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Top 5 Rules for Riding on the Sidewalk
July 9th, 2008 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 it’s 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 I’ve addressed this subject, many people aren’t 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…
- It’s 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.
- It’s dangerous - Riding the sidewalk has it’s 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.
I’m 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 you’re following. Make sure when coming up to a driveway or cross street that you slow down and check to make sure a car isn’t coming. They aren’t looking for fast moving vehicles to be coming off the sidewalk, so you have to be watching for them!
- 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 aren’t 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.
- 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, it’s time to walk. Constantly keep it in your mind that you can get off your bike and walk if things seem “iffy”.
If there’s ever a time that you decide it’s better to ride on the sidewalk than the street, follow these rules to stay safe and avoid a ticket.
Photo Credit: moriza
July 9th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Great post! It’s a tricky subject, but these are good guidelines.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Another rule is to respong to your geography. The are only two places I tend to use sidewalks: along four-lane suburban roads, where I’ll get creamed, but there are few to no pedestrians on the sidewalk for me to bother; on some uphill sections where the cars won’t give me a break. Uphill, I am going no speed to endanger anyone.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Ill start off by saying I agree with your recommendations and that it can be dangerous. Great items to be aware of!
However I must disagree with you on the “its illegal” part. I dont know where you live but here in Oregon it is NOT illegal to ride on the sidewalk unless specifically designated as illegal. In fact there is no speed limit on the sidewalk IF there are no pedestrians and IF there are no cutouts (driveways). If there is a pedestrian, a bicyclist is to yield and reduce its pace to that of a walk (not a slow jog- but a walk). Of course you can check your state laws and even in your city there might be more specific laws. (For example in my town there are a few places where it IS illegal to ride on the sidewalk)
I realize I’m harshing on you a bit- but I dont mean to. The recommendations are great- I just dont want misinformed beginner bicyclists out there who never start to their bike now because they think that its illegal to ride where they feel safe.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Deetso: Thanks for the input and I understand your points. I wrote this article from a standpoint of what the common laws are, that’s why I wrote “the law in most areas…”.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Deetso- in a Lot of states it is illegal, here in Nevada a cyclist can get ticketed for riding on the side walk.
Consider this point, in most states a bicycle is considered a motor vehicle, it is illegal for motor vehicles (cars) to drive on sidewalks, so wouldn’t it be illegal for bicycles to ride on the side walk?
July 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’m from Burlington, Ontario and it’s perfectly legal to ride bike on the sidewalk except for on 300m stretch of a single road downtown.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Great article, though not universal. In Madison, WI it is allowable for bikes to ride on the sidewalks, especially in circumstances where a bike lane is not available and/or street traffic is deemed unsafe by the rider. At which point there is a set of rules governing how bikes should be ridden on sidewalks.
Having pointed that out, you’re absolutely right about the fear factor. I’m new to commuting and feel fortunate that the majority of my ride is on a very well maintained bike path. Yet, whenever I’m on the street in traffic I feel much less safe and confident in my skills. Sometime I ride on the sidewalk simply because I’m afraid. Hopefully I will improve and build more confidence.
Also, I sure hope people aren’t griping about kids riding on sidewalks. I’m not a parent, but I sure wouldn’t want my kid to ride in the streets.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I’m a pretty religious stay off the sidewalk type of rider, but then, that’s just part of “ride like a car, unless it’s going to get you killed-” the other philosophy I follow. I’d like to add one small point: Crosswalks are designed for pedestrians. It is critical that if you are going to use one without dismounting your bike, that you stop, look, and then proceed through the crosswalk at no more than a walking pace. Personally, if I am going to use a crosswalk, I dismount and walk my bike through it, hopefully building a little goodwill with my surrounding motorists. I also wish that that particular species of biker who thinks that riding in the crosswalk allows them to blow a red light would just go away. Makes us all look bad.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:31 am
The only place I’m ever tempted to hop up on the side walk (but haven’t) is when I’m passing through the center of town to bypass the long lines of cars waiting for the traffic lights. However, all of the storefronts have doors that open out toward the side walk creating a seriously painful hazard if you catch one while riding by. Plus, in the morning there are a number of places that sell coffee, and everyone seems to exit onto the sidewalk holding their hot coffee out in front of them (at about bike seat level), another hazard to riding on the sidewalks. So, I’ve decided is usually safer to stay with the cars and wait out a light or two if I have to.
