There are times it just doesn’t feel safe biking on the road.
There might be cars moving at fast speeds, limited or no bike lane, or other hazards. Our view is that you should always trust your intuition and don’t hesitate to take the sidewalk.
In Oregon, it is generally allowable by law to ride on the sidewalk except where prohibited by local ordinances. It is expected that cyclists yield to pedestrians and announce by voice or bell when passing. Many cities have local ordinances preventing cyclists from riding on sidewalks in busy downtown business districts. In these areas, cities typically post signage indicating no biking or skateboarding on sidewalks. In these corridors, cities should have incorporated traffic design to make biking safer with dedicated bike lanes and lower speeds.
In general, if car speed are less than 35 miles per hour or less, we feel comfortable using a dedicated bike lane unless there are complicated intersections or bike lane design weaves in-and-out of car lanes. However, most suburban roads are long stretches of roads at higher speeds of 40-45 miles per hour. Drivers are operating on auto-pilot and may be distracted. In these situations, it is worth evaluating whether it is safer to ride on the sidewalk than the road. Avoid roads with speeds more than 40 miles per hour and without dedicated bike lane or sidewalk.
We understand that some suburban communities might not have safe accommodations for biking or pedestrians so public transportation, driving, or ride share might be better options. At the end of the day, your safety is worth more than pushing yourself to bike in any situation or worrying what others think.
Leave a Reply