Cyclists on Sidewalks

[pooks]

I was waiting for a chance to turn out onto the 4-lane street from a parking lot and I saw a couple of cyclists -- Mormon missionaries -- riding toward me on the sidewalk.

My reaction? "You don't have the right of way so I hope you're ready to stop," as I turned in front of them.

They weren't close enough that it could have caused a collision, or I'm suree I would have waited, and honestly I don't know if they even had to slow down. I just saw that they were zipping toward me but I had plenty of time to turn in front of them, although they MIGHT have had to slow down a bit, I'm not sure -- but I also knew that if they'd been riding in the street, I'd have waited and let them go by so there wouldn't be any question.

None of this was deliberated. My brain process was just -- you're on the sidewalk, so you're gonna have to let me go first.

I've seen them ride in the streets a lot so I'm not sure why they were on the sidewalk to begin with.

I'm not sure if this is the same thought I would have had if I weren't a cyclist. And I don't know WHY I didn't err on the part of caution and just let them go by anyway.

But for the first time I've seen it in action -- in my own brain -- why bikes should be in the street and not on the sidewalk.

Any comments? I'm not sure if I should be chastised or not! I do know that if I were doing it again, I'd probably let them go by. I was down the street before I started mulling over what had happened, and wondering whether I was a bad driver or not!

[SouthernBelle]

I often find myself thinking similarly. I'll think, "I have the right of way" when it's between me and a car. Who would lose in that duel?

I think we have to reach a compromise between asserting our "right of way" and our safety. You were there so only you can tell if you did the right thing.

[anakiwa]

Sidewalks are pretty dangerous places for cyclists. Your brain was probably reacting to the fact that cyclists shouldn't really be on sidewalks.

As far as who has the right of way- I'm not sure what the law says. My gut reaction is that the cyclist would have to wait, but when I think about it- they probably have the same rights as a pedestrian on a sidewalk (and probably the pedestrian has the right of way?)

I almost never ride on sidwalks, but there is one short section of my commute to work where I can get on the sidewalk and go against traffic as a result (thereby avoiding 2 annoying left turns). I have to cross the exits to 2 parking lots- I'm always very careful to make sure no one is coming or going- so something in my gut makes me think I don't have the right of way when I'm on the sidewalk.

[pooks]

When I'm on my bike, I never assume I have the right of way, even when I do! No way I'm going that route. In fact, even when driving I will always give way if somebody tries to cut in front of me or pass me or anything. Driving is not a contact sport.

The more I've pondered it, the more I think I was influenced by a "you know better than that" snark in the back of my mind when I pulled in front of them.

Again, this wasn't a safety issue -- there was no chance of collision. At worst, they might have slowed a bit. They might not have even done that.

What I found revealing was knowing that if they'd been in the street, I wouldn't have even considered pulling in front of them had I thought they might have to slow down.

[Grog]

It's nearly certain they shouldn't have been there (although in some states I hear policemen have told cyclists to stick to the sidewalk - a stupid idea but anyway).

However, I'm certain they had right of way, like a pedestrian would have. (They were probably going about the speed of a fast runner.)

This is even more true if you were coming out of a parking lot (private driveway) without a light to give you priority and or a stop for them (you have a stop by default coming out of any driveway). Moreoever, usually, slower vehicles (and pedestrians) are thought to have right of way.

So, yeah, they were not in the right spot. And it's fairly unlikely that policepeople would have ticketed you for that, because they don't care much about pedestrians and cyclists usually. But when I move around with a ton and a half of metal around me, I always prefer to err on the side of caution...

[pooks]

I agree with you, Grog. Which is why I decided to post.

I knew what I did wasn't dangerous -- I never would have considered it otherwise. But I was astonished at how quickly I (as a driver) dismissed them and their claim on "right of way" because they were on the sidewalk!

[guest1]

some people ride bikes

some people are cyclists

some people are roadies - they ride on the road

some people are mountain bikers - they ride on trails

there are those who do both while racing -- they are cyclocross racers

there are no sidewalk cyclists

some people ride bikes -- please do NOT confuse them with cyclists!

[snapdragen]

It's against the law to ride on the side walks here. From the DMV Handbook:

Bicyclists:
must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.

must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical— not on the sidewalk.

must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes.

may legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, another bicycle, an animal, or to make a turn, avoid debris, or other hazards.

may choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.

may use a left turn lane. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.

are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways, when signs are posted. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway.

