[otikik]

When there's no dedicated line, just use the sidewalk.

I go really slow near pedestrians / densely populated areas, and I try to minimize danger (think a child getting out of a building suddenly). Before it gets inconvenient or dangerous, I dismount.

I know this can mean a fine, and I am aware that this can put some pedestrians at risk of bruising (again, I am careful, respectful and slow when I go on the sidewalk). But between that and risking death-by-car, well, the choice is simple.

[Angostura]

No. Don't. You may "try to minimise danger", but one day you will hit someone and injure them. You also make it difficult for nervous or timid pedestrians. I absolutely will walk in your way and give you a mouthful.

[wayoutthere]

Sorry, but no amount of verbal chewing out is going to change behavior on this one. It’s far safer for me on the sidewalk — and it’s far more likely both people walk away from an accident with a pedestrian than a vehicle.

Edit: also, where I live (northeastern US) the roads have craters like Beirut in the 80s. Cars have problems on them, so cyclists ride on the sidewalk rather than swerve all over the road to find a path that won’t shred your rims / tires.

[mruts]

In most places riding on sidewalks is illegal. I always get pissed when I see bikes hogging my sidewalk and almost hitting me.

[wayoutthere]

Yup, it’s illegal. So is driving / parking in the bike lane, but the cops in my city enforce neither. Doesn’t change a thing — I refuse not to be selfish when it comes to protecting my life.

[Angostura]

> I refuse not to be selfish when it comes to...

... endangering pedestrians.

[cr0sh]

Something being assumed here is that in the US, we have pedestrians on sidewalks.

In truth, you only see this in large urban core areas, but in most places, even the suburbs, people don't walk anywhere - mainly because in many cases, there's nothing nearby to walk to.

Everybody drives.

That isn't to say nobody walks, but such people are few and far between. Usually, when you see someone on the sidewalk, it's either a skateboarder, a bicyclist, or someone in a powered mobility chair.

This does, of course, vary based on the population and geographical makeup of the area (and weather), but usually, again, the only time you see more than a few people walking on the sidewalk, it's within an urban core area.

Also - speaking on the weather topic - here in Phoenix, Arizona, we don't typically have many walkers on sidewalks in the downtown area, in the summertime, because the heat is extremely brutal (even with shade). At one time, it was also a year-round thing, because there wasn't much to do downtown (and shops closed early), but things have changed in recent years (mainly due to the install of light rail).

[wayoutthere]

I mean, I’m not a moron. If the sidewalk is crowded, I’ll hop off and walk my bike.

But it’s a false equivalency to compare the two: a bike vs pedestrian accident usually ends in bumps and scrapes with the cyclist getting the worse end of the bargain. A car vs bike accident can easily leave you permanently disabled or worse (with a very high frequency of hit-and-runs).

[Angostura]

> It’s far safer for me on the sidewalk

Absolutely. Should probably drive your car on it for that reason.

[human20190310]

Much of the suburban US has busy roads with zero accommodation for bicycles and sidewalks with no people on them for half a mile (~1km) in each direction.

[jessaustin]

If that's the case, it will be easy to hop back on the road when you see a pedestrian. Only hillbillies bike on the sidewalk when pedestrians are present.

[otikik]

Ok. I still prefer that to being driven over by a car honestly.

[leetcrew]

if a bike hits you at a typical walking speed, how much worse is it than just bumping into another pedestrian?

[Angostura]

Cyclists who claim to ride slowly on pavements very rarely actually cycle at 3-4 mph, bikes are pretty unstable. Get a handlebar in your got at 8mph and you'll know about it. Even as low speed a piece of tubular metal in your abdomen is more painful than someone brushing a hip.

[leetcrew]

fair enough. I suspect there is usually an impedance mismatch in these discussions where each party is imagining a very different context. you seem to be envisioning a densely packed sidewalk with cyclists at a moderate speed.

when I ride on the sidewalk, it is in a small town or suburban setting where there is virtually no one on the sidewalk (if it even exists) and fast SUVs and crossovers in the street. in this situation, I usually just pedal a couple times and then coast twenty feet until the bike won't stay up. if I see a pedestrian I get off and stop until they pass me. I really don't think this should be illegal.

[mruts]

Biycling on the sidewalk is illegal in most places. And for good reason. In cities the differential between the speed of bikes and cars is smaller than between bikes and pedestrians.

[Grue3]

>In cities the differential between the speed of bikes and cars is smaller than between bikes and pedestrians.

I find that hard to believe. A bike can easily move at a walking speed among the pedestrians, while a car would never drive at a bike speed unless forced to.

[mruts]

In New York bikes are often going faster than cars.

[otikik]

Yep. So I might get a fine in the future. Maybe.