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Could you ride a motocross bike on trails?

Do you ride only sidewalks and bike trails, or do you ride on the road?

  • I knew a person who died on the bike lane. I can't get myself to ride on the road even if there's a bike lane. Cars will drive at speeds of over 60 MPH, and they'll ...show more

  • Answer:

    So called "designated bicycle lanes" are a joke! IMHO - they are more detrimental to cyclists than a help. This "separate but equal" theory is a load of c*** !!! More like - "I got my lane for a car, you stay in that skinny little bike lane." What about making a left turn? Now the cyclist has to cross out of the bike lane & across at least one (or more) other traffic lanes. Furthermore...there is NO law on the books in Missouri stating I MUST use the bike lane. What if there's an illegally parked vehicle in the bike lane, or broken glass, or snow, or road work - even a utility truck from the gas or electric company? If one of those instances occur - I have every RIGHT to get OUT of the bike lane...and I often do. I am not slowing down traffic - in all capital letters - I AM TRAFFIC! http://iamtraffic.org/ Get a helmet mirror. http://safezonemirror.com/ Most times, it's a 4 lane road with enough room for motorized traffic to simply change lanes & go around. If the lane is less than 14' wide, that's NOT enough room for both a bicyclist & a car, truck or bus. I ride right smack dab down the middle of the lane. It's my RIGHT to do so - by LAW. Quote, "Every person operating a bicycle or motorized bicycle at less than the posted speed or slower than the flow of traffic upon a street or highway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as safe, --- except when making a left turn, when avoiding hazardous conditions, when the lane is too narrow to share with another vehicle or when on a one-way street." http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/bike_ped/documents/MO_bikelaw_120505_000.pdf Even in the driver's guidebook on page 61 it states, "When you are passing, give bicycles and mopeds a full lane width." How much clearer can it be? http://dor.mo.gov/forms/Driver_Guide.pdf I ride on the streets because I'm operating a "vehicle". 49 of the 50 states define bicycles as "vehicles". Only California designates bicycles as a "mechanical device" - but still street legal on any street or road not designated as an Interstate Highway or other "limited access road" - where there would be a posted speed limit & MINIMUM. More links below...

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I never ride on sidewalks, they are much more dangerous than riding on the road. For each cyclist who was injured or killed on the road there were more killed or injured on sidewalks

Mtrlpqbiker

Sidewalks are for pedestrians not bicycles. If you injur someone riding your bike on a sidewalk you may be charged with negligence in a civil action. What defense will you have, "I didn't feel safe on the road"? Ride in the street, in a designated bike lane, or ride offroad. STAY OFF THE SIDEWALK!

Holden McGroin

Do I ride on sidewalks? Never, not even on a 2-mile ride. Too many cars stopped on sidewalk coming out of driveways, people walking their kids or dogs, dips in the sidewalk, sign's, lamppost's, fire hydrant's, bus benches. Recently I saw somebody on a bicycle hit a bus bench.

fat boss

You knew a person who died while riding ina bike lane? Guess what, I knew a person who didn't die while riding in a bike lane. And I know a lot more of those same people. I'm not saying it doesn't come with any risk but what activity doesn't? I ride on the road and actually prefer there to be no dedicated bike lane when I ride. I know how to ride with traffic and communicate with motorists so my risk is mitigated. When riding a road bike for fitness, one must ride on the road, it's weird not to. I don't get how anyone can go long distance on sidewalks - what is long distance to you...5 miles? I don't get it, you stop at every block and every corner? Can't go more than maybe 10mph (and even that is dangerous on the sidewalk) for like 50 feet? You must look pretty funny in your kit doing that. My suspicion is that you are an extremely casual and young cyclist, and I use that term losely - no offense. I'll go ahead and tell the local weekend group ride that we should ride on the sidewalk for our next 50 mile morning fitness ride. As for trails, yeah, I've seen the wannabe idiot grasping his brakeless aero bars on a trail and constantly yelling "on your left!" What a dangerous joke that guy is. It isn't much fun to ride on a trail with the kids, dogs, runners, walkers, and generally oblivious people wandering blisfully unaware of any other objects. I've been on trails here and there - my commute actually includes a few miles of a trail. I don't break 15mph. The road is the safest place to be for a road rider and road riders know that - it's basic. You are a casual rider who just lacks confidence, awareness, experience, and fitness (that is not an insult). Still, if you want to ride more, and better, you need to get over the ignorance. Pick up a book or two - Start with John Forester, Effective Cycling and move on from there. Best of luck.

John

the road there are no bike lanes here it;s safer only time i ever hit a car - i was in the @#$ing bike lane i hate the bike lane the road is actually safer except you have to be IN it not on the edge true google vehicular cycling wle

WleAtl-2

I have come a lot closer to running over cyclists on the sidewalk.

John M

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