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bike route: sidewalk?
question:
i was in palm springs, CA this week and noticed what appeared to a sidewalk marked as a bike route. no it wasn't a mixed use trail or a concrete bikepath... it was quite clearly what we'd all recognize as and call a sidewalk, immediately adjacent to a busy four-lane 45 MPH arterial road. it was a little ambiguous but let me explain: it was typical "BIKE ROUTE" green signage that seemed to indicate that the bike route was the sidewalk. it didn't literally say "on sidewalk," but the signage was *on* the sidewalk* designed to be read by someone pedaling (or walking) *against* the flow of traffic. it was not positioned for drivers since it was way over on the other side of the road--a southbound driver would see it way way over to his left across three of four lanes of traffic. palm springs has a large bike route circuit throughout the city but never verified if it is indeed a sidewalk route. anyone know anything about the palm springs bike route? i know this seems a little paranoid but i can't easily shake that riding on the sidewalk was "wrong"... ;-) brink |
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#2
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bike route: sidewalk?
brink wrote:
i know this seems a little paranoid but i can't easily shake that riding on the sidewalk was "wrong"... ;-) Well, I think for certain areas, riding on the sidewalk is okay. Many bridges, for example, have large walkways/sidewalks where bicyclists are supposed to go and it is probably safer than trying to squeeze them into a lane with a bunch of dazed drivers who are going much faster. This is the same reason I won't ride on the freeway - I'd be paranoid about getting clipped by someone from behind. As for basic riding on city streets, I'll ride with traffic then and not feel uncomfortable. |
#3
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bike route: sidewalk?
On Sun, 2 Oct 2005 22:28:32 -0700, "brink" wrote:
question: i was in palm springs, CA this week and noticed what appeared to a sidewalk marked as a bike route. no it wasn't a mixed use trail or a concrete bikepath... it was quite clearly what we'd all recognize as and call a sidewalk, immediately adjacent to a busy four-lane 45 MPH arterial road. it was a little ambiguous but let me explain: it was typical "BIKE ROUTE" green signage that seemed to indicate that the bike route was the sidewalk. it didn't literally say "on sidewalk," but the signage was *on* the sidewalk* designed to be read by someone pedaling (or walking) *against* the flow of traffic. it was not positioned for drivers since it was way over on the other side of the road--a southbound driver would see it way way over to his left across three of four lanes of traffic. palm springs has a large bike route circuit throughout the city but never verified if it is indeed a sidewalk route. anyone know anything about the palm springs bike route? i know this seems a little paranoid but i can't easily shake that riding on the sidewalk was "wrong"... ;-) brink They have this in Va Beach - almost double wide sidewalks marked up as bike lanes but only one one side of the street. The problem is, when you come back along the same route, you're riding against traffic, and should you need to cross the street, it's problematic, especially if the sidewalk/route borders a divided highway, again, because the sidewalk/bike route is typically only on one side of the street. You're left with trying to cross the street going against traffic or using the crosswalk or some kludge. Doubt the 'planners' rode this route to assess the utility of single side of the road double sidewalk riding. -jj |
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bike route: sidewalk?
denver's cherry creek trail uses a sidewalk near the mall and denver
country club. there is an option to go behind the mall, but i use the north side for my needs. it's definetely the most dangerous part, two mall exits with cars lurching into crosswalks, a few bus stops with people milling about or entering/exiting busses, and lots of general pedestrian traffic but i just slow down and stay assertive |
#5
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bike route: sidewalk?
"brink" wrote in
: question: i was in palm springs, CA this week and noticed what appeared to a sidewalk marked as a bike route. no it wasn't a mixed use trail or a concrete bikepath... it was quite clearly what we'd all recognize as and call a sidewalk, immediately adjacent to a busy four-lane 45 MPH arterial road. Thanks for confirming my sanity... I mentioned a similar thing about Riverside previously. I guess CA does really have formal bike routes on sidewalks, probably because so few people walk on them. --ag |
#6
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bike route: sidewalk?
"andy gee" wrote in message 7.142... "brink" wrote in : question: i was in palm springs, CA this week and noticed what appeared to a sidewalk marked as a bike route. no it wasn't a mixed use trail or a concrete bikepath... it was quite clearly what we'd all recognize as and call a sidewalk, immediately adjacent to a busy four-lane 45 MPH arterial road. Thanks for confirming my sanity... I mentioned a similar thing about Riverside previously. I guess CA does really have formal bike routes on sidewalks, probably because so few people walk on them. i think that's it--these are fairly low-volume sidewalks for pedestrians. didn't see many bikes for that matter. and with all the old folks cruising around just this side of legal blindness, perhaps the city planners have seen the wisdom of a policy of "keep em separated"... ;-) once you get near downtown, where there are gobs of pedestrians milling around, bicycles are explicitly prohibited on the sidewalks. brink |
#7
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bike route: sidewalk?
