# Is riding a bicycle on a sidewalk a bad idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979 "2010-02-14T18:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/81 "2010-02-18T04:36:07Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Yo, ho, ho & a bottle of rum! We aren’t following the rules of the sea here. If I’m walking on a sidewalk, I might need to slow down or speed up. What if I arrive at my destination & need to turn? Should I keep walking straight ahead to avoid a bike I may or may not hear? What if the moon turns to green cheese and falls on our heads? What do your questions have to do with the situation that \*\*Guanolad \*\*described that I was responding to? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/82 "2010-02-18T04:39:55Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Last summer I was standing in our parking lot, not moving at all, and a kid on a skateboard rode it about a hundred feet straight into my ankle. I didn’t move because I assumed he was going to steer right or left, but instead he slammed directly into me, watching me the whole time. He didn’t seem malicious, it didn’t look like he meant to do it, and and he certainly can control the skateboard, so I don’t know why he hit me. He just sort of shrugged it off, like striking a human being wasn’t a big deal to him. Maybe he’s a sociopath. What’s your point? I will certainly concede that my strategy will not work in every single situation. No strategy will. I don’t know that basing your strategy around weirdass situations involving sociopaths is sensible. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/83 "2010-02-18T04:42:27Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The truth is we live in a car-centric world, more and more. So often I’m riding in a car inching, dangerously past a cyclist This sounds like poor driving habits rather than anything inherently wrong with the road or the bicycle > [@](#): > > while a perfectly good sidewalk is right there. When it comes to bicycles, there is no such thing as a ‘perfectly good sidewalk’. > [@](#): > > And not a pedestrian to be seen for blocks. But when one is there he or she is now in danger (as is the cyclist) simply because you could not pass safely and properly. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/84 "2010-02-18T14:03:29Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Oh fer Og’s sake. You are completely missing the point no doubt because you have managed to read my post with no reference whatsoever to what I was responding to. You’re right, I was wrong. On a bike path (I missed that part of the thread) you are absolutely correct that people should just continue on the course they were headed. I occasionally ride on the bike path but avoid it because people seem to have a real problem following the basic rules. Kids run around in all directions, people walk their dogs with 25’ leashes that block the path, bladers with headphones on that can’t hear you say “On your left” as you approach. But that’s no excuse for people who know better to stay to the right and keep moving. Bikers will get around you safely if you aren’t prone to sudden changes of direction. I was referring to sidewalks, but that was not the subject of your comment. Mea culpa. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/85 "2010-02-18T16:59:44Z")
If you’d read what I’d posted, up thread, you’d realize I made a point of saying bicyclists should always cede the sidewalk to pedestrians. I am talking about when there are no pedestrians on the sidewalks. Which, in the increasingly car-centric world we live in, is actually quite often. I feel that if you can’t see a pedestrian for blocks, it should be okay for you to use the sidewalk, as long as you’re prepared to go back out onto the road should some appear. Why is this so hard to understand? No one is being displaced, there is no risk of collision between cyclist and pedestrian. Maybe your town/city is teaming with pedestrians day and night. Mine’s not. Most of the time there are not pedestrians visible for blocks. If there’s a guy out walking his dog, or a family out for a stroll, simply choose the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Someone comes out onto the sidewalk once you’re riding on it, out onto the street you go, till you pass them. How hard is that? Who is being put out, or put in danger? ---
**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:** [February 18, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/86 "2010-02-18T17:33:10Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I feel that if you can’t see a pedestrian for blocks, it should be okay for you to use the sidewalk, as long as you’re prepared to go back out onto the road should some appear. Why is this so hard to understand? No one is being displaced, there is no risk of collision between cyclist and pedestrian. I’m not clear on where there are sidewalks suitable for riding where there are no pedestrians, doors to open, driveways, or hidden areas where pedestrians can appear not expecting fast moving bike traffic. It’s certainly possible, but I rarely encounter them. In the places I see them, the road traffic isn’t heavy enough to warrant avoiding road traffic. Then there’s the fact that now road traffic has to keep an eye out for bikes coming back into the road at every sidewalk cut. In my experience (and I grant that yours may be different) I haven’t seen any situations where it makes more sense to ride on the sidewalk. In the city here it makes absolutely no sense. Out in the burbs where I used to live there was still way too much pedestrian traffic to make it worthwhile. In more rural areas there isn’t enough road traffic to make it a danger, or the sidewalks are in such disrepair that it’s safer on the road, or both. IMO, the key to road safety for cars, bikes, and pedestrians is predictability. Having bikes mix with pedestrians some times and not others violates that, just like passing on the right in car does. It can be safe at times, but overall is very bad for general safety. