I used to hate that when I was walking on the multi-use paths downtown here. The cyclists would come up on me so fast and so quietly that it would startle the hell out of me. This was in a congested area, so they were supposed to be going slow, but most didn’t - they just blew past pedestrians, very fast and very close.
It’s a bad idea because it’s dangerous. One study found that riding on the sidewalk is 1.8 times more dangerous than riding on the roadway.
Why is it dangerous? Because even when you’re riding on a sidewalk, you have to go through intersections. And that’s where most bicycle accidents occur. A cyclist on the road is more likely to be noticed by car drivers, and is more predictable. Car drivers don’t expect >10 mph vehicles to come out of the sidewalk and into the roadway.
There’s no way to ride safely on the sidewalk where I live; I’d have to go at a walking speed and it would probably still be less safe than walking and no faster.
Biking is an efficient means of transport because you can easily ride at 20 or 25 Km/h over longish distances. I really wouldn’t want to drive into a pedestrian at that speed. It would probably not kill them but it won’t be pretty either.
I think it varies based on where you live. Here, nobody really walks anywhere except around a few blocks downtown – like many midwest cities, Des Moines and the surrounding areas are very sprawled and low-density – so frankly people would be safer on the sidewalks. Usually, the bicyclists I see that don’t do this cause major problems because there are very few bicyclists as well and people don’t know how to handle them. There’s one guy who bikes through part of my route to work, including on a quite busy bridge with 45mph traffic, and he goes on the road rather than the (never used by pedestrians) sidewalk. It always causes problems since people struggle to get around him.
Plus, bicyclists around here pretty much never signal and don’t follow road rules anyway (e.g. zipping around cars at lights, ignoring red lights unless there’s cross traffic). When I see 'em on the sidewalk, I’m happy.
Other than the fact that it’s usually illegal (which was covered already, but here are some cites), this video talks a little about some of the cons, like getting stuck behind slow walking pedestrians (cycle rage!). This linkalso talks about some of the pros and cons, as well as giving safety tips for those who insist on sidewalk riding.
You know, they don’t become better human beings just because they are walking (or on a 2-wheeler) and pedestrians do have the right of way. So, do you really want to scoot down a sidewalk at 10-15 mph amongst aggressive incompetent people who have the right of way? Are you sure this course of action will make you the happiest in the long run? How’s your insurance situation? Just sayin’.
“Look at my pants! They’re ruined! An…an…an…I have a detached retna. Look at it, its all detached-like. An a herniated disc! I’ma gonna sue…!”
The sidewalk’s for regular walking, not for fancy walking!
I’ve always been taught that bicyclists are part of traffic and are expected to obey all traffic laws. Out of curiousity, where do you live that cycling on the sidewalk is legal?
For me this is the biggest point. When you are riding on a bicycle the most dangerous spots are intersections. By riding on the sidewalk you are making every driveway an intersection. Plus adding in the point mentioned earlier that drivers are not used to seeing a fast moving object on the sidewalk but are looking for them on the street I think you make them even more dangerous. That is probably what is creating that 1.8 times more dangerous situation mentioned by scr4.
I suppose that would really depend on the laws in that location wouldn’t it? Around here it’s against the law to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk if you are over 12. How would I be to blame for for being struck while doing something legal by someone doing something illegal?
I ride exclusively on the sidewalk, even though it’s illegal where I live. I’m more than prepared to pay the fine, if caught. (Distributed over the 25 yrs I’ve been riding, it will work out to less than 4 dollars a year!)
I know this is a really hot button issue on the board, but I don’t really care.
It’s not that hard to be a respectful sidewalk rider;
I always cede the walkway to pedestrians, never hesitating to ride up on the lawn or out onto the road to make way. (A bike with fat tires helps!) I will even stop and dismount to accommodate.
I never come up behind anyone without dinging my bell, well in advance, so they are not caught off guard, (even though I’ll go around them up on the lawn).
I don’t ride fast, that’s why I’m not on the road – I’m driving too slow.
I stop at every cross street and check every driveway, never just blasting out in front of people. I stop and cross, at the lights, as a pedestrian.
I take side streets, even if it makes my journey longer. The main streets, in downtown, are no place to try riding on sidewalks. And I always choose the less popular side of the street. I can ride blocks and blocks and never encounter a pedestrian. A sure sign I’ve chosen the right routing.
It has worked for me and I have no intention of changing my ways. I even have a great story should I get snagged by the police. (I’m riding on the sidewalk because I was just about hit by a car a few moments ago, my hearts aflutter and I’m scared, officer, think I’ll stay on the sidewalk until I’m feeling a little better!)
My experience has been if you are observing these simple rules no one will really care, especially police officers, who, let’s be honest, have bigger crimes to address.
(I know this will annoy some posters, sorry! )
King County, WA.
By any chance, is your job being a Chinese takeout delivery boy?
They are generally the ones with their face plastered all over the sidewalk.
BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cyclists around here do whatever the hell they please, whenever they please, usually with an attitude.
Same here, which is why I like to carry a big stick to catch their wheels with.
Ride on the street, and obey all the traffic laws, or take your toy to the park.
I don’t mean a cyclist who has been hit, I mean a cyclist who hits and runs - like the courier who slammed into my ex on a pedestrian crossing, injuring her hip, and just cycling off without apologising.
Your location lies- obviously you live here in Tucson.
I’m a pretty solid 190 lbs. It’s difficult for me to imagine a cyclist running into me without wiping.
It’s probably irrational, but I have an intense hatred of people who ride bicycles for a living, which would mostly consist of takeout delivery people and bike messengers. It’s like, what are you? Fourteen years old? What the fuck is a grown-ass man doing riding a bicycle for a living? And where does the attitude come from? Yeah, you’re so cool and hip and anti-establishment peddling around the city delivery packages between major corporations.
I used to work for a same day courier service( no bicycles) in the SF Bay Area.
In cities like San Francisco or New York, a bicycle is often faster than motor vehicle and a lot of clients want < 2 hour service.
The cycle side does seem to attract the “outlaw/hipster” types.
Yes.
I agree with that part. But are you sure you’d know when cyclists are obeying the traffic laws? Because many times when riding my bike, I’ve been told by car drivers that I shouldn’t be using the left-turn lane, or shouldn’t be using the road at all, or should be riding against traffic, or shouldn’t be “blocking” the lane (even when it’s too narrow to share with a car), or should have chosen a “safer” route, etc., etc.