Take the sidewalk or the road? This is the pressing issue of safety for some many bike commuters. And many new cyclists make the mistake of sticking to the sidewalk because it seems less intimidating when you consider the other optional traffic-filled road. I myself, came to the decision after a dangerous accident with a car making a left turn when I road my bike through a crosswalk. The car struck my bike, throwing me off and caused severe injury to my right leg which forced me to spend 6 months in rehabilitation. Luckily I was smart enough to contact a personal injury lawyer in Denver, which is my hometown, and seek compensation for my injuries.
Surprisingly, many cyclists are dead set on the sidewalk because they assume it’s the safest place to ride. Unfortunately, they are mistaken, the sidewalk isn’t very safe for bicycles at all and this is why:
- The sidewalk offers poor maneuverability on a bike. Sure, you don’t have to worry about being struck by a car from behind, but you’ll have to dodge running kids, people walking dogs, elderly folks who are unable to clear the way fast enough and other cyclists coming at you head on. So youíre not only a danger to yourself, but to pedestrians as well!
- Drivers in cars on the road are not looking for fast moving objects, like bikes, on the sidewalks. This is why it’s imperative to get off of your bike and cross street on foot while pushing your bike. Otherwise you risk getting struck by a left or right turning car.
- The surfaces of sidewalks are not maintained for bike traffic. You could be facing potholes and other uneven surfaces for riding.
- In many cities, itís illegal to ride on the sidewalk and cyclists face tickets should they choose the sidewalk and endanger pedestrians.
Equally dangerous, for entirely different reasons, is choosing to ride on the extreme right side of the road due to the following threats to cyclists:
- You increase your chances of getting hit when car try to squeeze past you in the same lane.
- You ride in a blind spot of any approaching cars. Imagine you’re a car approaching the tail end of another car. The car in front is moving very slow so you follow a little too closely, but what’s the harm? Suddenly, the first car swerves around a cyclist, but as the second driver you didn’t notice the cyclist as it was traveling in behind the first car. As the second driver, it’s too late to stop because didn’t realize the cyclist was on the road until it was too late.
6 reasons why claiming the lane is your safest option as a cyclist
- Drivers will automatically make room for you.
- Drivers will be forced to slow down when you claim the lane in order to pass you.
- You are now in the field of vision of other drivers. It’s important to be visible to other drivers on the road and ahead, in the middle of the lane is where drivers keep their eyes peeled for other cars. Claiming the lane means you will be seen by cars approaching you from behind and the side, just as much as you will by oncoming traffic.
- You will protect your tires this way. Where does all the dangerous debris and litter collect? It pools on roadsides where it can cause a fall or puncture your tires. Take to the roads for the flattest and safest riding surface available to cyclists.
- You’ll enjoy a stress free ride on the road where it’s safer, easier to peddle and the risk of being struck by a car is lessened.
- You are making the roads safer by riding there. Cyclists who claim the lane have a long term effect on road safety by spreading a ‘share the road’ mentality. If drivers are forced to watch for you, they will be more aware of sharing the roadways with other cyclists, motorcycles, pedestrians in crosswalks and other vehicles.
This article was written by Colleen Harding who is a freelance writer that loves commuting by bike.