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/87 "2010-02-18T18:59:01Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If you’d read what I’d posted, up thread, you’d realize I made a point of saying bicyclists should always cede the sidewalk to pedestrians. I am talking about when there are no pedestrians on the sidewalks. Which, in the increasingly car-centric world we live in, is actually quite often. > > I feel that if you can’t see a pedestrian for blocks, it should be okay for you to use the sidewalk, as long as you’re prepared to go back out onto the road should some appear. Why is this so hard to understand? No one is being displaced, there is no risk of collision between cyclist and pedestrian. > > Maybe your town/city is teaming with pedestrians day and night. Mine’s not. Most of the time there are not pedestrians visible for blocks. If there’s a guy out walking his dog, or a family out for a stroll, simply choose the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Someone comes out onto the sidewalk once you’re riding on it, out onto the street you go, till you pass them. How hard is that? Who is being put out, or put in danger? The cyclist is being put in danger by jumping into the street in an unexpected manner. Here’s an idea: if you don’t want to have to pay so much attention when you drive, don’t drive. Walk or bike instead. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/88 "2010-02-18T20:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > where there are no pedestrians, doors to open, driveways, or hidden areas where pedestrians can appear I can’t speak to where you live, obviously, but where I live, no doors open directly onto sidewalks. If you’d read up thread you’d know I am on the sidewalk because I ride very slowly. Even if it’s only 6’, I have plenty of time to safely dismount and walk past any pedestrian that might suddenly appear. The same is true of drives and alleys, slow down and look. Effectively the same skill it requires to ride safely on the road with alleys and cross streets. > [@](#): > > jumping into the street in an unexpected manner Because it’s inconceivable that any cyclist could transition from sidewalk to roadway in any safe manner? I have repeated stated that I ride slowly, so slowly I feel unsafe on the road. > [@](#): > > Here’s an idea: if you don’t want to have to pay so much attention when you drive, don’t drive. Walk or bike instead. Huh? I don’t believe we were talking about paying attention when driving. And, I don’t drive, I only walk and bike. I do, however, ride in cars and observe cars, if that helps clear up your confusion any. I have delineated the 5 short rules I stick with to safely use the sidewalk as a cyclist. They seem reasonable and workable to me. I have addressed every alarmist, overblown, perceived problem you have presented, from spycams and trespassing charges, police involvement, destruction of lawn, being called a hooligan, unable to stop for people springing unto the sidewalk from unseen doorways, movimg safely back and forth from road to sidewalk, even being compared to a mugger! I find it interesting that the perceived threat, a cyclist presents, on the sidewalk, is enough to justify the sort of loathing represented by the alarmist rhetoric seen in this thread. But the perceived/real threat cars present to cyclists is not enough to justify moving unto even unoccupied sidewalks. I want to thank you all for a lively and informative discussion. I have found it revealing and educational. I knew it was a hot button topic when I offered my opinion, (it’s not like you can be a cyclist and not realize you will be dangerously ill treated on the road and despised on the sidewalk), so it’s not like I expected anyone to see it my way, I assure you. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/89 "2010-02-18T21:08:59Z")
I think that riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is a good thing. Random thoughts: For one thing, it is safer for the cyclist. If there is a hazard on the sidewalk that could hurt a cyclist, there are more on the road that could hurt the cyclist. And, flip the cyclist into the path of a numerous pound vehicle. A car backing out of a driveway is no excuse for keeping a bicycle off of the sidewalk. Do car drivers routinely look, and then close their eyes when backing out of their driveway? If so, they should do what they are supposed to do when backing up, not keeping up bad practices. A kid on a tricycle is more regularly going to surprise a driver than a cyclist. A car backing out of a driveway is/should be reason for keeping the bicyclist alert. Any bicyclist above 6 years old should know that. If the cyclist isn’t seen on the sidewalk by the driver, he won’t be seen by the driver on the street. When I ride my bike into an intersection, I blamed well know that I may get hit, and am careful-I know \*that \*while I’m in my 2 ton car. What kind of idiot rides his bicycle into an intersection w/o looking anyway? That’s no reason _not to use a sidewalk_! I would rather be a pedestrian getting hit by a cyclist than a cyclist being hit by a car. If a pedestrian is being overtaken by a bicyclist, he should do the same thing that he does if he is overtaken by another pedestrian. If I am a bicyclist on a sidewalk, and hit somebody, I should be punished the same as if I were a pedestrian and hit somebody with metal at X speed. Whether or not i have a tag on my vehicle. The poster above, who had a hurt friend, isn’t a good example. It’s sad, but, irrelevant. I had a friend who was crippled while riding a bicycle on a road, and was hit by a car. I guarantee that he, and his family, suffered more. At least, I’m supposing, your friend didn’t need a colostomy bag. hh ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/90 "2010-02-18T21:14:58Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > In my experience (and I grant that yours may be different) I haven’t seen any situations where it makes more sense to ride on the sidewalk. In the city here it makes absolutely no sense. Out in the burbs where I used to live there was still way too much pedestrian traffic to make it worthwhile. . Something here doesn’t sound quite realistic. Way too much pedestrian traffic (on the sidewalk?) That sounds like a city. Best wishes, hh ---
**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:** [February 18, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/91 "2010-02-18T22:28:59Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Something here doesn’t sound quite realistic. Way too much pedestrian traffic (on the sidewalk?) That sounds like a city. Or the suburbs of Boston. Get out to the more rural suburbs and there are no sidewalks except on the major roads, and they are not very well suited for riding. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979/92 "2010-02-19T01:30:25Z")
Yes, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is a bad idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-riding-a-bicycle-on-a-sidewalk-a-bad-idea/528979.md?page=4)