Cyclists on Sidewalks

[Bluetree]

I live in a high density area and don't consider sidewalks very safe. Mainly because the many apartment/condo complexes have underground parking lots. When cars come out of the subterranean lots, not only are they completely blind on both sides, but the driveways' steep incline flattens out at the sidewalk. Since drivers don't like to stop on an incline, they come roaring out and 'hang' on the apex before looking around - in the case, right in the middle of the sidewalk. I know a few complexes have bubble mirrors, but 90% of them don't. It's an accident just waiting to happen.

[Geonz]

It's really important to realize the difference between feeling safer and being safer. Lots of people *feel* like sidewalks are safer - but there are all kinds of hidden hazards. SOmetimes, though, they are - my last couple hundred yards to school, for instance. No interactions or conflicts and I can see from one end to the other - generally no pedestrians, either. The road's four busy lanes of people who do *not* want me there. I'm turning from the walk into the school so I don't even have to get back into traffic.
Group rides we do the road, though - sidewalk ends at the school so we'd have to get back in.

[indysteel]

The city ordinance where I live indicates that it's acceptable to ride on a sidewalk as long as you operate the bike in a safe manner vis-a-vis other people using the sidewalk. I would expect, then, to have the same rights as a pedestrian. That said, I don't like riding on sidewalks because I don't feel confident that drivers will notice me. Drivers (and I'm guilty of this too) get fixated on oncoming traffic, that they forget to look for sidewalk traffic. This is especially true on one way streets where pedestrians and cyclist sometimes walk/ride against traffic. If, for some reason, I had to use a sidewalk, I'd pay particular attention at intersections, parking lots, alleys, etc., for cars pulling into my path.

But as a driver (and a lawyer), I don't get too caught up in who has the right of way. It's just not a debate I'd want to lose the hard way, i.e., by hitting someone or otherwise causing an accident. I drive defensively whether I'm in my car or on my bike.