🚀 go-pugleaf

Norman Richards (orb@bashful.cc.utexas.edu) wrote:
:   There is nothing unsafe about riding on the sidewalk.  There is potential
: unsafeness jsut as there is that same potential on the street.  The problem
: is that some (ignorant) bikers choose to rise on the sidewalk in the same 
: manner as they ride on the street.  This is incorrect.

The Commerce Dept study which I paraphrased earlier in the thread 
disagrees with you. It found those using the sidewalk were statistically 
more likely to be involved in accidents. Actually by "less safe" one 
should not assume "not safe." I don't remember the actual numbers in the 
study but the difference was enough to help me in my decision to avoid 
sidewalks. Also, it pointed out that almost all sidewalk accidents were 
generally at intersections or driveways. In my experience this made sense 
because when I used to use the sidewalk I felt less comfortable at 
intersections than using the street at the same intersection.

:  I have no problem with the law requiring me to ride safely.  I do have a 
: problem with the law telling me I cannot use a particular route when it is
: both well-suited and safe for me to do so.  

On that note I think it is just STUPID to have a moving vehicle on a 
pedstrian walkway. Its like walking in the street!!!

One issue is predictibility. When operating a vehicle you are supposed to 
behave in a specific manner not necessarily because its safe to do so but 
because others will be able to predict your behaviour. If one strays from 
this behaviour then the other drivers (or riders) will see this and watch 
out because you have strayed from the given behaviour. That is why we 
change one lane at a time, stop at a stop sign when nobody is around and 
signal for seemingly innocuous lane changes. If you get to ride on the 
sidewalk and are allowed to use your 'best judgement' then you are 
unpredictible to pedestrians and other vehicles and the atmosphere is 
less safe.

Andrew