Drivers must:
look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right.

safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane.

not overtake a bicyclist just before making a right turn. Merge first, then turn.

[Duck on Wheels]

It's against the law to ride on the side walks here. From the DMV Handbook:

Bicyclists:
must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.

must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical— not on the sidewalk.

Of course, this could be because in California, the let's drive there state, sidewalks are kept to a minimum so as not to "steal" space from the road. Whereas in Norway, sidewalks are many places built double-width with a dividing line so that half the sidewalk is a bike lane. That could explain why we're allowed to ride on sidewalks here, but only as long as we're not a nuisance to pedestrians, and are willing to forfeit our right-of-way at intersections.

As for who's a cyclist ... We just had a debate here about the definition of "Norwegian". The chairman of the Language Advisory Board put his foot in his mouth, had to extract it and apologize. The outcome is that anyone who lives in Norway is free to call him/herself a Norwegian. I think the term "cyclist" should be similarly defined: Anyone who rides a bike and wants to call him/herself a cyclist should be free to do so.

[Kalidurga]

some people ride bikes

some people are cyclists

some people are roadies - they ride on the road

some people are mountain bikers - they ride on trails

there are those who do both while racing -- they are cyclocross racers

there are no sidewalk cyclists

some people ride bikes -- please do NOT confuse them with cyclists!

I guess I'm not really a cyclist after all, because I feel like I have to put myself in the "some people ride bikes" category. I can't remember the last time I rode on the sidewalk, but I really hate to be limited as to what surface I can or cannot ride upon. Once I learn how to bunny-hop, I may find I just have to pop over a curb onto the sidewalk and back down just for the fun of it. If that makes me not a cyclist, then so be it

[doc]

some people ride bikes

some people are cyclists

some people are roadies - they ride on the road

some people are mountain bikers - they ride on trails

there are those who do both while racing -- they are cyclocross racers

there are no sidewalk cyclists

some people ride bikes -- please do NOT confuse them with cyclists!

That's just silly. I am a real roadie. I ride with the big boys and often make them eat dirt. However, if I'm out cycling with my 2 little girls, I'll be on the sidewalk. I educate them again and again and again that pedestrians have the right of way. But I'd rather they live and the drivers sure don't care so...

[mimitabby]

That's just silly. I am a real roadie. I ride with the big boys and often make them eat dirt. However, if I'm out cycling with my 2 little girls, I'll be on the sidewalk. I educate them again and again and again that pedestrians have the right of way. But I'd rather they live and the drivers sure don't care so...

Yesterday, I rode my bike 6 miles on the road and 3 blocks on the sidewalk.
when riding on sidewalks, I go slowly and obey all rules for pedestrians (don't cross the street until there is a walk sign, look both ways before going out into the street, yield to people, even stopping and getting off if necessary) Sometimes true cyclists find themselves on sidewalks because there isn't a better way to get from point A to point B (like crossing a busy multiple lane street)

[Grog]

That's just silly. I am a real roadie. I ride with the big boys and often make them eat dirt. However, if I'm out cycling with my 2 little girls, I'll be on the sidewalk. I educate them again and again and again that pedestrians have the right of way. But I'd rather they live and the drivers sure don't care so...

I hope there are no alleys, driveways or similar car exits along your way... A little guy (7 y.o.?) on my old street, riding with daddy on the sidewalk, was almost run over by a car coming out of a driveway, not even especially fast. Kids on bikes are much lower than adults, and as someone mentioned earlier, even careful drivers when they drive out (or worse have to back out) of driveways sometimes have very limited vision. Hence they have to get their front wheels on the sidewalk to see anything in front of them.

Of course it all depends on how your neighborhood is built. But in mine I'd rather ride the bike path with the kids or take them to a park and then ride.

[Deborajen]

In my hometown, it's legal to ride a bike on the sidewalks except in the downtown business district. We also have a "bike path" system (it's not the best), and some of that system is sidewalk. Although I prefer to ride on the less busy streets, you can't always get from point A to point B that way and if there's a short stretch of heavy traffic to contend with - on a street with no shoulder, I'd definitely get on the sidewalk - go nice and easy and watch all around - rather than put myself out with tons of machinery cutting around me by inches.

Although I agree it's a good general rule to ride on the street and not the sidewalk, never say "never." --

Deb

[Aint Doody]

I agree with Deb--never say never. There are some busy, busy bridges with no cycling lanes but sidewalks. I certainly will ride on those sidewalks.