Should You Ride Your Bike on Sidewalks?

Question: Is it legal to ride on the sidewalk?

Answer: Maybe, depending on the location of the sidewalk. Although the general rule is that it is legal to ride your bike on a sidewalk, individual cities may enact an ordinance prohibiting it.

For example, the law in the state of Washington provides as follows: "Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter."

While this statute gives cyclists the rights to ride on sidewalks, Washington Administrative Code sets forth a Model Traffic Ordinance which city governments may incorporate into their local traffic codes which provides as follows:

1. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in a business district.
2. A person may ride a bicycle on any other sidewalk or any roadway unless restricted or prohibited by traffic control devices.
3. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian.

While this article contains just a sample from Washington, I suggest you check the local ordinances where you ride to ascertain whether sidewalk riding is permitted.

If you are going to ride on the sidewalk, keep in mind a few things:

• Pedestrians always have the right of way on a sidewalk.
• While motor vehicle drivers may be accustomed to pedestrians traveling a 3-4 miles per hour, they do not expect to see bicycles entering crosswalks at 10-20 miles per hour. You need to be extra careful transitioning from the sidewalk to the crosswalk.

Please ride safely and obey all traffic laws!