Illegal to ride on sidewalk?

We sometimes take to the sidewalk when the traffic is especially dicey, such as heavily travelled roads where interstate on and off-ramps are, and especially where the bike lane in these areas isn't there.

We prefer to be on the road, but we prefer MORE not to be killed by "creative" or hostile sloppy drivers.

Now, we've been squawked at by motorists who recite: "sidewalks are for pedestrians." We get that.

A guy at a local bike club said that is is NOT law that bikes can not be on the sidewalk, especially when safety's an issue. His contention was that lots of folks like to spout off about that, especially motorists who probably ought to be paying attention to what THEY'RE doing.

I'd like to get the exact information about this for my area, if this isn't uniform code across the land.

Anyone know about this?

geardad

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Whoops! I'm in the seattle area...washington state.


gd

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Since this is a topic of general interest I want to state that the Illinois vehicle code says that operating a bike on a sidewalk in an area which is zoned for business is illegal.

I also live in Washington State, and your local bike club guy is correct; there is no state law against bicycles using sidewalks and crosswalks. Bicycles, however, must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and crosswalks, and motor vehicles must treat bicyclists in crosswalks as pedestrians.

Along the same lines, there is also no law stating that bicyclists must walk their bikes through crosswalks. The state advises that cyclists walk their bikes through crosswalks, but riding through them isn't illegal.

Here's the state-sponsored Web site.

WA Bicycle laws

Check out the link named "More State Bicycle Laws" for details.

PS: There may be some cities that have laws that supercede the state laws, but I don't think Seattle does.

The state law in Ohio used to be that bicycles were banned from sidewalks up until the late 1970's. After this, the law was quietly changed to be at the discretion of the local authority. Most of the cities in Ohio allow sidewalk riding in area where there is not heavy pedestrian traffic such as what is seen in down town areas. Sidewalks in residential areas are often used for bike trails. As usual, the pedestrian has the right of way.

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Here, in St. Louis, Missouri, there is a city ordinance against anyone over 12 years old riding on the sidewalk. I don't know about the rest of the state. The only time I do it is when climbing a steep hill in heavy traffic with no shoulder. It can be a bit unnerving when you can't keep your speed up. Of course, usually in those situations, there is no sidewalk, anyway! ;-)

The state of Indiana just says that bicycles are vehicles, and have equal rights and duties on the road; the city of Ft. Wayne says no sidewalk riding in a business district, defined as no residences in 500 feet of frontage. The drivers say a lot of crap, usually wrong.

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Be sure to check your local laws too. The state I live in has no state law against sidewalk cycling, but local laws address it. The general rule is that it is not allowed in business areas, but exactly what that means depends on local laws and regs.

As far as the City of Albuquerque is concerned, you are a 'vehicle' while riding a bicycle.

With all the rights and responsibilities that entails.

This means that you're (technically) not allowed on the sidewalk.
Everybody does it anyway, since riding on busy roads is VERY VERY risky, the law be damned.
I'll try to keep my sidewalk bike jaunts to a minimum and will ride on the sidewalk only if my own persoanl safety so demands.

Above law also means that you, the cyclist, are (technically) entitled to take up as much room as any car/truck/bus/semi in a lane.
In actual reality, you will die if you insist on this.
Someone will kill you, either because they didn't see you/didn't expect you there/ their brain has no room for a cyclist on the street or because they hate your guts for making them 3 seconds late for their date with a triple greaseburger with super-extra-mega large fries and the BIGGIE GULP.
Some might just shoot you or throw random items, chcuckling happily and druggedly as you tumble to your death, if you do this in the wrong neighborhood.

Luckily, the cops are quite aware of this and would rather see you break the law by riding on the sidewalk than having to scrape your broken carcass off the street with a putty knife.

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Above law also means that you, the cyclist, are (technically) entitled to take up as much room as any car/truck/bus/semi in a lane.
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/QUOTE]


NM law is very similar to Tennessee law which states that you are required as far to the right side of the road as practical.
I read many of the state laws before proposing some changes to the Tn statute a few years back.

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IN law says the same "far right as practicable" crap, which the local morons insist means 'right pedal over the curb at all times', unless you do what they REALLY want, and get on the sidewalk.

OP, I know you're riding with your offspring, and don't want to set a bad example, so I understand why you don't reply as I do:

"I'M NOT WALKING, BI+CH!" I don't respond kindly to self-important, ignorant drivers, and if they want to escalate, well, my brakes stop me faster, and I'm combat-trained.

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I've read a lot into this in my town Boise, Idaho as I get the same people yelling that I can't be on the sidewalk (sometimes by bikers going the wrong direction on the road ). Anyway, our local laws state that bikes are allowed on the sidewalk if it is not safe to be on the road (heavy traffic, no bike lane, ect.). However, a biker must always yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning when passing them.

There's two spots in my commute I have to use the sidewalk. They aren't expansive areas, but I wanted to make sure.

IIRC the city ordinance in Milwaukee WI is the same, but I've never seen it enforced.

Up north here, cyclists are not allowed to ride across on a pedestrian crosswalk according to the HTA. Local bylaws also stipulate that in some areas, bikes/skateboards are not allowed on the sidewalks in certain commercial areas. Local bylaws also state that the only cyclists allowed on sidewalks are age 16 or younger with a parent or guardian. Other places limit bike traffic on sidewalks to wheel sizes of 20" or less.

Check your local laws, as you can see, they all can be different.