Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in Tempe, it is legal?

[ErikCortez]

Originally Posted by nightnurse613

Sec. 7-52. Riding on sidewalks or bicycle lanes.

(a) The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect or place signs on any sidewalk or roadway, prohibiting the riding of bicycle thereon by any person; and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey same.
I especially like "and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey same". I thought that's what the first part of that sentence said. The asking you to move was her way of warning you!

Originally Posted by j_cat

I just don't get how there wasn't room for both of you. Are you on the hefty side? Maybe you could have stepped into the grass. On the other hand, I don't like her bossiness either.

There was a bike lane AND she coulda used the grass to get around me. Remember she needs to yield to the pedestrians. This woman just had a tude and I called her out on it.

[sagewithaflaw]

I have a hybrid bike, so I can do some trail riding but most of my riding is just in the neighborhood for exercise. If I'm on a busy street like Scottsdale Rd or Hayden, I stick to the sidewalks, even if there is a bike lane, simply because I don't trust drivers. There are too many people texting and monkeying with their cell phone these days. Also, my cousin got crushed by a pickup a few years ago riding his bike home from work. He ended up with both knees broken, and the driver took off without even seeing if he was ok (it was at night and chances are, he may have been drinking or just panicked). So I'm not taking any chances these days.

I will say that I'm very cautious around pedestrians and I make sure to steer clear of them rather than expecting them to step aside. The only problem I encounter are people running/jogging with iPods because they can't hear you. I have seen a lot of people riding on road lanes with ear buds as well, which seems like really poor judgment as well. I also obey traffic signals 100% of the time - it's a pet peeve of mine to watch other cyclists (mainly the guys in packs with the speedo outfits on expensive road bikes or kids) who will ride on the road and then run a red light. I think you should wait, even if it's clear both ways. It just pisses off drivers in cars off that you are in a regular lane yet skirt the same rules they are expected to follow, and you could get clipped one day if you missed seeing a car. In a car vs. bike, the car *always* wins.

[Captain Bill]

You were walking and you say you didn't move over because there was grass. Later you say there was room for her to pass on the grass.

My question is: wouldn't it have been just as easy for you to be courteous and step over on the grass and let her pass?

You would have done her a favor, and she would have thanked you.

[brightbutdownn]

Originally Posted by ErikCortez

There was a bike lane AND she coulda used the grass to get around me. Remember she needs to yield to the pedestrians. This woman just had a tude and I called her out on it.

Re: Sec 7.52

You bring up a good point on yielding to pedestrians. The same rules apply to bicycles as cars in this instance.

The original poster was well within their rights.

[ErikCortez]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

You were walking and you say you didn't move over because there was grass. Later you say there was room for her to pass on the grass.

My question is: wouldn't it have been just as easy for you to be courteous and step over on the grass and let her pass?

You would have done her a favor, and she would have thanked you.

The rider needed to yield any way: she had plenty of room on both sides. If I was walking the bike lane, then it would be on me to move. I was on the sidewalk. She was being rude, not me.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by ErikCortez

The rider needed to yield any way: she had plenty of room on both sides. If I was walking the bike lane, then it would be on me to move. I was on the sidewalk. She was being rude, not me.

Eric, I didn't say she was right. I was speaking of common courtesy. That's something missing in our society today.

Many times it's best to yield, even if you have the right of way, as a courtesy and to prevent road rage. This was a classic example of road rage between a walker and a biker.

You took offense that she wanted to pass you and keep her wheels on the sidewalk; you yelled at her; she yelled back.

If a car tailgates and you don't want to move, it's easy to get into a road rage situation with that car. But it's easier to be courteous and just move over a lane and yield to the other car, even though the other car is in the wrong.

Consider that perhaps this biker was afraid to ride the bike lane. Maybe she had almost been hit by a car once, or maybe a friend of hers had been hit.

Some drivers can be extremely discourteous and pass bikes much too close.

So next time you're walking and a lady on a bike wants to pass on the walk, and there is grass that you can take a step over on to let her pass, don't yell at her and start a hissing contest; just be a gentleman; be courteous and move over, and say hello to the lady, or man. They will probably thank you, and then you wont' have to get all upset.

A pleasant exchange after a courteous act of yielding your right of way to someone is much better than getting into a road rage incident over such a small thing as a biker wanting to pass you on the sidewalk.

[Java Jolt]

It really bothers me when I see bicyclists using the sidewalk when there are reserved lanes for them on the street.

I witness this a lot in Tempe near my workplace, it seems as though they have more rights than pedestrians.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

It really bothers me when I see bicyclists using the sidewalk when there are reserved lanes for them on the street.

I witness this a lot in Tempe near my workplace, it seems as though they have more rights than pedestrians.

It's not easy being a cyclist. There isn't really a perfect place for them. The sidewalk should be fine if they're willing to go slow and be alert and courteous. If not, then definitely use the bike lane if there is one.

And of course don't ride on a crowded, busy sidewalk like on Mill north of University. That should be common sense.

[mtbstoker]

The law in Tempe is different than in other cities in this regard. I highly recommend that drivers, walkers and cyclists be familiar with each city's ordinances, as well as how they differ from the State. In addition, neither drivers nor the local police are always clear on a cyclists rights, which by the way are (like all traffic laws) intended to provide the safest possible circumstances to those most at risk. In this case, there is NO requirement that a cyclist ride on the street. HOWEVER, it is correct that a cyclist on a sidewalk must yield to pedestrians. In addition: IN NO CASE MAY A CYCLIST RIDE AGAINST THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC in Tempe (Tempe Code sec. 7-52(c)). This is true whether ON the SIDEWALK, or ON the ROADWAY. If you are involved in an accident and are riding in the opposite direction of traffic, YOU WILL BE CITED. Be aware of the reason for this: the majority of bicycle-related accidents involve riding on the sidewalk IN ANY DIRECTION [mod cut-- sorry, the TOS for the site prohibit posting of links by new members] The second-highest risk for cyclists is riding against the direction of traffic. Compound this risk when doing both. Cyclists move faster than pedestrians and their presence is unexpected for motorists pulling into traffic from parking lots, side streets and driveways. Motorists also take the attitude (wrongly) that bicycles must yield to cars; this puts cyclists in a higher-than-normal-risk position, and cyclists often respond (wrongly) by breaking the law in the name of "safety".


Relevant statutes:
AZ 28-815. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths; prohibition of motor vehicle traffic on bike paths
Tempe Code sec. 7-52(c) Riding on sidewalks or bicycle lanes.

[mod cut-- same as above]

[rjrcm]

mtbstoker - I posted a link to the tempe bicycle code early in this thread.