Do you think that the law shouldn't impose you to ride your bike on the road?

Question

This is one thing that has never made any sense to me- having to ride your bike beside cars. In my opinion, individuals should feel free to bike on sidewalks simply because a car will do a lot more damage to a person than a bike will do to a pedestrian, and that's only if a biker runs into a pedestrian, which is much LESS LIKELY to happen. Think about it, a biker will see an oncoming pedestrian and will have time to decide on an appropriate course of action much earlier than a car will see a pedestrian. I refuse to bike on the roads. Some drivers simply aren't to be trusted, and this fact will remain etched into my beliefs forever, especially since I lost a classmate to a hit and run accident 2 years ago.

So I guess my secondary question is, why on earth, is it illegal to bike on the sidewalks? There is so much less traffic on sidewalks...bikers are much safer. And if a pedestrian does come along, its simply a matter of hopping off your bike and letting them pass/going around them.

Answer 1

I agree with you 100 percent and I see this everyday..................

Answer 2

This is why they have bike tracks. If you road on the foot path you would be knocking people down.

Answer 3

I hate people who walk or ride their bike on the road I would just run them over if they did that in front of my car thats what sidewalks are for people have no common sense anymore they really p**s me off

Answer 4

I agree. It's annoying to be driving down a road that is 40 MPH and there is a person on a bike going about 5 MPH. They are very hard to see and get annoying if you are stuck behind them because you WANT to change lanes and get in front of them. They are definitely more safe if they stick to the sidewalks. It is ridiculous to think that the law should say that because they really do get hurt easier that way, especially by speeders. You very seldom see a bike lane anywhere, but I see a few of them here in certain places. They are definitely more convenient to both drivers and bicyclists. I as a driver think they are a hazard to the road if they have to bike there.

Answer 5

If bicyclists would stop at street corners and walk thier bikes across like a pedestrian, it would be less of a problem.  However, most bicyclists who use the sidewalks behave as if they have the rights of both worlds, as vehicles on the street and pedestrians on the sidewalks.  They make the transition with little disregard for motor vehicles or pedestrians.

They can't have it both ways and expect the same courtesy and regard for the laws by other drivers.  Because they currently have the same rights and protections as motor vehicles, they are required to use the streets, following the same laws as other vehicles.  Most bicyclists KNOW this, but continue to ride on the wrong side of the street, pull in and out of driveways at will in order to avoid traffic signals, make left turns by riding from the gutter, onto the crosswalk, across the intersecting street and then continuing while other vehicles are still waiting at the light.  They don't stop at stop signs and traffic lights, weave in and out of crowds of pedestrians, and STILL complain that a car did not give him the right of way in his bike lane.

On sidewalks, the average speed of a walking pedestrian is only four miles per hour, and, there are no lanes separating slow traffic from faster.  A bicyclist "hopping off" his bike to make way for a pedestrian?  When does THAT happen?

Answer 6

well, since technically a bicycle is a human-powered vehicle, it is a motor driven vehicle

and unless you are going up a hill, the average speed for most cyclists is 10 to 20 mph, so traveling on the sidewalks is dangerous for both the cyclists and the pedestrians

most roads are wide enough for everyone to SHARE THE ROAD, and car drivers must watch out for them, and cyclists must follow all rules of the road, and be courteous to car drivers (that is where most problems come from when everyone is not watching out for each other or not following ALL rules of the road)

the solution:  more bike lanes on all roadways, this will ensure that there is enough room for everyone, AND educating anyone on the roadways of the rules of the road

Answer 7

I totally agree with you.  Maybe in New York city it makes sense to put bikes on the road, but in any suburb in any other town their is 100x less traffic on the sidewalk.  I will take a $35 ticket for biking on the sidewalk any day over being a hood ordament.