Denver bicyclists

[IShouldDoThisAllTheTime]

In Colorado cyclists are allowed to use either the street or the sidewalk, unless otherwise posted. But riding on the sidewalk is almost always a terrible idea.

Actually, it IS ILLEGAL to ride on the sidewalk in Denver. Denver has its own municipal ordinance specifically in regards to this:

I guess that counts as "otherwise posted" then, eh? Having just moved down from the Great Frozen North I'm admittedly not up on all the Denver cycling laws yet.

This one is good news. I hate how Boulder, in its efforts to be cycling-friendly, pushes cyclists onto the sidewalk so they can get J-hooked at driveways. Legal or not, riding on sidewalks is an awful idea.

[IShouldDoThisAllTheTime]

Oddly enough, whenever I ride my bike, I do try to stay on the sidewalks. I just value my life more than some obscure ordinance, and I know that I would get killed if I rode in the street. The roads are flooded with careless morons, and I decided that if/when I DO get killed, I don't want it to be getting creamed by some texting tween dingleberry that couldn't wait until the next stoplight to send that urgent "OMG LOL" message. There's just no honor in that kind of senseless death!

Those same careless morons are at least casually aware that there are other vehicles on the road. However they are pretty well guaranteed to *not* be looking for anything moving that fast on a sidewalk or crosswalk. Far, far more cyclists get seriously killed or injured while riding on sidewalks than in the street. Sidewalks are for walking.

This is not wild speculation, either. The League of American Bicyclists puts a lot of effort into studying this issue. If you are serious about not dying on someone's windshield then I recommend John Allen's bike safety guides. He does not publish a Colorado-specific one, but the basics are universal. http://bikemaps.com/bss.htm

[hatidua]

Oddly enough, whenever I ride my bike, I do try to stay on the sidewalks. I just value my life more than some obscure ordinance

It must be quite a luxury to deem which ordinances are obscure and which are worthy of abiding by

[Irving]

It must be quite a luxury to deem which ordinances are obscure and which are worthy of abiding by

It is. I do it. Try not stopping at the red light on an on-ramp sometime. It will set you free.

[brutal]

It is. I do it. Try not stopping at the red light on an on-ramp sometime. It will set you free.

This ^^

When there are no other cars present. I'm sorry, but I know how to merge into traffic unlike 90% of the doofus drivers out there.

[brutal]

And yes, bicyclists in Denver can really be an arrogant bunch. They are rolling entitlements, and tend to have zero regard for anyone other than themselves. It is quite shocking that they get into so few serious/fatal accidents. And if you think they are rude to YOU, just picture how they act when they get pulled over and given a ticket or, even worse, LECTURED.

Just remember, cite OR lecture, but not both.

[merl]

Legal or not, riding on sidewalks is an awful idea.

agree 110%

[copfish]

I had a bicyclist almost rear end me when I came to a stop at a stop sign. Dumbass started to yell at me and I pointed to the stop sign. What a dick, I would have loved a trunk ornament.

[Robby30-06]

As a cyclist I have to admit there are alot of arrogant cyclists in CO. When I'm in or on a motorized vehicle I do my level best to share the road but that's not enough for some of em.

Another problem is the fixie craze (direct drive bikes, no freewheel). It takes skill to ride these bikes properly, some of the downtown curriers have it down to a science. Too many people though are in the city streets trying to ride a fixed gear bike with only a front brake (maybe) who have no business doing so.

[Clint45]

I had a bicyclist almost rear end me when I came to a stop at a stop sign. Dumbass started to yell at me and I pointed to the stop sign. What a dick, I would have loved a trunk ornament.

Once while Downtown, I was parallel parking when a fucking bicyclist dressed in a spandex bodysuit with one of those misshapen helmets came zipping up behind me and tried to pass on my right side, with my blinker and reverse lights on, as I was backing into the parking space. Then "he" did a powerslide on "his" bike (without dropping it) and started yelling at me.

I think that if a DPD officer catches a bicyclist on his dash cam running red lights, riding the wrong way on one way streets, or riding on the sidewalk, he should be allowed to impound the bike to be sold at auction or destroyed. That would be a great policy.