VENT: Bikes on sidewalks

[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!

[Lenusik]

From what I just learned in Arizona bicycling on the sidewalk is not against the law, as a bicycle is not considered a vehicle in that state. Although, operating at a speed faster than the normal users of a sidewalk could be considered reckless driving on the part of the cyclist. I would find it very annoying because even when there are no bike lines, most roads in AZ are wide.

[KnottedYet]

I see kids and unsure adult riders (going slowly) on the sidewalks in my neighborhood. If it's someone who is definitely slow or uncomfortable/unable to ride in the bike lane, I WANT them to be on the sidewalk.

But the dude who ran you over is certainly not someone who should be on the sidewalk! He needs to move onto the street!

[Kitsune06]

I should really read up on the rules and technicalities... There's only ONE stretch where I do, and it's a 5-lane road with NO bike lanes. I rode on the street ONCE and was so completely unnerved I was a nervous wreck for an hour afterward.