Side walk riding is also illegal where I live and work, but lots of people do it anyway, even the bike cop (then again, I’ve seen the cop cars drive on the sidewalks too).
July 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Equally as bad as sidewalks are bike paths that cross busy streets. I was hit over the weekend when crossing a street that I had the right of way on. The driver just took off after knocking me 4 feet into oncoming traffic and a pickup truck behind him told me to stay off the road. More thoughts about it on my blog.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Machinetwelve - first off I hope you are ok, but holy cow that would have made me mad for a week straight. I try to stay calm and aware on my bike rides, but I frequently get the desire to ride up to a driver at a stop sign and brain them for being jerks.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Another 2 tips:
- Watch doorways. I’ve seen a few bikers hit pedestrians because the pedestrians walked out of a store and did not expect a bike to come barreling down on them.
- Be extra careful at corners. When on the sidewalk, you often cannot see who’s coming from around the corner until you have already crossed their path.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
As an added tip to point #3, try to ride on the sidewalk on the right side of the road (left side in places where you drive on the left). When motorists pull out of a parking lot/driveway, often they will only look left. If you approach from the opposite side, there is even less chance they will see you, especially if you are moving fast.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I have a mostly suburban 32mile commute, which here in Plano menas the streets are six lanes wide and the limit is 45mph which tranlsates 55+. In general, people are relatively respectful, but it only takes one DB to kill somebody.
While we don’t have messengers here, we have a great deal of tension between the rural folks and the 50-100- rider packs that appear on the weekends.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Tim, this is a good post, but sidewalk riding is not illegal in most areas. Typically, some cities will restrict bicycling on sidewalks in “business districts” or the like.
I’ll use the sidewalk generally to avoid multiple left turns or similar situations.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Re: legality of sidewalk riding…
…unless you live in a “mandatory sidepath rule” state.
Of course, I think it’s ignored locally, and if I’m ever tagged, I could take issue with whether the “sidepath” is “suitable.” I don’t think any sidewalk is “suitable,” no matter how wide.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I’m glad someone pointed out that it’s not illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Oregon, though local jurisdictions make it illegal in crowded downtown areas. I’d also like to point out that it is illegal not to give warning when passing a pedestrian.
Depending on how much bicycle culture there is in your town, a friendly ring of a bell should not startle the average pedestrian, and in many cities it is traditional to say “on your left!” when passing, which is often acknowledged with a friendly wave.
In places where you may encounter less bike-experienced pedestrians (people out for a stroll around the park or someone on an ordinary sidewalk vs. joggers and walkers who frequent multi-use paths), be sure to give enough reaction time. Inexperienced pedestrians may think “on your left” means: a) get out of my way! b) jump to the left c) freeze until the “danger” is past. Whizzing closely by someone without warning (that goes for fellow cyclists as well) is just plain rude.
I use the sidewalk less and less these days, but I’ve found it is best to dismount and walk your bike at crosswalks, for the reasons mentioned above, and especially because it helps end the “are you a vehicle or are you a pedestrian” confusion many motorists have. (for example when you’re riding in the street and a well meaning motorist gives you right-of-way you wouldn’t deserve if you were also driving)
July 10th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
In Calif. it’s illegal to ride on sidewalks. It’s not usually enforced, due to police being busy elsewhere, unless a ped gets p.o.’d or knocked down. Always best to walk the bike on the sidewalk when the street is unsuitable for cycling.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
K.MacMillan Says: “In Calif. it’s illegal to ride on sidewalks.”
Not quite. CVC 21100 says:
“Local authorities may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution regarding … Operation of bicycles … on the public sidewalks.”
So it varies from city to city, county to county.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Illegal to ride on sidewalks. Should we send all our 8 year olds out into the roads with their bikes too? I think you should list what states have this law if you are going to make a statement like that.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am
JJ,
sorry for the generalization, 8 year olds don’t generally read these articles, if you look into your states bike laws there is probably a clause about wheel size, IE - “a bike with 24″ wheels or larger is considered a motor vehicle.”
in doing so, keeping the small childern as safe as possible, by qualifying a bike that is to big for them to ride.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Bicycle Laws by state… http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/bikelaw.htm
July 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Now that I look… some of those links are dead. But the root URL works and you can search for bike laws that way.
