Comments on: Top 5 Rules for Riding on the Sidewalk

By: Laurel F.

Laurel F. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:59:26 +0000

I agree, Mari. Bike riders can be so reckless, and it’s politically incorrect to criticize them.

By: Mari

Mari — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:25:43 +0000

I did get a laugh about the spray and the club. When I was still recuperating from the broken leg I used to throw my crutch out in front of the bikers on my street. The sidewalk is very narrow, single pedestrian lane going around the trees, and with a major subway stop on the block is always heavy with pedestrian traffic, yet these a–holes on bikes think they can ride full speed down the block! I get really testy when the bike lane is right there–and I’ll point to it saying get in YOUR own lane! In NYC we have an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 bikers–with that kind of volume traffic laws must be followed or there will be injuries–to pedestrians to other bikers and to the law breakers themselves. It’s hard to be looking out for something that absolutely shouldn’t be there, like a bike charging off the sidewalk into cross traffic that has the green light, or crossing in front of traffic into a far left lane to turn left INTO oncoming traffic–with some of the bikers that have been hit by cars many were doing something stupid–like running through a red light at a major intersection, or a stop sign without looking–or coming up on the inside of a bus turning right– everyone has to follow a certain set of rules or there will be chaos and death. There have been a number of pedestrian FATALITIES from bikers hitting people on the sidewalk and crosswalks here. The statistics dropped when tickets started being issued, but nine times out of ten the cops just ignore them–they ride right in front of them and they just can’t be bothered.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:49:09 +0000

I do not agree with people riding bicycles on the sidewalk no matter what age they are. I avoid public paths also. My wife was injured by a clown speeding down hill on the sidewalk near the university she went to. I live in San Bernardino Ca now and the sidewalks are full of kids and adults walking and bicycling. If it is against the law the police ignore it. I have seen several pedestrians hit by bicycles and also seen bicyclists hit by cars crossing the sidewalk to get on the road. The police will use the law for the purpose of helping the insurance companies keep there operating expenses down. I watched a female ride here bicycle crossing the road in the sidewalk get hit by a female motorist who also did not look where she was going. The officer who came to the accident decided the bicyclist was riding on the wrong side of the road and ticketed her for breaking the law. Even though the walk sign was green to go and the red did not matter for the right turning motorist according to the cop. Your safety tips are nice for the people who insist on breaking the law but do nothing to keep them from injuring the public who walk. I believe in positive reinforcement. I ride my bicycle many places but when I walk with the wife at night I carry dog spray and a club and it is not for muggers.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:38:50 +0000

I had no idea that biking on sidewalks were illegal. However, I live in suburban Oklahoma, so it’s not very pedestrian-friendly. There are some sidewalks on the side of most major roads here, and I’ve always ridden on them. I highly doubt that I’ll EVER get a ticket for doing this here

By: UGG London

UGG London — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:21:58 +0000

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By: luxury furniture

luxury furniture — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:14:26 +0000

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By: Mari

Mari — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:49:30 +0000

Let’s put it this way, I’ve lived in 12 states, coast to coast, cities large and small and it has been illegal everywhere I have lived. In NYC it is specifically stated:

§ 4-07 (c)(3) – Restrictions on crossing sidewalks No driving bikes on sidewalks unless sign allows or wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter and rider is twelve years or younger. See also Administrative Code §19-176.

Tickets are $50 and if stopped without ID, bike will be confiscated and you can spend the night in jail.

It’s one thing to ride on the sidewalk in suburban or rural areas that have little or no pedestrian traffic, but it is definitely illegal in almost every larger city, especially in the business districts where pedestrian traffic is fairly heavy. I’m infuriated by bikes in NYC competing with me to use the curb cuts created for handicapped access to ram their bikes up on the sidewalk. With 20-100 pedestrians on each block, lack of sight lines, it’s a recipe for disaster. Then the bikers put themselves in danger flying off the sidewalk against a red light turning into oncoming traffic. I almost hit one last week–would have been entirely his fault too. If bikes don’t follow traffic rules, and they ARE classified as vehicles by the DOT, then they are setting themselves up for disastrous results. Just think what the roads would be like if cars or motorcycles ran red lights, and went the wrong way in traffic, or used sidewalks whenever they felt like it. The more bikes on the road (which I heartily applaud) the more necessary for ALL to follow the same rules of the road.

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:49:35 +0000

Mari,
it is NOT illegal to ride on sidewalks. The laws are different in every municipality and county.

While I agree that it is dangerous to ride a bike on a crowded sidewalk in NYC or Chicago… that doesn’t apply to every single situation that occurs in the rest of the country where sidewalks may, in fact, be the only viable place to ride a bike.

For example… did you know that in some municipalities, it is illegal for bicycles to ride on the street on certain roads?

I appreciate your rant, but try not to generalize for everyone in every situation.

By: Mari

Mari — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:37:14 +0000

It is definitely illegal to EVER ride on the sidewalk as an adult. It’s one thing if you are a child of 10 or under, but the sidewalk presents all kinds of hidden dangers to the riders as well as pedestrians. I’m an avid biker myself, or at least I was one until seriously injured (spiral tibia fracture) by a bicyclist illegal riding facing or into oncoming traffic. I came around the corner riding in the proper direction and was thrown into traffic by the illegally riding bike. I live in NYC where riding on the sidewalk is insane. I’ve been hit five times! With large numbers of pedestrians and MILLIONS spent on bike lanes there is NO excuse ever for riding on the sidewalk. Buildings come all the way to the corner, so there are no sight lines to see the biker coming right at you as you come around the building, I’ve seen them run into baby carriages! CROSSWALKS are for pedestrians, bikes should only be WALKED in them. With the traffic noise being what it is, you can never hear the bike sneaking up behind you, you walk a little to the left as another pedestrian comes towards you unaware of the bike approaching and BOOM! ALL traffic laws apply to bikes. The more bikes on the road the more important to follow the laws. Neither pedestrians or vehicles are expecting to find wheeled vehicles where they don’t belong, on sidewalks, riding into traffic or wrong way on one way streets (a hazard to themselves AND fellow bikers) or running red lights and stop signs as if they don’t exist! Bikers in this city ride like they are in the Wild Wild West. Get rear view mirrors, always ride in the direction of traffic flow, and STAY OFF SIDEWALKS.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:15:49 +0000

Thanks for a sensible list of rules for sidewalk riding.

While I understand the arguments for the Dangers of Riding on a Sidewalk, I still think riding in traffic is tempting fate in most cases. How can you ignore all the fatal auto accidents? What I mean is – there are thousands of people killed every year – with no biker in sight – and these fatalities were people protected by a massive coat of armor called a car or truck or bus. A biker’s helmet is a puff of smoke in comparison. To me, most cyclists in traffic are either living in a dream world where nothing bad ever happens, or he has a death-wish.