VENT: Bikes on sidewalks

[Bluetree]

I see this happen all the time and have no idea if it's legal or not...
My city has spacious bike lanes on almost all the major streets and serious cyclists are always using them... but people are riding fast on the sidewalks all the time in my neighborhood, and it's starting to get to me.

Yesterday morning, I was out running pre-dawn on a sidewalk that was barely 3 feet wide. Coming around a blind corner, some 20-something on a mtb, wearing all the latest iPod gear came roaring around the corner (going the wrong way, I might add) and nearly plowed right into me. I barely had time to jump out of the way, but the end of his handlebar grazed my rib cage and sent me into a bush which was far too prickly for my liking. I heard the yahoo say, "Whoa, sorry" but he never stopped or looked back as he rode away (no lights either, BTW). I was so mad I started yelling at his backside, but I doubt he heard me over the earphones. I was wearing my iPod, too, but it wasn't very loud. How apropo that the next song was "American Idiot" by Green Day.

I figured, well, at least he won't do that again. Nope. I went for a ride this morning and saw the same guy doing the same thing! I felt like chasing him down and giving him a piece of my mind, but in a dark place with no witnesses around, I didn't think I should.

I tried to look up the city laws regarding cycling but couldn't find any references to bikes on a sidewalk. I had never been hit like that before, but I would say I run across a biker on a sidewalk (who forces to get out of the way) an average of once every three runs. Usually on BMX bikes, ocassionally mtbs. All I can do it yell and point out the bike lanes. Ooooh, that makes me mad. <Fists all balled up>

Thanks for letting me vent.

[Nanci]

It's legal in my city to ride on the sidewalk. This is how cyclists circumvent traffic controls, BTW. That's ok, it's far more dangerous- he'll probably get what's coming to him.

[SadieKate]

In general, CA state law states the bicycles are subject to the same laws as vehicles (cars). A local ordinance might state that it is OK in some places. You can always call the city if you see this idjit regularly.

[Eden]

It's legal to ride on sidewalks here too, with the exception of some core retail areas. I don't feel comfortable doing it though and will get off and walk - with the exception of a few areas where a bike trail merges with a sidewalk for a short distance. (I had to go down town a few days ago and it was actually faster to get off and walk down the hill than to stay in traffic!)

[xeney]

It's legal in my city to ride on sidewalks in residential areas, but people do it all the time downtown. I used to be a lot more bothered by it than I am now; these days unless they are going really fast or otherwise riding unsafely, or unless the sidewalk is heavily traveled or right next to a big clean bike lane, I cut them some slack because I know some people would not ride at all if they had to be in the street. And construction and stupid traffic plans have cut out some of our better bike lanes, so there are some cross-town trips that either involve taking the lane on a busy three-lane arterial, or taking the sidewalk. Most people who use bikes for transportation in this city ride single-speed cruisers so I don't blame them for taking the sidewalk, especially since they mostly behave like pedestrians (riding very slowly, stopping at crosswalks, etc.) It's their necks.

That said, the ones who really irritate me are the people riding fixies without brakes ... on the sidewalk. I see this all the time and I don't get it! You are so cool that you ride a fixed gear, and you don't even need a brake, but instead of taking the lane you are speeding on the sidewalk and weaving around pedestrians? There is one guy who does this even when there is a bike lane or a low-traffic street, and he rides like a maniac, too.

[Bluetree]

or unless the sidewalk is heavily traveled or right next to a big clean bike lane

I guess that is what really bugs me. My neighborhood has wide, clearly-marked bike lanes on almost every significant street. I wish I could put on reflective gear and run in those instead, but then I would be bothering the responsible cyclists.

[mimitabby]

It's probably legal to ride on the sidewalk but you also have to give pedestrians the right of way; not run in to them!