Is riding a bicycle on the sidewalk dangerous? sidewalk cycling

I am a situational cyclist. I believe in being flexible and using the maneuverability of the bicycle to my advantage. I ride on sidewalks. I ride in the road. I ride on dirt trails. It depends on the situation. Cycling has risk. Riding on sidewalks has risk. It is possible to ride safely on a sidewalk. Just like it is possible to ride safely in the road. It depends on your bicycle handling skills and your judgment. Vehicular cycling fanatics are opposed to riding on sidewalks. In my opinion this is for ideological reasons and not for safety reasons. You can learn to ride safely on the sidewalk. Practice.

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[billdavidson6]

@luvmastertx: Have you actually taken the classes or read the books? I somehow doubt that you actually understand VC.

In any case, yes, I can ride on the sidewalk safely...at 5mph. I can't do it at 20mph. I've got to get to work at some point and I need to get home at some point and taking 2 hours instead of 30 minutes is not an option.

Your argument that vehicular cyclists lack the bike handling skills to ride on the sidewalk is ridiculous and ignores reality.

[luvmastertx]

@billdavidson6 - I am not a vehicular cyclist.. And, Yes! I have had the classes and I have read the books. The classes are way over priced and the information too simplistic. That is why I am not a vehicular cyclist. Most vehicular cyclist sometimes ride on the side walk, but they will never admit it. I use sidewalk when they are safer than being in the roadway. And, you are right you can't safely ride at 20 mph on most sidewalks. If speed is your only desire, then take the lane.

[edscoble]

Don't encourage illegal behaviour!

[luvmastertx]

@edscoble = It is not illegal to ride on the sidewalks in my city. Besides you miss my point.... If you do not have the judgement and bike handling skills to ride safetly on the sidewalk, you should not be in the street.

[CMgraffix]

so riding in city's side walks are OK?

so all bikes not made for riding on side walks should be band?

so people walking less than 5km per hour on side walks should be fined?

seriously you are a cyclist????? what on Sundays?

try riding to a destination with a time limit? like work?

TRY AND RETHINK YOUR ARGUMENT....

[luvmastertx]

@CMgraffix My point is simple. If you don't have the skills and judgement to ride safetly on a sidewalk, you should not be in the street. Riding on a sidewalk does not have to be anymore dangerous than riding in the street. The problem is too many people lack good judgement. I see bicyclist everyday that shouldn't be in the roadway. Perhaps, the League of American Bicyclist should add a sidewalk riding section to their safety classes.

[rdy87]

More people get hit by cars while they are riding on the sidewalk than when they are riding in the street. A road bicycle is a road vehicle and should be on the road. A mountain bike should be ridden through trails on a mountain. I have seen trail bicycles but those are designed for bike trails similar to asphalt which is what roads are made of. Do you know of any sidewalk bicycles?

[BillyClubCondor]

Sidewalk riding is a bad idea, it has nothing to do with skill, but rather visibility to motorists.

This video is dumb, you should come out with another one about how riding the wrong way down a street is much safer than it seems.

[mrigor83]

No.

[yovinny100]

@luvmastertx In some jurisdictions, when you ride the road, you abide by the same rules the cars do. When you ride the sidewalk, you abide by the pedestrian rules.

Sidewalk riding can be slower, but if you're pleasure riding, who cares? If you're in a hurry to get somewhere, then take the road, but accept that there are more risks with the increased speed and vehiclular traffic about you.

[Pogi724]

Its been a year and I still love biking in the sidewalk with my mountain roadbike. I carry heavy gear on my bag ( fishing gears, etc ) I go to a road if sidewalk is busy. But often I bike on the sidewalk. I fully understand my safety and the safety of others. I hope they make it legal for us to legally have a sidewalk as a biking option for the slow pace cyclist. ( get off the bike and walk when your getting close with pedestrian ) safer than getting swipe by drunk driver.

[aamguy]

I'm with the poster of the video. I commute by bike nearly every day. IF i can plan a route that involves sidewalks - I always try to go that way, staying out of the road.

There are no bike lanes or the like where I live. There ARE a lot of idiots who drive 2 ton machines who don't pay attention. Sorry, but riding on the road is just plain dangerous where I live/

[edscoble]

@luvmastertx my apologise, it's illegal in a lots of countries because it's dangerous, however skilled you are (it's illegal in the UK).

if you're truly a skilled cyclists, then you would be skilled enough to not need to use a sidewalk/pavement in the first place.

[illwafer]

worst video ever