What Are The Bike Laws In This City? (Los Angeles: apartment, middle school)

[xyzxyz]

Here is my question: is it legal for people to ride bicycles on the sidewalk? If not, it should be. I am sure many of you have had the same experiences, but many is the time I have stepped out of a place of business or even my own apartment to almost be flattened by some joker on a bike flying at top speed. No excuse me or nothing.

Shouldn't they have to ride those things on the street?

[stock66]

I don't know the law for Los Angeles city proper but I called to check on this in my burb last year and no, it is not legal for bikes to be on sidewalks. My kid's tell me some kids at the middle school have been given tickets for riding the sidewalk.
That said the woman I spoke to at the city told me although it was not legal she kind of doubted you would get ticketed for being on the sidewalk on major streets that have heavy traffic and no bike lane.
Bikes on the sidewalk are a threat to pedestrians but given that most drivers don't feel they should share the road it is a tough spot.

[sponger42]

It is legal to ride on the sidewalk in LA so long as you do not travel at speeds exceeding that of normal pedestrian traffic. Cyclists on the sidewalk must yield to pedestrians.