness accounts and Wiggins's input](https://road.cc/content/news/62783-cyclist-killed-olympic-bus-witness-accounts-and-wigginss-input)** > > Fatal incident happened just after 7.30pm last night by Olympic Park > **[Driver Sought in Cyclist Hit-and-Run](https://patch.com/california/northhollywood/driver-sought-in-cyclist-hit-and-run)** > > One of your neighbors posted in Crime & Safety. Click through to read what they have to say. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.) Congratulations on finding ONE incident. How long would you like to play this game? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/68 "2013-04-29T18:14:03Z")
> [@DHMO](#): > > Here in Colorado, at least in the metro Denver area, bicycles are considered vehicles under the [law](http://www.denvergov.org/BikeLaws/tabid/438255/Default.aspx): > > It goes on to say that bicycles are required to ride on the street, and > > I take exception to the claim: > > When I am walking on the sidewalk with my wife and dogs, and other pedestrians are taking a stroll with their young child in a stroller, we are moving at between 3 to 5 miles per hour. The road we are immediately adjacent to has a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour. The Tour de France wannabes on the sidewalk are blowing past us at speeds between 40 and 50 miles per hour, judging by how fast they are exceeding the pace of street traffic. > > This is true even when we walk in our city’s parks, trails and greenbelts. Bicycle traffic moves as fast as they can possibly pump the pedals, even as they overtake and pass pedestrians from behind—they never even so much as stop pumping and coast past. All off-road paths, sidewalks, trails etc. are clearly marked with a speed limit of 10 miles per hour. A runner at an Olympic mile pace is moving at around 15 miles per hour, and the bicycle riders are zipping along at twice to three times the speed of runners on the trails. > > The frequent “courtesy” of alerting pedestrians of an approaching cyclist is to call out “On your left! [or right]” Which does little good when you are 100 yards or more behind me, outdoors, where your voice does not carry well and I cannot hear you. Even worse is when you call out less than 10 yards behind me. Although I can hear you, I do not have time to react before you go zooming past at 40 miles per hour. > > Also, where we live, there are many people; elderly, children, or otherwise with limited faculties, such as hearing-impaired, who simply do not hear your call, “On your Left!” > > As an added bonus, since bicycles are considered vehicles under the law, they are **obliged** to _ **obey all traffic laws** _ the same as cars and other vehicles using the road. Which means _ **stopping for red lights and stop signs!** _ Cyclists in Denver sound like cyclists in Calgary, except the cyclists here almost never alert pedestrians that they’re coming up behind them. > [@DCnDC](#): > > \ > > Cyclist+pedestrian=potentially nasty collision, but everyone walks away.\ > [@For You](#): > > [everyone walks away …](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/S-F-bicyclist-charged-in-pedestrian-s-death-2289316.php) I think everyone here could post a story about cyclists killing pedestrians in their city - I know I can. I also know for damned sure that I don’t want to get hit by a cyclist while I’m walking on the sidewalk - I’m pretty sure I’ll be seriously hurt by someone who wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. The part that irritates me the most about all the cyclists on the sidewalks where I live is that I walk in almost exclusively low-speed, low traffic suburban areas - the roads are about as safe as they can be for cyclists, yet they’re still on the sidewalk, endangering _me_. ---
**Author:** ![Deser2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@Deser2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deser2)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/69 "2013-04-29T18:25:24Z")
Here in Manhattan the food delivery guys are the worst offenders when it comes to breaking the law on bikes. Its become so much of an issue in some neighborhoods that the city just passed a law requiring, amonst other things, safety and reflective gear, some sort of license plate for the bike, they must wear something on their upper body showing the restaurant they work for, they must obey ALL traffic laws, and they must bike in the street. I assume the license plate and named uniform are so that they can hold the restaurant responsible for the accidents that they are causing - and believe me, they happen a lot. They’ve also been pushing new bike lanes all over the city lately most of which are completely distrupting the traffic on those roads but honestly, I’ll take a little delay when I’m driving over getting hit when I’m walking my dog. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/70 "2013-04-29T18:37:20Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > My biggest pet peeve about cyclists is that a large number of them don’t obey the rules of the road. I almost hit a guy yesterday because I had come to a 4-way stop, looked around, didn’t see anyone and just as I started to turn right, a guy on a bike came whizzing by me on my right and almost got taken out. I bet a hill’s involved. I’ve witnessed a cyclist blow through a stop sign at the bottom of a hill on a wooded multi-use trail and nearly end up as someone’s hood ornament. The cross street there doesn’t get much traffic so virtually all westbound cyclists blow the stop but once in a while a vehicle will be there when one reaches the bottom. Maybe that cyclist successfully avoiding a faceplant learned a lesson that night. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/71 "2013-04-29T18:40:52Z")
