Cyclists on Sidewalks

[Geonz]

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

Sounds a whole lot like Champaign-Urbana and my decision process.

A dogmatic soul is going to find *some* reason to shut me out anyway... if it weren't that trip on the sidewalk, I'm sure there would be some other equally arbitrary label that would suffice. I'm not a cyclist because - oh, heaven forfend! - I actually *think* and decide instead of following The Dogma (Not a law, now... just somebody's dogma). My karma long since ran over my dogma.

[Pax]

Sounds a whole lot like Champaign-Urbana and my decision process.

A dogmatic soul is going to find *some* reason to shut me out anyway... if it weren't that trip on the sidewalk, I'm sure there would be some other equally arbitrary label that would suffice. I'm not a cyclist because - oh, heaven forfend! - I actually *think* and decide instead of following The Dogma (Not a law, now... just somebody's dogma). My karma long since ran over my dogma.

Sue, your commute is NUTS! I can't imagine braving Bradley Ave. every day...I'd be up on that sidewalk in a heartbeat.

[xeney]

Actually, it is legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in California in some cities. Local laws sometimes permit it. I have heard (but don't know for sure) that it is legal to ride on the sidewalk in Los Angeles. Here in Sacramento, I always thought it was illegal but then found out that it is legal in residential areas.

[Bikingmomof3]

If I can find a sidewalk, it would be illegal for me to ride on it.

[7rider]

I pretty much ignored this thread until I saw the post about PM's, so I took a gander over here.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, it is legal to ride on sidewalks in the business district. In fact, their multi-modal transportation hub (both current and planned revisions) in the downtown Silver Spring area (where I work) integrates hiker/biker trails right alongside the bus depot with bike parking right at the mouth of the entrance to the Metro (subway) station. It's all one big mish-mash. There is no viable way for me to get to my office via bicycle without spending at least SOME time on the sidewalk.

[Chimiska]

"Right of way" is never something you have: it is something you GIVE. Give it as often as necessary to stay alive!

I thought sidewalk riding was always illegal: I am glad to learn it is not. I will have to check local laws and see what they say here. On my favorite ride, there is a short block of sidewalk that is really safer than making a left turn onto a busy street, and then immediately another left turn on to the side street.

[pooks]

Well, I just checked it out and in that area it was illegal for them to ride on the sidewalk.

Which doesn't mean I'd do the same thing again. I found it disturbing how easily I knee-jerked a decision that would have been different if they'd been in the street.

It's really kind of odd because I've seen them ride in that same street many times (assuming it's the same missionaries) and there wasn't a lot of traffic that day. The sidewalks have all been "ramped" so that wheelchairs can go up and down them easily, so there's no need to bunny-hop them, so I can see the temptation on a busy day. But this day? Not busy.

Which raises another question -- there are a couple of people in wheelchairs that I've seen in the STREET even after dark, when the sidewalks are all accessable!

Crazy world.