Ask HN: Do you agree on allowing bicycles on the sidewalk? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Do you agree on allowing bicycles on the sidewalk?

2 pointsPooge9 comments

In most of Europe, bicycles have to ride on the road next to several thousands kilograms killing machines as opposed to riding on the much more peaceful sidewalk.

In some countries, like Japan, riding on the sidewalk is standard and it looks like you would even get blamed for driving it on the road.

I love bicycles but I cannot see myself use them for anything other than the occasional exercise. Going on the road is just way too scary for me.

I was wondering what the average HNer's opinion would be on this topic.

Edit: Wanted to add a personal story. I remember that once I was walking on the sidewalk and as I was about to look behind me to turn (from the outside to inside of the sidewalk) a bike flew past me at bone-breaking speed. While I'm 100% for allowing them on the sidewalk, we definitely must educate people to look when crossing INSIDE THE SIDEWALK. I imagine a kid would've just turned without looking and probably get killed.

For context, probably not your average cyclist- I've covered at least 10k commuting & touring miles on a bicycle.

I don't bike anymore, because walking is better for my posture, I have limited time for exercise, and I am able to walk to work, so I do that now.

If a cyclist is going slowly (under 10mph?) and conscientious that pedestrians rule, I have no problem with them on the sidewalk. Bikes can stop quickly. I have much less tolerance for the speed demons (as I once was) in their fancy kit who think they rule the streets (as I once thought, until I retrained myself to reconsider cars as "people driving cars" and pedestrians as people moving in the most primal way, and thus worthy of the most deference, including necessary mobility devices, not including "luxury" mobility devices which generally include bicycles). If I had my way, cities and roadways would be redesigned to make it really easy for bicycles to use. "If you build it they will come" approach. I've biked on highways in the western USA and in Japan, and felt safest in Japan, maybe because I was glaringly different, vehicles tend to be smaller, and automobiles don't have the primacy I observe they do in the states.

I often prefer biking in the road because I want to get from A to B and not take some meandering path as many bike paths are. I didn't bike for fun, I biked for transportation, to save money on gas and car repairs, and for my health. The fun was incidental.

It strikes me as stupid and crazy that bikes aren't allowed on sidewalks here in the US, especially since the vast majority of sidewalks these days literally have noone walking.

Move the bikes to the sidewalks and get rid of the bike lanes that both drivers and cyclists hate. Also saves everyone's tax dollars since sidewalks are already there, unlike bike lanes that need to be newly marked.

> since the vast majority of sidewalks these days literally have noone walking.

This isn't at all true in my US city. And bicyclists on the sidewalks do injure pedestrians.

Sidewalks are for pedestrians, not bikes. In my US city, riding bikes on the sidewalk is illegal (we have perhaps the best bike path network in the US -- riding on the sidewalk is never necessary and rarely the most desirable option), but people do it anyway. And pedestrians are frequently injured by bicyclists riding on them.

Reaction I: How crowded is the sidewalk, and how considerate are the cyclists?

Reaction II: In the "wealthy & pro-cycling" city I'm most familiar with (Ann Arbor, MI), there often is no sidewalk. Or it is too poorly maintained to be safe for cycling. (You'd be dodging overgrown shrubbery, low tree limbs, etc.)

I presume it will depend on the city.

In dense cities, bikes on sidewalks are obnoxious and clearly a safety hazard (note: I am a biker in such city)

I cities with very few pedestrians on sidewalks, it could make sense (especially if the sidewalk is large enough to allow for a split)

No. A bicycle is a vehicle.

Sidewalk riding can be ok if there is a clearly marked and fully dedicated bike lane on the sidewalk. Without that it’s just too dangerous for pedestrians

Where I live, anyone older than 12 must ride their bicycle on the street and not the sidewalk.

I'm all for it -- bicycling, but not on the sidewalk.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com