Cyclist here, and I agree 100% that bikes need to be on the road, not the sidewalk (unless you’re a kid and riding at slow speeds). Pedestrians are way too unpredictable for me to ever feel comfortable on a sidewalk (which is why pedestrians on the designated bike path drives me nuts!), however vehicle traffic is generally predictable. As in my car, I am cautiosly aware of what’s going on around me and make sure I am moving in a predictible fashion as well. Cat Whisperer and I live in the same city, but I’ve actually noticed an increase in bike commuters obeying the rules of the road in recent years. It might be a matter of our location in the city, but I travel between downtown and the NW and observe cyclists stoping at stop signs and lights, and dismounting and walking across the controlled sidewalks. The downtown multi-use pathways are limited to either 10 or 20 km’s an hour and that is enforced, as is the requirement for lights and bells to warn pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/72 "2013-04-29T18:44:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I ride in the road along side a bike path because I want to go far and fast, not dawdle along with the rollerbladers, dog walkers, and kids in strollers. I will use the bike path for a casual ride, or to cross a major highway, but otherwise I’m better off in the road. I’m the same. I ride at vehicle speed, not leisure speed. Much safer for everyone, myself included, if I’m on the road. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/73 "2013-04-29T18:47:00Z")
> [@For You](#): > > No, the biggest reason is _not_ intersections, sidewalks are heavily decorated with cuts for driveways and parking lot entrances, a bike moving along the sidewalk at 8~10mph could easily meet a car crossing the sidewalk at one of these with little-to-no warning. I came about 2 feet from splattering a little girl who was trailing her family all on bikes…she was about 50 yards behind them. The driveway I was exiting had a 6 foot cinder block wall, that even I in my honda ridgeline had to nose out a bit to see oncoming traffic. Mom came back and started yelling at me for “not watching where I was going” If I had arrived 10 seconds earlier mom or dad would be having that close call not the kid. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/74 "2013-04-29T19:49:37Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > I’m the same. I ride at vehicle speed, not leisure speed. Much safer for everyone, myself included, if I’m on the road. Yeah, that makes a difference too. I’m on a hybrid, cruising at around 14/15 mph. If you’re on a road bike, and you can keep your pace over 20, you’re going to be a lot less annoying on the road, and a lot more annoyed and annoying on a sidewalk/trail. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky_the_Wonder_Spirit)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/75 "2013-04-29T20:39:42Z")
> [@Waxwinged](#): > > Oh, hell no. I’d rather hit a pedestrian on my bike than have a truck hit me. It’s very sensible, from the point of view of a person who wants to live through the day. … and who doesn’t give a shit about injuring pedestrians. I hate sidewalk bicyclists. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/76 "2013-04-29T21:05:00Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I came about 2 feet from splattering a little girl who was trailing her family all on bikes…she was about 50 yards behind them. The driveway I was exiting had a 6 foot cinder block wall, that even I in my honda ridgeline had to nose out a bit to see oncoming traffic. Isn’t the 6 foot cinderblock wall the problem, not the cyclists and/or pedestrians that it helps to conceal? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/77 "2013-04-29T21:12:24Z")
OP: Since you’re relatively new here, you may not know that this has been extensively discussed before (not that it isn’t worth bringing it up again)—in such threads as [A truck just ran over me and my bike](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=657127) (which inspired [this Pitting](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=657286)) and [Is riding a bicycle on a sidewalk a bad idea?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=552162) (Answer: Yes). ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/78 "2013-04-29T21:14:41Z")
I support this pitting. As a pedestrian, I’ve been banged into by moron cyclists on the sidewalks. Now if only we could keep pedestrians off the actual bike paths… ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/79 "2013-04-29T21:24:18Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > I was in Parkersburg, WV recently, and noticed signs saying that bicycles and pedestrians should share the sidewalk downtown. First time I’d ever even heard of that. I felt very sorry for anyone who’s ever tried to be a bicyclist there. Perhaps they meant that bikers should WALK their bikes (on the sidewalk, of course) when they are downtown? Still seems odd. Perhaps the main downtown street has lots of diagonal parking, with car parkers coming in and out of them frequently? I could see that as significantly increasing the chance of (slow-speed) car/bike collisions – but even then, it’s not THAT hard for parkers to look for bikers before they back out. So, it’s odd. It would be interesting to see the wording of the law, or at least of the signs. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975/80 "2013-04-29T21:37:55Z")
On my bike I have been struck by a car, pelted with beer bottles/garbage (twice), chased by violent teens (twice), and squeezed into a ditch by traffic. F\*\*k the rules, I don’t want to **die**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-on-the-sidewalk/656975.md?page=5)