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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
Just a few years ago, bicycle riders stayed off the sidewalk and rode on the streets, except for some little kids with training wheels. Then I saw an occasional larger kid riding on the sidewalk. Now, there are many kids and adults riding on the sidewalk. It's still illegal. I guess the police ignore it. I don't really have much of a complaint about this. I (as a pedestrian) have been crowded off the sidewalk two or three times over the years (once today, which is how the topic came up). And the one time that contact was made, a bike came up behind me, and gently pushed me out of the way with the front tire. I guess people ride on the sidewalk because it is safer there. And eventually, the pedestrians will have to walk in the streets.
I've even seen a cyclist with bicycle pants and helmet, and a yellow jersey on the sidewalk (couldn't be Lance, nah). Actually, I was trying to be humorous when I said that it's safer on the sidewalks. I'm sure that riders feel safer there. But, according to studies, bicycle riders face much greater risk of collisions (including collisions with motor vehicles) on the sidewalks (and crosswalks) than on the streets.