At any rate, based on a cursory and not very exhaustive look at a few states it seems that states don’t address bikes and sidewalks explicitly.
I think where people might be confused is where some states say that bicycles have all the rights and responsibilities of motor vehicles. However, it is clear that most states intend this to mean while the bicycles are using roadways. There doesn’t appear to be an intent that this should somehow transfer to sidewalks as well.
That said… avoiding sidewalks is overall a good thing and the tips noted above are good. I use sidewalks when it makes sense for my safety or for efficiency.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Viewpoint in Chicago Journal - Why I ride my bike on the sidewalk.
http://chicagojournal.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=4167&SectionID=25&SubSectionID=172&S=1
July 14th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Great website! I live in Japan where it is officially illegal to ride on the sidewalk, but EVERYONE does anyway. The Japanese are pretty heavy users of bicycles (usually cheap ones that rust in the first rainfall, but then they only cost $100). Usually you see old men, mothers and school kids using them. The car traffic is very heavy in most cities and everyone expects the bikes to stay on the sidewalk. No policeman has ever given me a hard time for being on the sidewalk. It boils down to this: do you want your schoolkid or your wife to be out there with those cars? I second the emphasis on courtesy to pedestrians. Here the Japanese are not very considerate, usually a young punk with earphones on who is also SMSing on his cell phone blows past pedestrians within inches. I drive a sturdy Diamant bike I bought in Germany which weighs 18 kilos, has 47-622 tires and two baskets that hook on to the sides of the rear rack. The 3×7 Sachs gears setup is nifty, but my workpants still get dirty from the chain even with a chainguard. The Japanese have never heard of pants clips. I wish I had some!
July 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Wow, I completely agree with this post.
“Despite your stance on the subject, the fact remains that it’s going to happen”
I wish that more people would adopt this point of view in all aspects of life.
@ Matthew: I was fully prepared to disagree with you but I have scanned the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario and nowhere does it mention that cyclists are to refrain from riding on the sidewalk, this must be a by-law in most municipalities.
I make a point of keeping a copy of the important parts of the Highway Traffic Act on my person when I ride a bike. Written legislation comes in handy when you are getting yelled at by someone who thinks that cyclists have no business on the road. You would be surprised how quickly you can silence somebody by saying “Well actually, I happen to have a copy of the Highway Traffic Act right here! Opening a car door without looking ‘is’ illegal!”
July 14th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Quebec Highway Safety Code:
492.1. In no case may the driver of a motorcycle or moped or a person riding a bicycle drive or ride on a sidewalk except where necessary or where so directed by a sign.
“Where necessary” does not mean that because one is afraid of traffic, it is necessary to ride the sidewalk
I don’t ride sidewalks. Not because it is illegal, but because I have no business on them. The biggest dangers I see commuting are not vehicles, I get along fine with them. Pedestrians, joggers, dogs walking their masters around, cras pulling out of driveways are far more unpredictable and dangerous…
July 15th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I ride the sidewalk as much as possible as I dont trust car drivers at all. Same for children, I would never expect them to assert their vehicular rights.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is only thinking of themselves just as so many car drivers do so.
The only solution is to make all roadways one way with one lane excusively for bikes and horses. I hope the gas price makes rationing an absolute necessity taking millions of cars, trucks, buses permanently off the roads.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I have this recurring fantasy at all times of the day, no matter where I am or what I am doing: there are no more cars/trucks in the world, but all the big, wide roads and highways are still there. I and other bicyclists are whizzing along in the middle of the lanes, we rule the roads! Aaaahhhhhhhhh…(orgasmic sigh).
Okay, have to snap out of it, back to the real world, onto the sidewalk…
July 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Here in San Jose I see “jose(s)” riding their bikes on the sidewalks all the time(as well as going the wrong way in the bike lane) as cops drive by and have yet to see one get a ticket. SJPD needs to enforce this!
