Riding bicycles on sidewalks?
 

During a 30 minute span sitting at Johnny Rocket's yesterday, I watched 3 bicyclers (not together) riding on the sidewalk around the square. One was even brazen enough to holler out "coming through!" to people who were walking on the sidewalk as they had to jump out of her way!
Here's a memo to those who do that. If you insist on riding your bicycle on a sidewalk because you're too lazy to take the one way streets 3 blocks out of your way, be prepared to travel at WALKING speed on the sideWALK. I will not be jumping out of your way.
<rantover>

[QUOTE=spring_chicken;1297428]During a 30 minute span sitting at Johnny Rocket's yesterday, I watched 3 bicyclers (not together) riding on the sidewalk around the square. One was even brazen enough to holler out "coming through!" to people who were walking on the sidewalk as they had to jump out of her way!
Here's a memo to those who do that. If you insist on riding your bicycle on a sidewalk because you're too lazy to take the one way streets 3 blocks out of your way, be prepared to travel at WALKING speed on the sideWALK. I will not be jumping out of your way.

Hi, yes things can be out of line, however the bike and car item is a bit scary sometime. I have been on a cart road, and carts with plenty of passing room will almost touch my rear view mirror on the left. Also, IF I need to get out of traffic and it is getting real congested, then I look ahead, if no one is on the sidewalk I will ride on it, slowly and if someone is there and if they are approaching, I, WE get off of the sidewalk and do not cause anyone a problem. Some cart folks, after the golf game and after a few highballs, can really get brazen and dangerous, we see it all the time from a bike. But we do respect walkers on the sidewalk and take all precautions and do not yell at anyone. Also we wave and the patrols wave so we thing it is ok if it is safe, SAFETY and caution is the rule for us, we all need to get along and progress,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Carefully.

bbbbbb :ho:

they are not allowed to be riding bikes on the sidewalks in the squares- but bike riding is allowed on other sidewalks there are signs in the squares

[QUOTE=bbbbbb;1297431]I can certainly understand the difficulty that a cyclist has navigating in a square---cars and carts often do the unexpected whether it is due to alcohol, poor vision and reflexes, or hunting for a parking spot. However, I believe the general legal principle is that the roads belong to vehicles (bicycles included) and the sidewalks belong to pedestrians. I'm not sure there is a lot of difference (speed and mass aside) in riding a cycle on the sidewalk or driving a cart or car on it, at least legally.
While your individual approach to taking your bicycle on the sidewalk sounds reasonable, in reality you are stating that "I break the law in the least offensive manner possible". I'm not sure that really flies. After all, I'm sure I could be just as careful with a motor vehicle. I will grant you that your approach is far better than what the OP described. If I was walking with my wife, who is somewhat frail, and a cyclist yelled "coming through", there is enough New Yorker left in me that he is likely to have an accident, like an accidental elbow in his face. I understand the desire for safety, but not at the risk of injuring my family, so I would prefer that vehicles stay on the road, where they belong. Many cyclists embrace the American Cyclist Association policy of "own the lane", which is within their legal rights. But then they cannot "own" the sidewalks as well when it suits them. In either case, please stay safe.

In most areas it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk

I believe in Florida, it is LEGAL to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk. I have ridden on sidewalks right past cops and we greet each other. No problem. However, I don't know what the town centers allow. I have met ahole pedestrians that have purposely blocked the whole sidewalk, forcing bicycles to go around simply because they thought it was against the law. Walking with traffic versus against traffic and riding a bicycle with traffic versus against traffic are also misunderstood. In Florida, the law is ride WITH traffic. It is highly advised to walk AGAINST traffic in Florida. If you walk with traffic and get hit from behind, you win the Darwin award.

You are correct:

From Florida statute 316.2065:

(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

As far as Darwin awards go, they stopped giving those out over 20 years ago----they simply did not have enough trophies for 98% of the population:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

As I said above, if you choose to ride a bicycle on a sideWALK at a town square, be prepared to travel at walking speed, because I'm not moving out of the way for you. The streets on the square are not unsafe at 10:30am and if you're too lazy to go around the oneway streets, get off the bike and get in your recliner.

According to the statute, you don't have to get out of their way, they must yield to you. They may pass when it is safe to do so without causing you to be displaced or alter your course. I doubt that "coming through" qualifies as an audible signal in the absence of the ability to pass you without interfering with you.

Hear hear. Good grief, there has to be somewhere where pedestrians have the right of way.

Right away is defined by a sharp elbow--the clowns who ride bikes on the sidewalks in the squares are in violation--inform them , one wa or another

:pepper2:

Bicycles
 

[QUOTE=golfing eagles;1297681]You are correct:

From Florida statute 316.2065:

(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(10) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

Hi, we do not want the bike on sidewalk to be a problem and will never be rude to walkers.
So, this is our system, if we see a pedestrian on the sidewalk, we stop and get into the street. If we see for a long stretch of sidewalk, no pedestrians, we do ride the sidewalk slowly, we do not pass pedestrians going the same direction. We basically give the pedestrian the right of way in all cases and do not want to irritate anyone. Sure wish some of the Cart speeders were of the same attitude, but after the happy hours, it is certainly hard for anyone to be sensible. We have seen some real kooky looks and moves by Cart Bandits.
Too bad, we all need to cooperate here, but heavy drinking is a major cause of problems in cars, in carts, in planes, it goes on and on, an old problem, well known.
bbbbbb :ho:

Equal Opportunity Complainer
 

I am an equal opportunity complainer. I have witnessed auto drivers who believe when merging on a roadway to enter a gate that they always have the right a way and will accelerate to pass a golf cat merging from a diamond lane.

I have witnessed golf cart drivers on the MMP's who have pedestrian in their lane of traffic but insist on pulling around them despite a golf cart approaching in the opposite direction (Note the law clearly states that the vehicle having an obstruction has to yield the right a way to opposing traffic)

I have witnessed pedestrian walking before dawn or after sunset with their backs toward traffic and in commando garb with no reflectors, etc.

I have witnessed bicyclist who believe stop signs, etc are for the little people and intentional cut in front of a moving car or cart

I purposefully slow down when approaching a pedestrian or bicyclist and will not pass until i deem it safe and when I do yell out "passing on the left" I believe especially pedestrian may find it a little disconcerting to have a golf cart fly pass them and so I almost come to a stop when approaching them

I have never liked the fact that The Villages designed allowed pedestrians, bicyclist carts on the same paths but have learned to deal with it by being courteous
and thoughtful.

Oh one more complaint. too many motorist apparently can't read. The traffic signs at round abouts say "YIELD" not "STOP" and yes I do like the round abouts because if one considers that instead of round abouts the designers constructed four way intersection traffic backups would be a daily 24/7 occurrence

Can we all just get along?

Real bike riders usually say "on your right" or "on your left"