noob question- when to use the sidewalk?

thirdin77

Not that I really want to use the sidewalk but.. does anyone else ever do this? The situations that come to mind are on narrow, single lane roads where traffic moves fast and would either pile up behind you because they don't want to pass you too closely or they will pass you closely- while going really fast.

I guess life would be too easy if all roads were either wide or included a bike lane.

batjerk

I guess I just use the sidewalk if I've bonked or am otherwise just too tired to ride more than 10 MPH.

I have not come across any narrow, single lane roads here that also have high speed traffic or high traffic volume. Usually, those narrow, single lane roads are non-arterial residential streets and have no sidewalks anyway.

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Raleighroader

My test of whether a road is safe to commute on is whether or not you can ride without making the traffic behind you slow down to your speed. A good example of a safe road is a two lane street that is wide enough to let a car pass you easily while you are riding a few feet from the curb. An example of an unsafe road might be one where there are two tight and busy lanes going your direction, and the cars in the right lane are not going to be able to pass a cyclist without changing lanes.

If you ask trailing drivers to have to take major steps to allow for you, in situations that might be fast-moving or where they may not have a way to pass you and thus will have to slow down fast, eventually one of those drivers will make a mistake and hit you.

Anyway, whenever I judge that a section of street or highway is unsafe in the way I described, I either go by a different route or I take a sidewalk for a short distance.

thistledown

My rule has been to get on the sidewalk when I'm too tired, like batjerk said.

garage sale GT

Don't know the law in California but in Illinois it is illegal to use the sidewalk in a business district.

I don't like to use them there anyway because when you cross the driveways of stores, people who are driving up from behind are less likely to see you than if you were in the street.

Sidewalks can be a lot harder on road wheelsets than the street, depending on how smooth the joint between street and sidewalk is.

Besides that, though, I just go ahead and use them when I can, especially in sprawling neighborhoods where there aren't a lot of driveways.

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batjerk

Same here in MN. But, the streets are not narrow or without shoulders here in most business districts.

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Trek_Rider_05

I think it is illegal in some jurisdictions to ride on the sidewalk. I personally try to stay off of the sidewalk, unless there is no other option, or, I am too tired to attempt to keep up a good pace on the road.

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aubinmg

NEVER.
Children are fine on sidewalks but pedestrians and motorists crossing intersections don't expect cyclists on sidewalks. You may feel safer from cars but you're a menace to pedestrians.

TheTexasPirate!

I had a dual suspension bike that I used as my primary mode of transportation, and would ride against trafic,in high trafic/no shoulder areas to give me a chance to dodge out of the way of ignorant car and truck drivers.

Fatherzen

I tend to agree with aubinmg. Motorists are not as likely to see you when you are approaching an intersection on a sidewalk. TheTexasPirate spoke of riding against traffic, which has the same problem. If you want motorist to see you, you should be in the place where they are looking for other vehicles.

The other problem with riding on sidewalks is that we teach our children to look both ways before stepping out into the street. Does anyone teach there children to look both ways before stepping out into the sidewalk? When I am riding into work my bicycle and I weigh around 250 pounds. 250 pounds hitting a kid at 20 mph is going to do some damage to that kid.

Raleighroader

I can't say strongly enough how wrong-headed your thinking is on this. Riding against the traffic gives you the illusion of being able to dodge out of the way, but in reality you have just increased your closing speed with traffic by 30 mph. Not only do you not have enough time to dodge out of the way when you are against traffic, but the fast closing speed gives that traffic less time to see you and adjust to you. A startled driver is more likely to be a driver who does something impulsive and wrong.

For example, let's say the traffic is moving at 45 mph, and you are going 15 mph. Riding with the traffic you have a closing speed of 30 mph. Against the traffic you have a closing speed of 60 mph.

If the traffic is too heavy and fast to safely ride with it, it certainly is too heavy and fast to ride against it. I have ridden tens of thousands of miles in my lifetime, and I am not exaggerating when I say I can't think of any situation that justifies riding against traffic. By the way, it's also illegal to do so.

Calantha

In Ontario I also believe it is illegal to bike on the sidewalk, though almost everyone does (without repercussion). I will bike on the sidewalk when, as mentioned, I am too tired, or feel that my safety is significantly threathened by bad drivers, or bad road conditions. My city is know for its bad drivers, and usually the areas of road closest to the right are filled with potholes. It's sometimes necessary for sidewalk riding. However, when biking on the sidewalk I always make sure to stop at intersections or other areas, and either make sure the cost is clear, or make sure the drivers know I am there.

azul_fahrrad

I will not ride on the sidewalk, I have had more near-collisions or collisions with motorist riding on the sidewalk.

Part of my commute is through downtown and several times I have to cross the drive way entrance to somthing like a gas station. They almost never see me if I am on the sidewalk and I am usually going to fast to stop in time.

Also this is always the unsuspecting pedestrians that don't see me coming in their direction for several blocks untill I am right in front of them, at which point they panic and jump in my way in an effort to avoid me.

I ride on the road, as far to the right as I safely can. At intersections, I pull up into the cross walk where every one can see me. My community is not really aware/concerned/ok with cyclist and it annoys the piss out of them when I am there but I do everything I can to ensure they can see me.

A side note: I have been hit once and have countless close calls. Several times motorist have rolled down their windows and in between expletives, ask why I am in the road and not on the side walk. I usually have 2 or 3 copies of the portion of the state law that states bicycles are to be ridden on the road, not side walks and hand them one. That doesn't really change their mind about the situation but I get a kick out of it.

azul_fahrrad

Aside from the law to the contrary, what is taught in drivers ed, which you had to take to get a license in Texas, this habit increases the risk of collision.