Here’s a question from a reader:
I’ve been taught that bicycles are subject to the same rules as cars, but I see bicycles on the sidewalk all the time. I’d certainly be cited if I drove my pickup down the sidewalk. What’s with the bikes? Thanks a lot. Randy of Windsor
The answer comes from Gary Helfrich, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coaltion:
Regardless of the legality, riding on the sidewalk a bad idea and should be discouraged. Besides being a danger to pedestrians, bicyclists riding on the sidewalk are 2-4 times more likely to be killed or injured on the sidewalk than those riding on the street. The greatest danger is at driveways, where drivers are not expecting a fast moving bicycle. It’s important to recognize that Sidewalk vs. Street crash rates vary with age and gender, and children under the age of 10 may actually be safer on the sidewalk, but generally it’s a bad idea to ride on the sidewalk.
Legally, it’s the answer you’d expect: “It depends.” There is no statewide California law prohibiting operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, but California Vehicle Code Section 21206 allows local (county, city, etc) governments to regulate operation of bicycles on pedestrian facilities. Here’s a quick summary of most ordinances in Sonoma County:
–Cloverdale: Bikes are banned from sidewalks in the commercially zoned district and the police department is authorized to “erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon …” Additionally, the Cloverdale ordinance states, “Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield right-of-way to any pedestrian, and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such.
–Sebastopol: Bikes are not allowed on sidewalks in the downtown corridor but are allowed in residential neighborhoods. A map is available which delineates the no-sidewalk riding area.
–Windsor: Bikes are not allowed on sidewalks in the town’s commercial districts, specifically the Town Civic Center and the Town Green. The proscribed area is specifically described, block-by-block in the town’s ordinance.
–Rohnert Park: Bikes are allowed on city sidewalks, except in areas posted with signs prohibiting bikes.
–Petaluma: The city prohibits bikes on sidewalks in the central business district of the city unless traffic signs are posted informing bicyclists and pedestrians that the sidewalk has dual usage. Additionally, the city code states that, “No person shall ride a bicycle on any sidewalk which abuts the front of any school or any building used for public assembly.”
–Santa Rosa: Bikes are allowed on sidewalks, except for sidewalks in commercial shopping areas, the downtown core and Railroad Square.
–Sonoma: Bikes are allowed on sidewalks but may not be operated “at such speed or in such manner as evidences willful, wanton or reckless disregard of the safety of other pedestrians in the vicinity.”
–Unincorporated county: The county does not regulate bikes on sidewalks.
Here’s another question:
I am wondering whose responsibility it is to clean up debris left over (in the streets) by traffic collisions? It always seems very unsafe to have people driving over all the broken car bits and glass that seems to be left all over the place. Diana
The answer comes from Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Lance Badger. If a police officer and a tow truck are called to an accident, the officer will require the tow truck driver to clean up the debris, he said. If the drivers don’t seek police response, don’t clean up and the debris is reported as a traffic hazard, Badger said, an officer will be sent out to check. If it is a hazard, a city crew will be sent to clean up.
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If you have a question for the Road Warrior, please send it to jim.fremgen@pressdemocrat.com
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Terri Sweet
Thank you for making the point that bicycles are not safe on narrow paths where people are walking. Hence mountain bikes should not be allowed on narrow hiking trails.
July 7th, 2012 10:36 am
Keith
Thanks for this. I see that RP is one community that allows bikes anywhere. There lies the crux of your original questioner… My wife was hit (while she was driving) by a bicycle who was traveling what would have been the wrong direction for a car as she was coming out of the driveway at CVS, by the old Library. A pedestrian she would have seen and yielded to, but the bicycle was traveling, also as you said, at a higher rate of speed. She never saw the bike until he hit her. He then commenced to yell at her for being so stupid and not yielding the right of way to him.
