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Biking and Intersections: A Question

ISAslot

ISAslot

Platinum Member
Situation:

You're biking on a sidewalk on a 4 lane road with a center median and you're on the right hand side of the road.

You approach an intersection, the light is green, the don't walk sign is flashing.

Do you:

A. Continue across the intersection
B. Stop and wait for the next light
C. Move into the bike lane before you get to the intersection, and continue through the intersection
D. Turn around. Crossing this intersection is too much work
 
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
 
I like "C" the best.
"B" seems like the next safest choice.
"A" would be my third choice, but use extreme caution - a driver making a right turn may not expect you to enter the road.
 
E. Pull the crazy biker stunt, flip a wheelie off the center median, and continue through the light. This is, of course, assuming either that traffic is light or you have little regard for your life. Maybe both.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...
Ditto. C; except you should have been in the bike lane to begin with, which if you were; A.

Are you asking hypothetically or from a bad experiance?

Kk
 
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...

Traffic likes to own the entire road and goes near 60mph in a 45. I'd like to be farther than 3 feet from the traffic.
 
Originally posted by: ISAslot
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...

Traffic likes to own the entire road and goes near 60mph in a 45. I'd like to be farther than 3 feet from the traffic.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're afraid of the street, you're welcome to walk. You can't jsut ignore traffic rules on a busy street and expect it to be safer.
 
Originally posted by: Kk4JC
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...
Ditto. C; except you should have been in the bike lane to begin with, which if you were; A.

Are you asking hypothetically or from a bad experiance?

Kk
Click to expand...

Both 😛

I've tried to cross using option A, but the drivers turning right don't like it, even though i'm looking back and i know they see me, they still want to turn, and don't want me there.
 
Many bikers around here (U of Washington) don't even bother stopping at all for traffic signals. I've seen several actually pick fights with cars because the car didn't stop for them (as the biker ran a stop sign or red light). That really gets my goat.

In answer to your question, B. Stop and wait for the next light. Then, as I learned way back in the first grade, you're supposed to get off your bike, and walk it through the crosswalk when the walk signal comes on. Unless, you're in a business district, then you're not supposed to be on the sidewalk in the first place. You are allowed an entire lane of the road. Continue through the intersection.
 
Originally posted by: ISAslot
Situation:

You're biking on a sidewalk on a 4 lane road with a center median and you're on the right hand side of the road.

You approach an intersection, the light is green, the don't walk sign is flashing.

Do you:

A. Continue across the intersection
B. Stop and wait for the next light
C. Move into the bike lane before you get to the intersection, and continue through the intersection
D. Turn around. Crossing this intersection is too much work
Click to expand...
You get off the bike and accept the ticket for riding on the sidewalk.
Then you go home and vow to not be such an a$$hat for riding on the sidewalk when there is a bike lane. All this occurs while you read the local Motor Vehicle Regs to find the section on operating a Bicycle on city streets.
rolleye.gif

Which means, in CA., that you obey the Rules of the Road, which further means you stop for pedestrians in the sidewalk, signal before making a turn and stopping at intersections at Red Lights.....:Q
rolleye.gif
😀.... RIIIIGGGHHHHT!
 
Originally posted by: ISAslot
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...

Traffic likes to own the entire road and goes near 60mph in a 45. I'd like to be farther than 3 feet from the traffic.
Click to expand...

If your going to ride on the sidewalk, then you act like a pedestrian and wait for the "WALK" light.

In general, riding on sidewalks, and even bike lanes is a dangerous proposition because cars aren't looking for you there, especially at intersections. This is compounded by some really stupid bike lane designs I've seen.

When I was in college, I had a cop pull me over on my bike once for riding out in the traffic lanes instead of on the bike lane. I pointed out that the bike lane followed the off-ramp down over the hill, then crossed the ramp where it wasn't easily visible from the beginning of the ramp. I stated that I was far safer riding in the lanes then following that bike path. He thought about it a minute, and then actually let me off!
 
As others have stated, you shouldn't be on the sidewalk. BUT, if you choose to ride there, you should act like a pedestrian which means dismounting and walking your bike across the street.

I'll point out that you may actually be putting yourself at greater risk by riding on the sidewalk. Sure, you're perfectly safe there until you come to an intersection. Cars turning are much less likely to see and yield to you if you're on the sidewalk and then riding through the intersection than if you were in the road the whole time.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
You don't ride on the sidewalk. You ride in the bike lane and follow traffic rules. Why the hell would you ride on the sidewalk if there's a bike lane?
Click to expand...

yep... here at Davis, everyone, i mean everyone rides bikes. follow the traffic
 
Use the bike lane. I wish I had a bikelane which wasn't mostly occupied by double-parked cars. 60mph cars is not an excuse for ignoring the bike lane. sorry.

Regarding traffic lights... as a frequent urban bike rider, I can tell you that it is safer to run a red light at times than to stop and wait. Trust me on this: if there's nothing coming from either side, go right through the light to leave some cars behind. I must say, though, I've never intentionally done it with a cop in the vicinity. 😀
 
You have a bikelane and you're still riding on the sidewalk? There are hardly any bikelanes up here, and it's still illegal to ride on the sidewalk. If you're too much of a pussy to ride on the road, then don't bike.
 
As someone who rode a bike to work for nearly a year, I wouldn't be on the sidewalk to begin with. Stay in the bike lane & keep going..you have to follow the same laws as everybody else..so stopping on a green light wouldn't be a great idea.
 
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