Matt O'Toole wrote: But bikes are generally prohibited from using sidewalks except where explicitly allowed -- thus the "bike route" sign. Matt O. Not quite, there is no STATE law in CA that prohibits anyone from riding on sidewalks. Thus, leaving sidewalk laws up to local municipalities. You have to check with your local authorities to see what the ordinances are regarding sidewalks in your area. Some towns ban all sidewalk riding some towns have some of both. See CA law click here http://www.bikelink.com/law_safety.htm Same with Florida. No STATE law against riding bicycles on sidewalks. It's up to the local Govt. to make bicycle laws or there are none and your free to ride wherever you want. See here http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/pe..._bikeLaws1.htm I use to obey all the laws until I just about got run over. Now I ride wherever I feel like it's the safest. I figure I'd rather get a ticket for riding a sidewalk then be half dead in the hospital because I obeyed the law. John |
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bike route: sidewalk?
On Mon, 3 Oct 2005 18:07:10 -0400, "Matt O'Toole"
wrote: jj wrote: They have this in Va Beach - almost double wide sidewalks marked up as bike lanes but only one one side of the street. The problem is, when you come back along the same route, you're riding against traffic, and should you need to cross the street, it's problematic, especially if the sidewalk/route borders a divided highway, again, because the sidewalk/bike route is typically only on one side of the street. You're left with trying to cross the street going against traffic or using the crosswalk or some kludge. Doubt the 'planners' rode this route to assess the utility of single side of the road double sidewalk riding. These are an abomination. I wish we could get a state law passed banning them. Matt O. Yeah, because of the frequently hedge-shielded driveways it's one of the more dangerous areas I've ridden and I just go out on the road now. Drivers just don't expect you there. On a similar note, I've had to hollar at several drivers lately. One lady coming up a hill, gravel, similar to a driveway to my right to merge onto my road and saw me coming, started to move out saw I continued riding by, tried to edge out again, as though 'hey you're a bike you stop, me go'. Fortunately she stopped when I hollared, but dammit if she wouldn't have just watched herself drive into the side of me if I hadn't yelled. Another driver is coming up behind me, down a long slow straightaway, and I'm watching her in my mirror. She continues on a path to run me over, surprisingly, and just as I'm about to dive for the hedgerows, she swerves over, as though she was driving with eyes closed up until then. Finally right in front of my house I'm getting ready to swing around and go into my driveway and do a quick check mirror check and YIKES, a little red car slowly and silently following me so closely it makes me jump to see her. No danger of being hit, but crap who follows that closely, maybe three feet off my rear wheel - and why! A few feet further and she turns into her driveway one up from mine. Dumbass. jj |
#9
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bike route: sidewalk?
jj wrote:
: On Mon, 3 Oct 2005 18:07:10 -0400, "Matt O'Toole" : wrote: : :jj wrote: : : They have this in Va Beach - almost double wide sidewalks marked up : as bike lanes but only one one side of the street. : : The problem is, when you come back along the same route, you're : riding against traffic, and should you need to cross the street, : it's : problematic, especially if the sidewalk/route borders a divided : highway, again, because the sidewalk/bike route is typically only : on : one side of the street. : : You're left with trying to cross the street going against traffic : or : using the crosswalk or some kludge. Doubt the 'planners' rode this : route to assess the utility of single side of the road double : sidewalk riding. : :These are an abomination. I wish we could get a state law passed :banning them. : :Matt O. : : Yeah, because of the frequently hedge-shielded driveways it's one of : the : more dangerous areas I've ridden and I just go out on the road now. : Drivers just don't expect you there. : : On a similar note, I've had to hollar at several drivers lately. One : lady coming up a hill, gravel, similar to a driveway to my right to : merge onto : my road and saw me coming, How do you know she saw you, jj? did you wave at her and see her wave back? started to move out saw I continued : riding by, tried to edge out again, as though 'hey you're a bike you : stop, me go'. Fortunately she stopped when I hollared, but dammit if : she wouldn't have : just watched herself drive into the side of me if I hadn't yelled. : : Another driver is coming up behind me, down a long slow : straightaway, and : I'm watching her in my mirror. She continues on a path to run me : over, surprisingly, and just as I'm about to dive for the hedgerows, : she swerves over, as though she was driving with eyes closed up : until then. Maybe she didn't see you. You still wearing black? : : Finally right in front of my house I'm getting ready to swing around : and go into my driveway and do a quick check mirror check and YIKES, : a little red : car slowly and silently following me so closely it makes me jump to : see : her. No danger of being hit, but crap who follows that closely, : maybe three feet off my rear wheel - and why! Maybe she was spying your bums, man! : : A few feet further and she turns into her driveway one up from mine. : Dumbass. hmmm...... It really could have been a judgment call in her part, however poor. |
#10
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bike route: sidewalk?
John wrote:
Matt O'Toole wrote: But bikes are generally prohibited from using sidewalks except where explicitly allowed -- thus the "bike route" sign. Not quite, there is no STATE law in CA that prohibits anyone from riding on sidewalks. Thus, leaving sidewalk laws up to local municipalities. You have to check with your local authorities to see what the ordinances are regarding sidewalks in your area. Some towns ban all sidewalk riding some towns have some of both. See CA law click here http://www.bikelink.com/law_safety.htm This is true, which is why I used the word "generally." And it is generally the case. Matt O. |
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