July 20th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Perhaps someone else has already pointed this out but you missed an important safety consideration: always look behind you before crossing a driveway or cross street. Drivers traveling in the same direction as you and who are intend to turn right often aren’t looking for something moving as fast as a bike on the sidewalk. It’s also very hard to see cyclists in the clutter of trees and street furniture that some roads have. The dreaded “right hook” is much more likely when riding on the sidewalk, so much so that this fact is often used by anti-infrastructure advocates to discourage separate bike paths.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 am
In Stockholm the police will stop you if you ride on the sidewalk and the pedestrians will give you the finger. I know a guy who got a ticket for taking a shortcut over a sidewalk.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m another Oregonian, and there is a stretch of road I ride where signs are posted where the sidewalk begins saying “Bicycles Use Sidewalk”. There’s another at the corner directing cyclists to use the pedestrian crosswalk, although a couple of times before I saw these signs I took the left turn in the left turn lane like a car. All the way down the sidewalk though are more signs designating it as a bicycle route, they really don’t want bikes on this stretch of road. It’s narrow, almost no gutter, and people drive pretty fast. Also it’s residential, so driveways or streets every ten feet. Frankly I was relieved to be able to use the sidewalk on this street.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
StuartM:
Have you seen the Kaiser-Permanente commercial that shows a section of highway with hundreds of cyclists riding in both directions, not a car in sight!? It’s fabulous. I think it was one of their early “Power to Change” ads.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I’m totally at odds with any government restrictions on sidewalk bike riding. One thing slightly discussed here are minors as a factor in sidewalk riding. Lets take another approach from an adult versus child perspective. Your child is learning to ride a bike without wheels. You let him ride on the sidewalk to learn. A policeman writes you a ticket because your child is riding on the sidewalk and that’s illegal where you live. So you tell your child they’ll have to wait till you find a place that’s safe and legal. What a ridiculous delemma. Look in most cases we allow kids to use the sidewalk so why can’t mature adults? Stupid law that illegalizes sidewalk bike riding. Ok there should be rules for sidewalk riding that make sense and some herin fill that bill. Hey go to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Ca if you want to see Bicycle abuse of a sidewalk.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I think the real issue is not deciding where bicycles belong — but the fact that, on most roads in the US, there is no place for bicycles.
If there’s a bicycle lane on a road, or if the road is quiet with slow cars, I’m happy to stay on asphalt. When I’m on a road with cars going 45-50 mph, no bike lane and a shoulder full of parked cars, though (as I do on my daily commute), I have no qualms about using the sidewalk. I keep an eye out for pedestrians and watch out for driveways and other hazards — and I’m aware and careful of sidewalk dangers. But even if I did get in an accident, I’d rather be hit by a car going slowly through a driveway than one going 40-50 mph.
Oh, and in my city, sidewalk riding is legal — but illegal in certain neighborhoods.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Good article with common sense advise. Generally, the point on whether riding on the sidewalk is legal or not should be revised to say the following: it depends on the jurisdiction in which you ride. Check your state, county, and city codes to determine whether it is or not. The California Vehicle Code does not prohibit riding bicycles on the sidewalk. Some cities in California do prohibit such riding, some don’t. Generally, the regulation (policing) of city sidewalks is left to cities throughout the U.S., and is not preempted by state law. Common city prohibitions don’t allow riding on sidewalks in downtown (retail) areas and on sidewalks fronting shopping centers. But, cyclists may ride on the sidewalks not fronting downtown areas and shopping centers.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
edit: “advice”
August 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I was pulled over by the police for riding in the street instead of the sidewalk. This street has bikes riding on it very often including myself almost everyday for the last 14 years. The officer told me it was illegal for bikes to ride in the street when a sidewalk, parallel to the street, is available. I informed him that he was absolutely wrong and that in some towns it’s actually illegal for bicycles to ride on the walk. This incident happened in a town that uses bicycle police that also ride in the street. At first I thought he was kidding but he made it very clear that he was serious. I asked him where the candid cameras were and mentioned how interesting it will be to hear the judges reaction when we are in court. He then backed down some and threatened to ticket me if I don’t stop completely at stop signs. I just re-mounted my bike and continued my ride. He followed me for a while but eventually turned.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Because the roads in Florida are so dangerous the state has changed the law and now any biycycle is allowed on the sidewalk, so long as it is human powered and not assisted, electric, etc.
When on the sidewalk you have to obey the pedestrian rules.
Section 316.2065(10) and (11), F.S.)
A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
September 12th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
You know, today I went into the Police Station in Roseville, CA today to ask some questions about an issue we were dealing with, with our neighbors. We witness a completely unrelated issue to our own problem, but one that has to do with a woman riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.
