On 6/2/2019 1:54 PM, Andy wrote:
Just go on the sidewalk for a while.

Riding on sidewalks can be OK occasionally. Unless there are
pedestrians, of course. Then you should not.

And unless there are signs, telephone poles or other close obstructions.
Don't let your handlebar clip those.

And don't let your tires come close to the side edge of the sidewalk.
Many of them feature sharp dropoffs. If you slip off, you're likely to
crash because the edge prevents you from maintaining balance.

Also watch for bumps caused by tree roots, cracks or heaves in the
pavement. It's common for concrete sidewalks to have sections that lift
up exposing sharp edges that can cause pinch flats or worse.

And watch for bumps or curbs at intersections. These days, many
sidewalks have ADA approved ramps, but many don't. Even if the ramps are
present, there can be edges from things like gutter pans.

Above all, be _extremely_ careful entering an intersection. Motorists
are not looking for someone entering the street from a sidewalk,
especially at any speed above 3 mph. Look _all_ directions for cars.
Stop and wait, or at least yield, if they're approaching.

And the same goes for driveways. You even need to watch over your
shoulder for turning motorists. They will cut across the sidewalk to
enter the driveway without noticing you. Also, motorists exiting will
probably not stop before crossing the sidewalk as they hurry to reach
the edge of the street.

Those latter two problems are much worse if you're traveling "wrong way"
on the sidewalk. Motorists expect all traffic to flow in the same
direction. If you're headed the opposite direction, they won't look and
won't notice you.

Other than that, sure, sidewalks are fine. Assuming you're not going
much faster than a pedestrian.

I'm not saying never use a sidewalk. There are about 100 feet of
sidewalk near me I ride pretty frequently because they eliminate lots of
delay and complication with a five lane highway.

But you'd better be knowledgeable and careful. Really careful.

--
- Frank Krygowski