Why do you ride your bicycle on the road when there's a bike path nearby?

Question

I've seen this in communites all over the country... bicyclists riding on the road when there's a perfectly good bike path running parallel to that road less than 200 yards away. I know sometimes the bike paths are in poor repair but recently I've seen bicycles on the road a week after the path was repaved! I would think that a bicyclist would want to ride on the bike path where there is one, because you're a lot safer there, out of traffic. Am I missing something?

So-- do you ride on the bike path or the road? And if the bike path runs alongside the road and is in the same condition as the road, what makes you stick to the road instead of the path?

Not trying to argue, just trying to understand so maybe I don't run over a bicycle on the twisty park road in my neighborhood (which has an awesome path next to it!).

I'm not talking about the sidewalk but rather a path specifically designed for bicycles. Not all roads have them and I'm not saying that bikes should be on the sidewalk when there's no bike path. Don't you think bikes would rather deal with going around a slow pedestrian than almost getting hit by a car?

Paradox69... no need to be quite so feisty. If you had read my question fully, I was not questioning anyone's right to be on the road. I was simply trying to understand why people prefer the roads over the paths, if they are going the same way to the same place and the road is a little dangerous. Others have been kind enough to offer some excellent explainations that had not crossed my mind. Not sure why you are the only one who took the question so negatively.

Answer 1

I ride on the rode for safety. We ride at speeds over 20mph on flat terrain and much faster down hill. Paved "bike trails" are often multipurpose trails that are approximately 6 feet wide. Often walkers, kids, and pets are on them and they have every right to be there. Children become distracted and make sudden turns while biking. A dog leash is long enough for the walker to be on one side of the trail and the dog to dart out in front of you as you pass. For the safety myself and others, I avoid them. I don't enjoy sharing the road with cars, but both cars and bikes have every legal right to be there. Be safe.

Answer 2

IF I choose to ride on the road rather than the path it's usually due to the path being a multi-use sort of path. Most of the paths I have ridden on have speed limits for the bicycles to promote safety, but the posted speeds are well below the speed that even a recreational cyclist rides. Add to this that the pedestrians often times walk three and four abreast and the wrong direction on the same narrow trail we are supposed to be sharing with them and it's not a pleasant experience.

Frankly, I'm tired of being whined at by people who don't follow the rules set up for the comfort of all, while they ignore the very same rules. It's easier to deal with cagers. Besides, the bicycle is a vehicle in most states with the same rights and responsibilities. A perfectly good bike path would be one that is exclusively by bicycles.

Answer 3

Bike paths can be great when they're actually there. But a lot of bike paths are pretty limited, and some are multi-use paths which means we're crammed into space with walkers, rollerbladers, jogger, dogs, people pushing strollers, etc.

Now, the ideal situation is a bike lane on streets. Those are usually the best. Unfortunately, a lot of streets don't have them. And according my local laws (I can't speak for yours), I'm allowed to ride on the streets. And so I will do so whenever I can't use a bike lane, bike path or other path to get where I'm going.

To sum it up, I prefer roads with bike lanes. Multi-use paths can be a bit dicey because of other users, so I'll use my best judgement on whether that's better than riding on the road without a bike lane.

Answer 4

If you've ever been the walker on a path and had a kamikaze biker come around a corner and clip you, it can be very scary.
Likewise, a biker can easily gain some speed, and hey, speed is fun, until someone who has a dog off the leash jumps out of nowhere to crash you.

It is MUCH safer for everyone for more serious bikers to ride on the road, where they don't have to dodge walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, dogs, and kids. They have a right to be on the road and as long as they're riding responsibly and not weaving around it should be no problem for cars to get around.
With that, if you're just riding your cruiser slow enough to be at a walkers or jogger's pace, then its ok to ride on the path.

Answer 5

Well where I live u r actually suppost 2 ride ur bike on the road instead of the path, or sidewalk, but maybe it's different there so I have no idea y, maybe they just like the road

Answer 6

sometimes its better to ride on the road cause you can go faster and theres no unobservant pedestrians getting in your way. also, these cyclists you are talking about may not be aware that there is a bike path nearby. also, the bike path may not go where they want to go. Although i think that most cyclists would prefer to ride on the bike path rather than the road.

Answer 7

Bicycles are allowed on the roadways, and are subject to the same laws that automobiles have, including stop signs and speed limits.

Many bicyclists ride a varied route, and that doesn't always include a bicycle path.

Also, experienced riders often go quite fast, and the bicycle paths can have slow riders, pedestrians, and misc. surprise obstacles that roads won't have.

Answer 8

GRRRR...We go to work and to play on our bikes! The bike paths do not go every where we need to go!!! Some of us race and go fast, some of us care about the environment and want to reduce pollution, some of us want to stay fit and have freedom from the restrictions a of a car!!! We have every right to be ON the road and actually a right to a WHOLE lane if you want to get picky. DRIVERS need to be aware of other people on the road! Yes it is not always safe, but a bike path is limited and full of rollerbladers, recreational cyclists and kids...not a good highway for the serious commuter/athlete.. If you're afraid of hitting a cyclist, perhaps you should not be driving a car.

Answer 9

Dunno...
But it's kind of funny when a cop pulls you over on your bike.
That happened to me once...at like midnight.
I was trying to cross when this semi just started speeding, so I stayed in the middle until I could get across. This cop (ended up I knew him because he came to my work a lot) pulled over. He didn't even get out of the car. He just hung his feet out and was like, "Why...are you riding...in the middle...of the road?" I was like, "Okay, so here's the thing..."
It was funny. When I got home I called my friend and told her. She just laughed at me and asked if he gave me a ticket. I just said, "NO...and I really wanted a souvenir too." I'm kind of dingy like that.
As for other people and just riding in the middle of the road, you got me. Maybe you should slowly ride up real close behind one of 'em, but not close enough to hit 'em. See if they do it again. Just a suggestion.

Answer 10

b'coz ppl usually walk on the path so u'r betta of on the road