🚀 go-pugleaf

FUT: cmh.opinion

I think we need to repeal this portion of the Columbus City Code:

2173.10 Riding bicycles on sidewalks.

No person shall operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk, except, at locations
which the Columbus City Council designates as bikeways. (Ord. 1050-77.)
http://www.bpcnet.com/cgi-bin/hilite.pl/codes/columbus/_DATA/TITLE21/Chapter_2173_BICYCLES_AND_MOTORCYC/2173_10_Riding_bicycles_on_sid.html?bicycle%20sidewalk


Why?  Well, for starters, it is a lot safer than riding in the street.
People seem to be able to share sidewalks just fine in other cities where
riding bikes on the sidewalk is legal.

I once saw an argument that prohibiting bikes on sidewalks forces them to
move with the flow of traffic and prohibits accidents where the driver of a
motor vehicle crosses the sidewalk while making a left turn and doesn't
check for bike traffic to the right.

The issue becomes moot though when you consider the following portion of the
Columbus City Code:

2131.225 Emerging from private driveway, alley, or building; stop at
sidewalk or sidewalk area.

The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, building, private road, or
driveway within a business or residence district shall stop the vehicle
immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area
extending across the alley, building entrance, road, or driveway, or in the
event there is no sidewalk area, shall stop at the point nearest the street
to be entered where the driver has a view of approaching traffic thereon.
(ORC 4511.431; Ord. 1170-75.)
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/cgi-bin/hilite.pl/codes/columbus/_DATA/TITLE21/Chapter_2131_OPERATION_GENERALLY/2131_225_Emerging_from_private.html?sidewalk


So, if an accident did occur as a result of a driver hitting a bicyclist,
they are still in violation of CCC 2131.225.