If you don’t stop to look at the research, common sense says that it is safer to ride your bicycle on a sidewalk than on a street.  But studies have shown that you are anywhere from ten to 25 times more likely to get into a crash on a sidewalk while riding a bicycle!

 

How can this be?  A bicycle is a roadway vehicle, traveling at speeds of from 12 to 25 miles per hour when operated by an adult who is intent on getting somewhere.  Sidewalks are usually narrow, and are designed for use by pedestrians who are moving at 2 to 4 miles per hour.  Sidewalks often have pedestrians on them, who often behave like squirrels when confronted with a fast approaching bicycle.  This is one type of crash that is virtually non-existent when the bicycle is operating on a street.

 

More importantly, motor vehicle drivers don’t see bicycles on sidewalks as traffic that they need to deal with.  But at 12 to 25 mph, a bicycle will quite suddenly appear as it crosses a side street or a driveway.  I have personally seen two crashes at signaled intersections involving cyclists crossing legally with the light and a driver looking the other way making a right on red.  In order to ride safely on a sidewalk, a cyclist has to behave like a pedestrian, which is tough to do when operating a roadway vehicle.

 

Roger Pierce

Membership Secretary, Gainesville Cycling Club

http://gccfla.org/

5015 NW 19^th Place

Gainesville FL 32605

378-7063