When should cyclists use pedestrian facilities?

Question

I generally try to ride in traffic as a vehicle, following the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, taking the lane, etc. In many urban areas, you are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk (pavement for those from the UK). However, there are some times when it is unavoidable to ride more like a pedestrian than a vehicle, and I have some trouble figuring out when, or how, I should "switch modes."

Some examples:

1. Most bike racks are on the sidewalk. It feels silly to stop and walk my bike for the handful of yards from the street to the bike rack.
2. Some bike paths are accessible only from the sidewalk, not directly from the street.
3. When I stop at a stop light, and it goes to an all-way pedestrian walk signal. While I normally try to follow all the rules that a car will follow, it seems silly to wait (and get in the way of the first car while I'm accelerating) when I can just ride across the intersection on the walk signal.
4. Some complicated intersections are dangerous to traverse on a bike, but have nearby crosswalks which may be easier to use.
5. Some bike paths cross streets with a cross walk, which are generally intended for people who are going at pedestrian speed, not bike speed.

Some issues that I have:

1. Cars likely don't expect to be watching for people riding onto or off of the sidewalk. If, for instance, I need to make a left turn and go up on the sidewalk for a bit to get onto a bike path, I worry that drivers who aren't expecting traffic to go that way might not predict accurately where I'm going.
2. I feel like using crosswalks and cross lights weakens the "same road, same rules" type campaigns to help give bicyclists access to the roads.
3. I'm sometimes not sure when it's acceptable to switch modes. There are some cases where I can cut through some pedestrian paths, and ride on the sidewalk for a few hundred feet, or I can go around a couple of blocks on the road; should I be "cheating" a bit by riding on the sidewalk briefly, especially given that there are all of the circumstances listed above in which you need to ride on the sidewalk, or should I be trying to always treat myself as a vehicle and never use the sidewalk unless absolutely necessary?

Answer 1

In most cases it's a matter of common sense and good judgement.

If the pavement between the road and the bike racks is quiet and you're not going to impede anyone, cycle it. Same for the bike path not directly accessed from the road.

Your 3rd point, though is the crux of many discussions and we should be careful in how to answer it here. My perspective, although it's not clear whether this is the (UK) legal situation, but just how I 'morally' feel, is that if you approach the junction on a bike you shouldn't confuse the situation by morphing into a pedestrian and pushing your bike through the junction, then remounting your bike. While this might seem expedient it is reinforcing the view of other road users that you're somehow less than a proper road user, if you can use other facilities, then you should all the time, says that argument.

Certainly there are some intersections where it might be safer to do so, but the law (and cyclists' reputations) are often contrary to safety. It's a tricky question and common sense is often not to the fore in confrontations.

I try to avoid any use of the pavement unless it is explicitly marked as shared use, but where it's not clear, to try to not do things that would blatantly and needlessly annoy others. After all, cyclists in many locales have a bad reputation for selfish behaviour, I'd rather not add to it.

Answer 2

I can tell you what I do. Your local laws may vary, of course, so check them!

There are a few cases where I feel it'd be simpler to just get off my bike and walk -- complicated crossings, or perhaps transferring to a bike path. One of the advantages of a bike is that you can get off it and push it along. If doing that is safer and more efficient, I won't hesitate to do that.

If a cyclist is going to use pedestrian facilities, it'd be safer for everyone concerned for the cyclist to dismount and push the bike along. If you feel silly walking those few yards to a bike rack, well, that's just fine, feeling a little silly isn't going to kill you. And are the few seconds one would save by riding on the sidewalk really that important?

Those bike path/street/sidewalk intersections you mention can indeed be badly designed. You'll have to use your judgement there. If you can be more specific and show us an example, I'd be happy to tell you how I'd handle it, but there's no substitute for experience and being on the spot.

Answer 3

I think there is a clear difference between when you can legally use pedestrian facilities and when you should use pedestrian facilities.

Here in Australia, you can only legally use pedestrian facilities such as footpaths (sidewalks for all the USians out there) when you are a minor (under 18), accompanying a minor or if it is marked as a shared path.

However, I think that cyclists should use pedestrian facilities when they feel that using the road is beyond the level of risk that they are comfortable with accepting. Having made the decision to use the pedestrian facilities and potentially be breaking the law, it is then the cyclists responsibility to make sure that they are not increasing the risk for pedestrians. For me this includes:

• Assessing whether you can safely ride on the pedestrian facility, or whether you should dismount and push the bike.
• Adopting a speed that is safe - typically walking pace. This speed should be sufficiently slow that you can see and avoid collisions with pedestrians.
• Being aware of and riding at a safe distance from areas from which pedestrians may suddenly appear, e.g. shop doors, front gates, parked cars, buses at bus stops, etc

Finally, as others have mentioned, consider the impact of your actions on the opinions of other road users.

Answer 4

The answer to the revised question is an easy one:

When the cyclist is being a pedestrian and not a cyclist

And in the UK at least that distinction is fairly clear - if you're on the bike and riding you're a cyclist and if you're off and pushing you're a pedestrian (and there is case law to back this up).

Grey areas? - none strictly (-: But in practical terms across the pavement from or to where you park at the start or end of the journey and maybe the odd place else where there are no pedestrians (but even then with a lot of care) but to my mind absolutely not en-route (I tend not to use a route that involves a "cyclists dismount" sign more than once since the second time I need to make the journey I will know better...)

Answer 5

Short answer: a cyclist may use walking facilities when the cyclist is walking. Not riding; and scooting on one pedal is still riding.

Answer 6

In the UK, only children under ten may legally ride on the sidewalk. There is an article that covers it (see on) but it is unclear in parts because the law is unclear: cycling and the law.

Answer 7

In Germany, only kids below a certain age - I guess 11, are allowed to use the sidewalk.

But many people of all age and sex use the sideways, drive in the wrong direction on bike ways, don't stop at red lights and cross the lane at the pedestrian path, which makes them hard to estimate.

However: Stay on the road!

I have a street I use often, think Paris-Roubaix, very poor condition - you nearly can't use it with the bike, but the sidewalk is usable. However - there is a way which is more than twice the distance, which avoids the cobblestone pavement. But since it allows much faster cycling, I don't lose much, taking the detour.

Answer 8

At most when you are going at the same speed as a pedestrian.

The issue I have with pushing my bike, is that it makes me wider and often pedestrian will walk into the pedals.)

Answer 9

In France, laws are not tailored for bicycles and specific equipements are not common (though this is changing in the right direction).

That given, my first concern is my own safety and safety of people around me.

Depending on the situation, it means that I conform to laws most of the time, but I feel free to use pedestrian facilities -- at the speed of a pedestrian -- whenever the road is too dangerous for a biker.

Answer 10

In the US it varies by state. Here in Washington State, a bike on the road is considered a vehicle, while a bike on a sidewalk or crosswalk is considered a pedestrian. From RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 46.61.755:

(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780 and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

(2) Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.

This doesn't, of course, answer the "is this a good idea" aspect of the question.

Answer 11

Switzerland: Cycling on pedestrian facilities is forbidden unless there is a sign allowing it. There are lots of people who ignore this (both people who are uncomfortable in traffic, and people who are optimizing time at all costs, like couriers). In general this seems to be tolerated by the police, although they can make an example of anyone if they want to.