Is it safe to ride my bicycle on the sidewalk?
Sidewalks look like the safer option for bicyclists, especially when there are a lot of cars on the road. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, 29 percent of bicyclist injuries are the result of car collisions. But riding on a sidewalk doesn’t remove the threat of crashing into a car.
Can cyclists legally ride on the sidewalk?
Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices. While on sidewalks and shared use paths, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian.
Are You allowed to ride your bike on the sidewalk?
However, while it’s pretty much a given that cars shouldn’t be driven on sidewalks, laws regarding bicycling on sidewalks are typically set by local jurisdictions. This means it may be perfectly legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk in one city, but you may have to bike on the street once you’re outside city limits.
Is it OK to ride a road bike on the sidewalk?
As you can see, it is generally legal in most states to ride on the sidewalks, or there is no law around it either way, which generally means people will do it. There are some consistencies across the board when riding on sidewalks: If it’s legal, it’s almost always possible to be prohibited by traffic control devices.
Sidewalks look like the safer option for bicyclists, especially when there are a lot of cars on the road. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, 29 percent of bicyclist injuries are the result of car collisions. But riding on a sidewalk doesn’t remove the threat of crashing into a car.
Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices. While on sidewalks and shared use paths, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian.
However, while it’s pretty much a given that cars shouldn’t be driven on sidewalks, laws regarding bicycling on sidewalks are typically set by local jurisdictions. This means it may be perfectly legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk in one city, but you may have to bike on the street once you’re outside city limits.
As you can see, it is generally legal in most states to ride on the sidewalks, or there is no law around it either way, which generally means people will do it. There are some consistencies across the board when riding on sidewalks: If it’s legal, it’s almost always possible to be prohibited by traffic control devices.