July 7th, 2012 11:42 am
JJ
Useful info, thanks! I was hit by a car coming out of an alley while I was riding on the sidewalk when I was a kid; they had no way to see me coming. As an adult driver, I hit a cyclist myself in similar circumstances. Bank driveway with shrubbery & trees, I was going slowly enough I would have seen a pedestrian coming but a speeding bicyclist on the sidewalk, no. Cyclists do not seem aware of this problem. Also as a pedestrian and dog-walker I hate it when a speeding bike comes up behind me on the sidewalk. I’ve had some narrow misses, very narrow.
July 7th, 2012 11:47 am
Denise Kruse
I ride my bicycle slowly and cautiously on the sidewalk every single day. Regardless of the statistics (statistics can be skewed to say anything) often times I feel unsafe in the bike lanes where the cars are too close, too fast and where I am cut off all the time. Incidentally, I also agree with the woman who commented the other day in the Press Democrat’s Letters to the Editor section who said she felt safer in bike lanes riding against traffic. I tried to support her letter but the PD was not allowing comments for some reason. My experiences have taught me that I have half a chance to react when I can see what’s coming; no chance when I cannot. Probably there are statistics regarding this but I speak about what has happened to me. I am grateful that the police seem to understand the dangers these days to bicyclists and have never given me a hard time for my polite transgressions.
July 7th, 2012 2:26 pm
Michael Baehr
Unfortunately, Denise, you’re making things less safe for other people (including other bicyclists). There are few things more dangerous than riding in the bike lane and having to swerve out of someone’s way who is coming the wrong way! And drivers are not expecting you to be coming from the wrong direction when you enter an intersection.
I think if you spent some more time riding with traffic and learning to avoid common dangerous scenarios, you’d find yourself much more comfortable over time. Being cut off in the bike lane is almost entirely avoidable.
The biggest cause of bicycle and automobile collisions is riding against traffic. The second biggest cause is riding on the sidewalk. These are statistical facts. If you cut out those two behaviors, bicycling is far safer than driving.
This page has saved my life more times than I can count. Check it out and see if you can learn a few things: http://bicyclesafe.com/
I’ll see you on the road!
July 7th, 2012 5:07 pm
Steve Klausner
Do I have to yield to them when they ride off the sidewalk into the crosswalk?
July 7th, 2012 7:14 pm
bill
It should be noted that a new genre of electric bikes are now available. Some resemble scooters with gas engines and these bike attain speeds up to 50 mph. These are not required to be registered because they also have pedals.
Others, which are more bike looking in design but are also electric are becoming available. Still yet kits to convert standard bikes and equip them with electric motors are now available.
July 7th, 2012 7:36 pm
Denise Kruse
To Michael Baehr: I do not currently ride against traffic in the bike lane. That would be crazy. My comment stated that I would support that change for the reason that I stated. I am sure there are some who disagree. -dk
July 8th, 2012 12:50 pm
G
My irritation is with cyclists that switch back and forth from the bike lane to the sidewalk and expect to be treated like they are following the laws/rules of the road. And let’s face it, the majority of these so-called ‘cyclists’ that we see riding on the sidewalk or against traffic, are obviously not very bright people.
July 9th, 2012 8:13 am
BD
I’d like to also caution Denise on her choices regarding bike riding. While pulling out the street at SRJC that intersects Armory Dr, a bicyclist was on the sidewalk riding against traffic. That intersection is blind for me, meaning when I pull up to it and watch both directions, on one side there are tall trees. I would have time to see a pedestrian because of the rate of speed, and they would have time to see me. This bicyclist did not have time to see me, and had to in the end jump off her bike while slamming on the brakes. Then I proceeded to be berated by this person for her 2 bad choices, thinking it was my fault. I tried to tell her that 1) don’t use the sidewalk and 2) don’t ride in the opposite direction of traffic! Please do better than her and listen to the advice here from others regarding yours (and our) safety.
July 9th, 2012 8:29 am
Really?
No Steve, you can just run them right over.
July 9th, 2012 2:07 pm
Diana M.
