Before the culmination of the bike popularity craze in the 1890s, the boom experienced in 1880 was due to the twin development of pneumatic tires and safety bicycles. This led to chaotic scenery, as no laws were governing the eventual traffic experienced.
Legal battles ensued to curtail traffic on the roads, and cyclists have the same legal provisions as motorists. However, sidewalks have been limited to bikes in different states, citing pedestrian safety as the key reason.
In a bid to curb accidents emanating from bicycles, several stipulated guidelines were initiated to ensure flawless traffic movement on sidewalks. Here is some more information on if bikes aren’t allowed on sidewalks.
Regulations For Cyclists On Sidewalks
While it’s not entirely illegal to ride on the sidewalk, there are stipulated guidelines set out by different states and cities on how to navigate your two-wheel. Age, speed limit, and communication are critical regulations meant to bring sanity on the sidewalk.
1. Speed limit
A speed limit of 10 mph, as in the case of Hawaii, is recommended. This gives the cyclist ample time to navigate any hurdles that may present themselves, including pedestrians who travel at four mph.
2. No to the business district
While states like Alaska, Massachusetts, and Missouri make it legal to cycle on the sidewalk, it’s strictly prohibited in the business district. This offers grave risk through the business entrance, where a mishap can happen so quickly.
3. Age Limit
Georgia gives leeway to children aged 12 years and below to use the sidewalk, provided they are under parental care and a wheel diameter of fewer than 26 inches in other jurisdictions like New York.
Other cities like Lancaster and Hermosa Beach in LA prohibit persons over 14 years. This varies widely in Ohio, with towns with different age caps from 10 (Columbus) to 16 in Dayton.
4. Communication
Verbal communication is necessitated in all jurisdictions to ensure the pedestrian is aware of the coming bike. Hand signal application and lights are required in Florida.
5. Alight From Bike
New York also allows cyclists to walk bikes on sidewalks, though it may be restricted in other sidewalks to curb wrong-way riding. In addition, states like Chicago give an exception in cases where bike route labels are indicated on the sidewalk.
6. Pedestrian Preeminence
Cyclists are required to regard the safety of the pedestrian highly, so they are to give way to pedestrians, alert them by ringing a bell when passing, and adhere to traffic signs. This is the case in Dallas.
Why Should You Avoid Sidewalks?
Riding on the sidewalks is one of the intense discussions by the bike community, given the assumption that riding on the sidewalk is safer than on the streets. However, bicycle accident studies show a different reality.
1. Intersections
One of the significant causes of motorist and cyclist crashes occurs at driveway, alley, business entrance, and cross street intersections. Be extra cautious and monitor motorist movement before crossing the street.
2. Obstructions
Sidewalks too narrow to swerve and maneuver away from danger, grant yourself enough room to be seen by steering clear of storefronts, walls and businesses.
3. Unpredicted Pedestrian Movements
A pedestrian sidestep or a kid running behind an adult can cause immense havoc. So it’s prudent never to pass until you have the pedestrian’s attention.
4. Limited visibility
Cyclists are easily obscured by trees, parked cars, hedges, buildings, and doorways, creating blind spots. The intersections should have clear sightlines with driveways and streets, and discouragement of building bike paths adjacent to busy roads should be propagated.
5. Limited speed
There is always conflict with roller skaters, joggers, wheelchairs, skateboarders, and pedestrians object as utility poles, benches, signposts, hydrants, mailboxes, trees, and parking meters. These structures will further increase accident rates.
Research That Aggravates Sidewalk Accidents Vs. Street Riding
A study by Alan Wachtel and Diana Lewiston on risk factors for bicycle-motor vehicle collisions at intersections indicates that bicycle-motor vehicle accidents account for 85% of bicycle accidents, with 64% occurring at intersections stats from ’85 to ’89.
Other stats in ’92 indicate that 722 cyclists were killed, and a whopping 650,00 were treated for bike-related injuries. Bicyclists traveling against traffic are 3.6 times likely to be involved in an accident, and the risk factor doubles for kids under 17 years.
The prevailing risks are 1.8 times higher on the sidewalk than on the street, and sidewalks further promote wrong-way sidewalk travel, 4.5 times riskier than right-way travel. Drivers scan traffic traveling in the lawful direction. A motorist looking to turn right will only observe approaching traffic on the left and overlook the wrong way.
If all bikes traveled with traffic, the accidents evaded would e less than 10% as intersections pose a high risk. Research by William Moritz on North American Commuters concluded that cyclists on the sidewalks are 5.32% in danger than their compatriots on the streets with a 0.5% risk factor.
William’s further study on Adult Bicyclists in the US indicates that 59% fell from their bike, 14% run on fixed objects, and 11% had bike-motor vehicle accidents. Given that the average household has two or more cyclists and four bikes in the US, it’s incumbent upon us to observe safe cycling.
