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The title says all of it. A friend and I were trying to determine if it is legal to ride on sidewalks. Georgia has clear law explaining what cyclists should do on the road (basically obey all the rules cars do), but I can't find any direction regarding sidewalks.

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  • Its area and town dependent. In the city I live in, for example, you can't ride on the sidewalks in certain districts. However, the next city over does not have this restriction.
    – Batman
    Feb 13, 2015 at 19:46
  • That might be covered under a local municipality's codes. Here in Oregon, for instance, there is no state law prohibiting sidewalk riding, but in Salem, it is only allowed where not strictly prohibited (signage is posted in those areas), and only at pedestrian walking speeds.
    – digijim
    Feb 13, 2015 at 19:48
  • It's a pity there isn't some central resource to find this out, as this question seems to come up over and over for different locations in the US
    – PeteH
    Feb 13, 2015 at 23:17
  • Pretty much all states put their state traffic laws on the web. And LAW used to maintain a database of state cycling laws (though I haven't been there in over 5 years). (OK, I went there -- bikeleague.org -- and I was reminded that they "dumbed down" the site quite a bit. If they still have the database I can't find it.) Feb 13, 2015 at 23:33
  • (@PeteH take note) Did find this page that leads to a summary of laws by state. With this for Georgia: In Georgia, bicycles are defined as vehicles. Except as provided by resolution or ordinance of a local government for sidewalks within the jurisdiction of such local government authorizing the operation of bicycles on sidewalks by persons 12 years of age or younger, no person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized driveway. Feb 13, 2015 at 23:38

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Okay, I decided to look this up. It appears that cycling on the sidewalk is not legal in Georgia.

http://www.intownbicycles.com/bicycle-faqs/bicycle-rules-of-the-road

http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/docs/gabicyclelawenforcementguide.pdf

https://georgiabikes.org/index.php/resources/35/76-ga-bicycle-laws

GA Code 40-6-144

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  • Correct. Lived there for 7 years and state wide it is not legal.
    – Brady
    Feb 13, 2015 at 21:46
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    Which is good. It should not be legal for adults to ride on the sidewalk. Bikes doing 15-20 mph don't mix well with pedestrians and baby carriages. Feb 14, 2015 at 2:56

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