Am I wrong to ride on the sidewalk (pavement)

[hennbell]

When the roads are rutted and ice covered I ride cautiously on the sidewalk. City streets are not plowed or gritted but residents must clear the sidewalk of snow and ice. As it is winter there are very few people out walking, in the summer I am much less likely to ride the sidewalk.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enbQ9Y8jTQc


I just got a Gopro for Christmas so I thought I would give it a go. Very strange ride, snowmobiles (illegal in city limits), deer, and a strange skier being pulled by a dog.

I am just learning how to use the cam, sorry about the poor quality.

 

[Manonabike]

I try to avoid it but when I do I'm careful and give priority to pedestrians.

 

[Matthew_T]

Snow hasnt got that bad around here to have to be on the sidewalk. That said, I havent had snow yet with either of my cams so I couldnt comment on it really.

Just to know, if you want the video to fill the whole screen, select 'widescreen' or 'fullscreen' on WMM.

 

[Over The Hill]

When the roads are rutted and ice covered I ride cautiously on the sidewalk. City streets are not plowed or gritted but residents must clear the sidewalk of snow and ice. As it is winter there are very few people out walking, in the summer I am much less likely to ride the sidewalk.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enbQ9Y8jTQc


I just got a Gopro for Christmas so I thought I would give it a go. Very strange ride, snowmobiles (illegal in city limits), deer, and a strange skier being pulled by a dog.

I am just learning how to use the cam, sorry about the poor quality.

You live somewhere strange where the sidewalk (pavement to us in UK) gets nicely cleared of snow. The question does not arise in UK because when we have snow, the sidewalk is not cleared and usually gets all the snow from the road shoved on it.

 

[MontyVeda]

I'll happily ride on the pavement if i feel it's the safe or sensible thing to do.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If they don't clear the roads, how do cars and buses manage?
I wouldn't worry about riding the pavements in those weather conditions.

 

[Sittingduck]

All bets are off when it's those kind of conditions, I reckon. Ride wherever is safer / easier. Were those 23mm slicks on the road bike? Ultremo ZX in those conditions is taking the mick...!

 

[hennbell]

All bets are off when it's those kind of conditions, I reckon. Ride wherever is safer / easier. Were those 23mm slicks on the road bike? Ultremo ZX in those conditions is taking the mick...!

This is my cyclocross bike I normally ride a mountain bike when I commute to work, this is just a fun ride.

 

[MattHB]

I have snow jealousy

 

[Crankarm]

Riding a road bike in those conditions! PMSL.

You are foreign so I don't know what your local laws state about riding on the pavement. Here in the UK you can only do so if indicated by signage ie shared used or designated cycle path.

 

[hennbell]

Riding a road bike in those conditions! PMSL.

You are foreign so I don't know what your local laws state about riding on the pavement. Here in the UK you can only do so if indicated by signage ie shared used or designated cycle path.

Its a cyclocross not a road bike.
Canada is still part of the commonwealth, the R in RCMP is for Royal, we are not as foreign as you might think. The law here is clear it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk or pavement.

 

[fossyant]

In those conditions, I have ridden on the pavement/sidewalk. Jan 2010, 6 inches of snow, roads a complete nightmare - rutted, cars skidding. I did the first 3 miles on the pavement. Only one or two pedestrians about, and those that were said stuff like 'good luck fella' as I pedalled past. Cars were stuck on the roads and going no-where. I then got on a local trail that was lovely fresh snow.

The route I have now uses a shared pavement to get me onto a trail in bad conditions.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

I can't see the problem with cycling on the pavement if you are considerate to pedestrians in general.

 

[gavintc]

I lived in Canada for a couple of years and in my experience cycling on the sidewalks was much safer in the heavy snow periods. The roads typically turned into white roads and were quite slippy, but the sidewalks were usually either clear of snow or had fresh snow on them - both preferable to the compacted snow on the road. My commute was pretty short - 2 miles or so and there were few people on the sidewalk anyway.

 

[Arjimlad]

Go for it ... lovely film, what an exciting ride that was !

Ride where you can do so safely, would be my view.