I agree with Skoorb for once. I also ride like that - why treat bicycles as if they're exactly the same as cars? They're smaller, lighter, more manoeuvrable and you have a greater sense of awareness on a bike compared with a car. In many circumstances they're simply more capable without compromising safety, so WTF does it matter if I ride through traffic, up and off foot paths etc etc?
Yes, I'd care if I hit you. Even if it was your fault do you think a reasonable human being wouldn't mind seeing your guts smeared across the road? That could easily screw somebody up for quite some time. Beyond that, a human body slamming into the front of somebody's car would probably do about as much damage as a deer which can do thousands of dollars of damage. Cyclists aren't required to carry liability and a case around here recently got plastered on the local news about a driver that tried to recover the costs to repair his car after a cyclist caused an accident. The police ruled that the cyclist was 100% at fault but when the driver tried to get something to fix his car everybody portrayed him as a heartless jerk. AFAIK he never saw a dime to fix the damage that the cyclist caused.
Yep, that is exactly how I do it. I know it's frustrating for you to watch it, stuck in your car, and you're jealous you cannot do the same, but until I start getting tickets I'll continue doing it.
Things would have to change. Take the space given to a bike lane and move it to the sidewalk, but first you have the change concepts of what belongs where.are you fucking kidding me? maybe for young kids, but i would never ride my road bike at 25mph on a sidewalk. that is so much more dangerous.
If you are behind a group of cyclists that are not riding in single file, yell out your window "Car back". If they have any road riding experience, they'll single up and get out of the way. Honking your horn sometimes just brings out the "angry roadie", the same way honking your horn at other cars pisses off drivers no matter how in the wrong they are.
Things would have to change. Bike lane in the sidewalk would be a start, but you have the change concepts of what belongs where.
Consider the following, what is more dangerous: cars+bikes or bikes+pedestrians. One has the opportunity to cause a fatal accident, the other doesn't.
Why would a pedestrian be in the bike lane just because it's attached to the sidewalk? Does this problem exist with streets? No, because people stay in the sidewalk.so cyclists nail people walking out of shops, going to mailbox, kids playing in their yard, bike gets nailed by car pulling into driveway?
Why is a car in the sidewalk?most car/bike accidents occur from people riding bikes on the sidewalk.
Cars don't run over pedestrians in this situation, why would they hit a bike? There's rules for when a pedestrian and a vehicle can cross and this works quite well. Put the bike into the pedestrian order and there's no problem (expect bikes now have to stop like everyone else). I think that last part is the major problem. Cyclists assume they should never have to stop.when many cars are making a right turn onto a busy road they rarely look right (only left) what if there's only a sidewalk on one side of the road and you are going against traffic? you get plowed into by the car turning right who's not looking right.
Why is the cyclist in the sidewalk and not the bike lane (attached to the sidwalk).Also cyclist hit kid or old person on the sidewalk, person has a good chance of dying.
Why would a pedestrian be in the bike lane just because it's attached to the sidewalk? Does this problem exist with streets? No, because people stay in the sidewalk.
Why is a car in the sidewalk?
Cars don't run over pedestrians in this situation, why would they hit a bike? There's rules for when a pedestrian and a vehicle can cross and this works quite well. Put the bike into the pedestrian order and there's no problem (expect bikes now have to stop like everyone else). I think that last part is the major problem. Cyclists assume they should never have to stop.
Why is the cyclist in the sidewalk and not the bike lane (attached to the sidwalk).
Again, things would have to change. You don't simply move the cyclist into the sidewalk, but you do treat the cyclist as more of a pedestrian than a vehicle.
I don't know, maybe the cyclist kills two people, car probably kills just one.Worse case, a bike hits a kid or old person. How's that worse than a car hitting a cyclist?
And yet, they don't get run over by cars currently doing this. Are you seriously suggesting pedestrians can't look left/right before crossing a bike lane? Wow.walking to their mailbox or car...
Same deal, a car can't look left/right before entering a bike lane, yet these people pull out into streets daily.maybe they parked in their driveway or garage...
They can also stop, but I guess that's out of the question, right?bike move faster than pedestrians...
Again, they don't get run over by cars doing this, so why would they get hit by cyclists?pedestrians sometimes need to get to the street...
Cyclist killing people?! ROFL. Stats on that have to be like nil. Why is it people always default back to "because it's illegal" when you suggest CHANGING THE LAW?I don't know, maybe the cyclist kills two people, car probably kills just one.
In my area it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk.
you are clueless.
thanks!
And yet,they don't get run over by cars currently doing this. Are you seriously suggesting pedestrians can't look left/right before crossing a bike lane? Wow.
Same deal, a car can't look left/right before entering a bike lane, yet these people pull out into streets daily.
They can also stop, but I guess that's out of the question, right?
do people jog on a sidewalk @ 30 mph? The street is where bikes belong.Again, they don't get run over by cars doing this, so why would they get hit by cyclists?
