Why do people run and ride bikes on the side of the road when there is a sidewalk?

Question

I see this all the time where I live. People will jog or ride their bike on the side of the road. There are plenty of sidewalks that aren't being used. Why don't they just use the sidewalk?

Answer 1

Good question. We have that a lot here during the Houston rush hour traffic bringing the traffic almost to a stand still as we are trying to keep from running over the idiot by changing lanes in bumper to bumper traffic. I think there should be a law against it as they have been responsible for causing a fatality because of it. I realize there are laws against riding your bike on the sidewalk, but a little common sense goes a long way when doing this in rush hour traffic.

Of course the thumbs down would have to be from the bike riders who think they are above the law. They are the ones who are being run over and killed, when they decide to ride their bikes in the lane with traffic.

Answer 2

You are not a cyclist so you don't understand. We ride out towards the middle so we can be seen. it is not to block traffic. Riding out on the edge just invites people to pass without thinking twice. If there is another car coming from the other direction and another is coming up from behind I take the lane so they have to think twice about what you are going to do. If it is safe for them to pass I move over but I will not ride on the edge. That is the law, most states require you to give a cyclist at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. You do not own the road anymore then the sidewalk that elderly person walks on. People riding on sidewalks are more dangerous then being on the road. Can you imagine flying down a side walk with elderly people walking about ? There are a lot of people that ride to work or the store as well as exercise. You may want to try it sometime.

Answer 3

I don't know about joggers. But I think the reason why bicyclists ride on the street is because the tires and wheels on a road bike could easily break while riding off of a curb and also bicyclists riding on a sidewalk can be quite dangerous to pedestrians and to themselves. Imagine getting hit by a bike going 20mph.

Answer 4

Bikes are supposed to be on the road, not the sidewalk. Runners probably find the street a better surface than the sidewalk.

Answer 5

The general rule is: Wheels go on the road. Feet go on the sidewalk. Like others here have said-it's illegal in lots of places to ride bikes on the sidewalk. Ped safety.

Answer 6

Because it's a municipal law to ride your bike on the side of the road. Has to do with safety for pedestrians. As for jogging, I guess you live in a suburban area enough where there is barely any vehicle traffic or just lots of room for them to maneuver around. Walking in the middle of a small road, however, is stupid. Lots of people do that in Toronto. Just goes to show how stupid we are in this city. Never come up here. Say "no" to Toronto.

Answer 7

I am a runner and prefer to run on a sidewalk unless it is uneven, but in the case of bicycles, some places it is illegal. I live in a big city and riding bikes on the sidewalks carries a hefty fine ($271, first offense).

Answer 8

I can't vouch for the runners, but in most states bicycles are considered moving vehicles and have the same rights and responsibilities as cars do. In fact, the first paved roads were made for bicycles (circa 1891), not cars (circa 1902). Bicyclists get "dibs," as it were.

In any case, some bicyclists can go faster than cars (I have passed slow vehicles, motorcycles, etc easily on a good downhill). And the fact that you complain about bicycles means one thing: YOU NOTICE THEM! Would you still pay attention as much to a bicyclist doing 35mph on the sidewalk?

Answer 9

While the law may say you must ride you bike in the road, common sense should say don't get yourself killed.

But at least in the road, you have the right to be there, not like the person who got hit by a plane!

Answer 10

Most cities don't want bikes on sidewalks - they are for pedestrians.

Joggers are pedestrians and should stay off the street. But concrete is a very hard surface on which to run, so that's probably why they run on the street - the asphalt is a bit softer.
(They really should run on a track.)

Answer 11

Bicyclists are supposed to ride on the road. They are vehicles. And it's THE LAW. In fact, in most jurisdictions it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk.

As for joggers, they are pedestrians and are required to use a sidewalk when one is available.