I am an avid cyclist and in fact I rode 38 miles this morning before my visit to the police station. I know the California cyclist laws.
While we were waiting for an officer to come down to talk to us in the lobby for our own issue, a lady walks upto the counter and we (my boyfriend and I) hear her story unravel.
She was pulling out of a parking lot at the Doctor’s office and she looked both ways and sees that is safe to enter the intersection. She lets her foot off the brake and next thing she knows, there is a woman in front of her car with a bicycle and the 2 make contact. The woman on the bike was riding against traffic and was riding on the sidewalk. The police report showed the woman driver at fault. Well, her insurance was contacted by the woman on the bike and now she is asking the insurance company for $50,000 from this accident. The woman did get a few scrapes and bruises, police were called the scene. She said she was fine, but the police made her go in the ambulance to the hospital. By the time they look at her at the hospital, they smell alcohol on her breath, but by that time she test below the legal limit, but she may have been above it at the time she was operating her bike. The woman who was driving the car also found in the police report that the woman on the bike was taking medication that can cause dizziness as well, so who is really at fault? It appears to be the woman on the bike right?
I ended up talking with the woman while I was waiting for the officer who was supposedly walking to us 20 minutes ago. She seemed perfectly sane and also told me she and her husband are also avid cyclists. She just wanted the discrepancy with the law and the police report sorted out. Her insurance claims adjuster told her it was illegal and to talk to the police.
SO as I am still waiting, a man whom she had spoken to on the phone already regarding the issue came to window. Immediately I could tell he didn’t want to help her. He was just rude and very unprofessional. He actually told her it was not illegal to ride on the sidewalk. My boyfriend says, “Excuse me, but it is illegal, I’ve been pulled over by the police for it and know the law.” The man behind the counter told us to stay out of it and continued to tell this woman it was not illegal.
So I came home, looked it up on the California DMV website, and it says:
Bicyclists: must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical—not on the sidewalk.
So what to we do when the incompetent police officer lies about the laws to the public? Then we have misinformed citizens braking the law who will look like idiots when they get a ticket for riding their bicycle on the sidewalk and they tell the police officer that Joe down at the police station says it’s legal. And we are creating accidents waiting for a place to happen, but at least we know it will be on the sidewalk.
September 13th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Send a letter outlining your concerns to the Roseville Police “Traffic Team”, to the Chief of Police, cc’d to the local newspaper, DMV office, and State elected reps.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Two comments here regarding Bicyclist causing accident and riding on the sidewalk.
My daughter pulled up to an intersection in her car, looked both ways, took her foot off the brake, and was hit by a 22-year-old bicyclist who was riding in the street on the wrong side. He had been obstructed by a light pole when she looked to the right and he was ticketed by the police. His bike caused much damage to her car and he said he was ok, but SHE insisted calling 911. He went to the hospital by ambulance. We expressed concern and tried to get information from his father about if he was ok or what. The father was very standoffish and it was quite obvious he was going to use it to milk the system and my daughter. His lawyer threatened her and although the young man was ticketed by the police, my insurance company paid the damages. So bicycles ARE NOT viewed as motorvehicles and can not be expected to abide by the rules of the road in every case.
This is also true because computerized traffic lights do not recognize bicycles in the road. I can sit at a certain intersection until the cows come home if no automobile shows up to trigger the light. Since lights aren’t made with bicycles in mind, I think nothing of going through them at 5:00 in the morning when there is no traffic in sight and if a police were to question me on it, I would tell him exactly what I just said.
Another reason I jump to the sidewalk is the potholes and ill-maintained sides of the road. Bumpy sidewalks are better than some of the stuff I need to ride through to get to work.
Finally, there is no sidewalk or bike path along the front of our local airport, and nos side streets to take instead, and it is a 50 mph zone!!! All I can do is pray when I hit that last two miles. There is plenty of money for a pathway available if a grant request is submitted by February, but none of the local politicians is responding to my calls or emails. Any ideas? As an individual, I can not write a grant myself - even if I knew how.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 am
I almost ALWAYS ride on the side walk. There are hundreds of cars on the road and maybe half a dozen pedestrians in the couple of mile stretch. It is also much easier to avoid slow moving people than it is to avoid cars. It just seems stupid to ride on the road when the is a perfectly good sidewalk that is, for the most part, not being used.