This happens the time on every sidewalk downtown. Bike lanes are still too dangerous considering all the inconsiderate and and uninsured drivers.

all the time. Why can I not edit the post SCF?

I've got to admit, I'm totally guilty of riding my bicycle on the sidewalk. I've never hit any pedestrians and I don't feel safe riding my bicycle in the street. For me, the decision to ride on the sidewalk is rationally safer.

If I get caught riding my bicycle on the sidewalk, I'll get a ticket for $75.00. That might hurt me financially, but it won't hurt me as much as getting hit by a 4,000 pound hunk of metal traveling faster than 25MPH. That danger also far outweighs a pedestrian getting hit by a 170 pound cyclist traveling at 7MPH.

The roads should be used for MOTOR vehicles. I find it mind boggling people can't understand this. Why do we tell children to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk? Quite obviously because we know it is safer. We don't put children in any danger, so why do we force adults to be put in danger?

To Tommy - the city has spent a lot of time and money establishing bike lanes..there are more and more of them all the time..Children on sidewalks are much smaller than adults on bikes on sidewalks..don't be silly..sidewalks are made for walkers hence the name..Why should your life somehow amount to more than mine??!! If it is so hazardous to ride your bike, why not get on a bus!

it would be good to have bike lanes on all major streets downtown, not just college street and a few others. It makes no sense that chapel has no bikelanes but a wide sidewalk.

Hillfornow,

You have really good points. The city has spent a lot of money on bike lanes, so I probably should observe the traffic laws. Unfortunately, I just don't have faith in drivers passing me without me seeing them first. Cyclists are required to ride with the flow of traffic which means I can't see the cars driving up behind me and inevitably passing me.

This literally requires "Blind Faith" in all the drivers who will pass me. I think I'm fixated on the mathematics of the scenario.

I ride my bicycle at approximately 7MPH which means there would be so many cars passing me every minute. The more cars that pass me increases the chances that I will get hit.

The bus does seem like a good alternative, but the busses don't go everywhere I wish to travel and they are expensive.

I'll keep myself safe on the sidewalk and take the risk of getting the occasional $75.00 ticket. Even if I get 10 tickets, it's better than getting hit by a car once.

Tommy,

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but my understanding is that riding your bike on the sidewalk is actually more dangerous than riding in the street. The main issue is that you are traveling faster than a pedestrian, and so drivers do not expect you at driveways, intersections, etc. If you don't trust drivers to see you when you are right in front of them, why do you expect them to see you when you are not riding as traffic?

Secondly, as a heads-up, the State of CT permits you to ride on the sidewalk as long as you ride at the same speed as a pedestrian. That's probably 2-3 miles per hour. The City of New Haven prohibits riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, but I rarely hear about police ticketing for it.

1300 days is enough

Thanks for fixing this request!