The law's not perfect, but your idea is 100x worse.Cyclist killing people?! ROFL. Stats on that have to be like nil. Why is it people always default back to "because it's illegal" when you suggest CHANGING THE LAW?
no, you just have no idea about the reality of cycling.want more?
I think you are being intentionally obtuse, but I guess that was my point about cyclist in the first place.
I agree with Skoorb for once. I also ride like that - why treat bicycles as if they're exactly the same as cars? They're smaller, lighter, more manoeuvrable and you have a greater sense of awareness on a bike compared with a car. In many circumstances they're simply more capable without compromising safety, so WTF does it matter if I ride through traffic, up and off foot paths etc etc?
I don't know of anywhere where riding a bike on the sidewalk is illegal unless going over X miles per hour.
http://commutebybike.com/2008/07/09/top-5-rules-for-riding-on-the-sidewalk/commutebybike.com said:Top 5 Rules for Riding on the Sidewalk
by Tim Grahl
The subject of riding bikes on the sidewalks continues to be a hotly debated topic. Despite your stance on the subject, the fact remains that its going to happen, so I want to share the top five rules that must be followed when choosing the sidewalk over the road.
Fear is, by far, the biggest motivator for choosing the sidewalk over roads.
Some commuters refuse to ride in the road no matter where they are. While Ive addressed this subject, many people arent comfortable exercising their right to the road and want the perceived safety of riding on the sidewalk.
There are also other riders (me included) that ride the road 99% of the time, but will hop on the sidewalk in certain instances like a long climb on a two lane road or going around blind turns where the danger of getting hit by a car goes way up.
But before you choose to ride on the sidewalk, there are a couple things to consider
* Its illegal - The law in most areas of the country require bicycles to follow the same rules of the road as other motor vehicles. In essence, riding your bike down the sidewalk is the same as if you hopped the curb and started rolling it in your car.
* Its dangerous Riding the sidewalk has its own set of dangers that many people never think about. Getting right hooked, cars pulling out of driveways, hitting pedestrians, etc are all things that have to be carefully watched for.
Im in no way encouraging you to break the law or put yourself in danger, but if you do decide to ride your bike on the sidewalk, following these five rules and will greatly reduce your chance of getting a ticket or getting hurt.
1. GO SLOW This is the chief of all rules for riding on the sidewalk. All the other rules fall under this one. You should never ride faster than a relaxed jog. The sidewalk is built for pedestrians, so you should not be going faster than them. Pedaling fast down the sidewalk is a perfect way to get hurt, hurt someone else or get pulled over by a cop.
2. Yield to pedestrians If you come up behind people walking, be very polite and wait for a good time to ask them to let you pass. Never come up behind them yelling, ringing a bell or anything else that could startle or scare them. You are trespassing on their terrain so be courteous.
3. Check every cross street and driveway This is the dangerous part! Drivers are used to pulling all the way up to the road before coming to a stop and turning onto the street youre following. Make sure when coming up to a driveway or cross street that you slow down and check to make sure a car isnt coming. They arent looking for fast moving vehicles to be coming off the sidewalk, so you have to be watching for them!
4. Only cross the street at crosswalks A good way to get hit by a car is to come darting off the sidewalk into the street randomly. Again, remember that drivers arent looking for people to jump off the sidewalks into traffic randomly. If you need to cross the street, wait until you get to a cross walk and do it there.
5. Be willing to walk your bike If you regularly ride on the sidewalk, there are going to be lots of times where the best decision is to get off your bike and walk for a bit. This is usually due to congestion. When there is just to many people around that you risk hitting one of them, its time to walk. Constantly keep it in your mind that you can get off your bike and walk if things seem iffy.
If theres ever a time that you decide its better to ride on the sidewalk than the street, follow these rules to stay safe and avoid a ticket.
The funny thing about this thread is that given the number of times cyclists cry out "share" and "be considerate!" as soon as they're asked to do the same they get super defensive.
Pretty much. If you're going 3-4mph it's ok. 10 mph is illegal. WTF!My mom bikes >10mph.
http://commutebybike.com/2008/07/09/top-5-rules-for-riding-on-the-sidewalk/
They shouldn't be treated the same as cars, that's why they're given their own lane here! People seem to think I'm saying that bikes shouldn't be on the road, I'm not. I just want them to ride in the bike lane that's on the right side of the road when it's available. It's safer for everyone.
JM's a cyclist, AFAIK. Do you remember Safeway? He was worse by far.
in addition to licensing and registration, ALL cyclists should be required to carry organ donor cards.
I agree with most of this, which is why bicycles should be on the sidewalk.
They aren't a car and don't mix well with them in the same space. Use that higher mobility avoiding pedestrians instead of cars, it's inherently safer for everyone.
The laws forcing them into the roads causes much if not all of the frustration by both cyclist and drivers as seen in this thread. The fact people are getting vengeful on both sides is proof the laws need to be changed.