Bike lanes are a waste!

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Actually, little known fact, but riding on the sidewalk is much more likely to result in getting hit by a car as opposed to riding on the street.

Motorists aren't generally expecting to encounter a fast-moving bicycle on the sidewalk or crosswalk when they pull into driveways or turn at intersections. Not to mention danger for pedestrians. Adults have no business riding on the sidewalk (unless they still need training wheels).

I got this from here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/100823-Sidewalk-bicycling


Alan Wachtel and Diana Lewiston published in the ITE Journal, Sept/Oct 1994 (from the Institute of Transportation Engineers):

"The average cyclist in this study incurs a risk on the sidewalk 1.8 times as great as on the roadway. The risk on the sidewalk is higher than on the roadway for both age groups, for both sexes, and for wrong-way travel. The greatest risk found in this study is 5.3 times the average risk for bicyclists over 18 traveling against traffic on the sidewalk."

"Wrong-way sidewalk travel is 4.5 times as dangerous as right-way sidewalk travel. Moreover, sidewalk bicycling promotes wrong-way travel: 315 of 971 sidewalk bicyclists (32 percent) rode against the direction of traffic, compared to only 108 of 2,005 roadway bicyclists (5 percent)."

"Even right-way sidewalk bicyclists can cross driveways and enter intersections at high speed, and they may enter from an unexpected position and direction for instance, on the right side of overtaking right-turning traffic. Sidewalk bicyclists are also more likely to be obscured at intersections by parked cars, buildings, fences, and shrubbery; their stopping distance is much greater than a pedestrian's, and they have less maneuverability."

Quote:I would prefer that someone bike safely then abide by the law.


And if you are going to complain about people being law-abiding citizens, then I'd first like to see you stop jaywalking.

Around 7PM yesterday I saw a dad with child in bikeseat riding against traffic on Newark Avenue and then on the sidewalk. Heavy traffic on Newark last night.
Great Job dad of the year!

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No, you shouldn't. You should ride with traffic in the street like the law abiding citizen I assume you are. There are less potholes on the sidewalk, but you don't see me driving there.

That said, you're nuts if you ride with a kid in a bikeseat around here.

Eh, if the idiots in city hall would install some bicycle lanes downtown, maybe fewer than 6 million idiots would be riding on the sidewalks.

If you are riding with a kid in a bikeseat you BETTER take the sidewalks.

well if he was actually in the street and not riding on the sidewalk like 6 million other idiots downtown i'm happy enough.

Nor that cops have much to be protected by bicycle helmets.

I nearly t-boned a cop running a stop on Coles yesterday. No flashers or anything. But you don't need to pay close attention to the news to know that cops are not a role model!

riding the wrong way down a one-way street, with your helmet dangling off your handlebars, really sends a great message.

way to lead by example, officer.