Thank you for your attention to my question. The issue now is, which one of these agencies is dropping the ball? I drive by/over accident remnants on a weekly basis.
Also, if they damage our tires, who is responsible? It’s not always safe or even an option to switch lanes and/or drive around the debris.
July 9th, 2012 3:17 pm
Jeremy
First, thanks to the editor for not requiring a Facebook Inc. account in order to share my opinion. I’ll try and keep this short and to the point. Maybe the problem isn’t the bicycle; maybe it’s the faulty design of the automobile? Never mind about short, we’re going with the long version… Here it is 2012 and automobiles are still being manufactured out of heavy steel utilizing an archaic internal combustion engine designed in the late 1800’s. Shouldn’t they be flying by now? These archaic beasts are menacing our lives.The suspension systems, tires, and advancements in electronic fuel injection systems have marginally improved fuel economy or safety. 50 mpg was possible in the 1950’s with a naturally aspirated carbureted engine, but thanks to advancements in marketing Americans were brainwashed into believing bigger is better and driving is FREEDOM. Free from what? Unfortunately, most people fail to realize how their car along with the insurance and petroleum companies own them. As a car consumer you folks ought to be outraged paying 2012 prices for technology of the early 1900’s. These car companies realized our culture has moved away from understanding simple machinery and can therefore take advantage of the consumer’s ignorance. Although not confirmed, it’s likely the reduction of shop classes and technical trades in our education system is not by mistake but by design. Granted electronic fuel management, safety and reliability appear to be an improvement; I would argue a 1950’s Chevy or 1980 Mercedes are just as reliable and “safe” as any newer car. Air bags, seat belts and energy dissipating impact designs are comparatively an improvement by” today’s” drivaholic standards. Regardless of safety improvements, the elephant in the room is driving is the number one cause of accidental death in this country and more importantly Americans have simply become dependent on driving, and the effects of this laziness are becoming very apparent. We have become the fattest country on the planet. Sure cars today emit less pollution than there earlier predecessors but the total miles driven has increased too offsetting most of the efficiency gains. People just drive too much! They’ll drive from one end of a strip mall to the other in search of the closest parking spot. We consume more energy per capita than any other human culture on the planet. Are you surprised? We kill more people each year in automobile crashes then all the people who died in the September 11, 2001 “Attack” on America! And last I checked all this driving all over the place hasn’t improved our happiness, our ability to spend time with our families, or our economy. In fact we are now officially more unhappy, fat, and depressed than ever! There was a time when cars, horses, bicycles, and pedestrians could all share the road, but now it seems cars rule and everyone and everything should just get out of the way! Progress baby! Let me drive! I’ll be free! I’ll get there faster! Where I’m going no one knows but it’s really important that I get there! And man do I look sexy behind this wheel! Hey YOU, watch out! I need to get there faster! Can’t you see how important I am? I drive this fancy car see, and my wallet is bigger than yours! Get out my way baby! See these tires and lift kit? Yeah that’s a diesel exhaust and my truck is lifted too! I got them diesel exhaust pipes running out the bed of my truck chromed just like them semi-trucks I seen on Monster Truckin! Yee Haaa! Common this truck makes me look bigger! And the babes think I have a bigger package too! The real tragedy here is most people fail to make meaningful connections. Is there a connection between obesity, depression, STRESS, climate change, political corruption, war, laziness, clouded perspectives, loss of freedoms, loss of liberty, corporate agriculture, inhumane treatment of domesticated animals, deforestation, separation of wealth, consumerism, prescription medication, degradation of the environment, etc., etc., etc. and people driving their DAMN cars? I think so. I would enjoy hearing someone else list all the good things brought to humanity by the advent of the automobile. I suspect most of you will disagree with me on this and say cars have made our lives easier. Those who think that way are simply a product of our depleted education system. In the meantime I’ll just take the long slow route on my bicycle. And if you run me over in your big friggen rig and kill me, enjoy the rest of your life, PEACE!
July 16th, 2012 10:41 pm