Is it a fine to not use the bike lanes? (Liberty: shop, safe)

[PenguinsFan14]

I've seen several instances where bikers avoided the bike lanes and used the vehicle lanes instead. I've witnessed this many times and in different locations in the city. Is this something that is punishable by city ordinance, or are the lanes just a suggesting and not a requirement? Has anyone ever witnessed a biker get pulled over and fined for this, or does the city just ignore it?

[Johnny C]

Are you serious? The bikes have as much right to the highway as the cars. The bike lanes are designed to make it "safer" for the bikes, but are not a requirement. Sidewalks are the only thing off limits to bikes.

[eschaton]

AFAIK it's never illegal for a bike to ride in the street, though in some areas it can be suicidal.

However, it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in a commercial district anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania.

[gg]

As a cyclist, I would certainly prefer to ride in a bike lane or trail. I go out of my way to do so. That being said, there might be some that are idiots, or if there is debris in the bike lane. I know some bike lanes have a lot of leaves and debris in them right now and of course when the snow falls, bike lanes become a place to plow the snow into. We don't exactly get treated as great as many people think.

Just like drivers of cars, there are going to be good cyclists and bad ones. That can be said for about everything. Styles of cycling differ. Heck I have seen people ride a bike on the wrong side of the road into traffic. I just figure they have no idea what they are doing and probably can't really read or anything. My personal style isn't loved by some motorists as I will get through a stop sign or red light just to get out of the way of cars. My goal is to deal with drivers as little as possible. They are texting and driving huge death machines when you are riding a bike or walking. Avoiding them is one of the keys to safe riding and if I have to go through a red-light just to get onto a different road or a bike path, I am doing it and I don't interfere with any drivers when I do it.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by eschaton

AFAIK it's never illegal for a bike to ride in the street, though in some areas it can be suicidal.

However, it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in a commercial district anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania.

Would Grant Street qualify as a "commercial district"? I'm nearly plowed over by cyclists daily who are using the sidewalk on Grant Street. I can't wait until they narrow Liberty Avenue through the Strip. Hopefully bike lanes will be included, and then, hopefully, they'll also narrow Grant Street and add bike lanes there, too.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Would Grant Street qualify as a "commercial district"? I'm nearly plowed over by cyclists daily who are using the sidewalk on Grant Street. I can't wait until they narrow Liberty Avenue through the Strip. Hopefully bike lanes will be included, and then, hopefully, they'll also narrow Grant Street and add bike lanes there, too.

Grant Street would absolutely qualify.

I've ridden on Grant Street before - with my son in tow in a trailer. Coming into town from the Strip District and having to drop him off at the U.S. Steel Building, the quickest way was to go down a block of Grant and wait to cross the street. It was always a nerve-wracking/terrifying block to ride though. I started riding down Penn to 7th, then turning up Sixth Avenue, because even though it was a much longer detour, it felt like a much safer route.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Grant Street would absolutely qualify.

I've ridden on Grant Street before - with my son in tow in a trailer. Coming into town from the Strip District and having to drop him off at the U.S. Steel Building, the quickest way was to go down a block of Grant and wait to cross the street. It was always a nerve-wracking/terrifying block to ride though. I started riding down Penn to 7th, then turning up Sixth Avenue, because even though it was a much longer detour, it felt like a much safer route.

I agree. Grant Street intersection near the steel building is a death trap. Mainly because cars run red lights constantly. Now here's who I wish was still around keeping drivers in line! Man, I'm shocked he was never hit.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ULzdD_0GXA

[gg]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Would Grant Street qualify as a "commercial district"? I'm nearly plowed over by cyclists daily who are using the sidewalk on Grant Street. I can't wait until they narrow Liberty Avenue through the Strip. Hopefully bike lanes will be included, and then, hopefully, they'll also narrow Grant Street and add bike lanes there, too.

Seriously? I can't imagine riding a bike on the sidewalk downtown on any street. I do it sometimes on Penn Ave in East Liberty, which I know isn't legal, but I ride VERY slow. Penn Ave is a death road. I don't go more than like 1/2 block to shop somewhere. I would never go flying down some sidewalk.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by gg

Seriously? I can't imagine riding a bike on the sidewalk downtown on any street. I do it sometimes on Penn Ave in East Liberty, which I know isn't legal, but I ride VERY slow. Penn Ave is a death road. I don't go more than like 1/2 block to shop somewhere. I would never go flying down some sidewalk.

On the very rare occasions I end up on the sidewalk - like say if I continued riding in the street I'd have to make a left turn into traffic, then cross the street a second time with my bike a few blocks later to get to where I was going - I just get off the bike and walk it.

[szug-bot]

routinely, i use sidewalks when there is NO ONE in reasonable proximity, when i sense a motorist's patience (to race to the next red light) has worn thin, and/or if I am lagging and holding up two or more cars.

i am OFF a sidewalk as soon as possible. (and always apologizing to any pedestrian that is impeded, moves for me, or seems wary as i approach. )

when i would use a bike more often, i'd use some tricky areas where you have to hope you don't encounter the worst driver of the day, but I could NEVER imagine ever biking Liberty Avenue to Grant Street!