Should i bike with or against traffic

Most states require some sort of helmet use, especially for those under 18 years of age, however, there are thirteen states that do not require cyclists to wear a helmet at all:. In some states, like Boston and Washington D. However, the laws regarding whether or not you can ride your bike on the sidewalk vary by state, and in most states, it is illegal for people over a certain age to ride their bikes on the sidewalk.

When you ride your bike on a sidewalk, pedestrians feel unsafe and because they see you coming at them quickly, and it is very easy for you to quietly sneak up on them from behind so it is nearly impossible for them to do something to avoid getting hit by you. When people ride their bikes on the sidewalk, other pedestrians feel like they are in danger, so it is best to avoid riding your bike on the sidewalk when possible.

If you are riding your bike on the sidewalk to avoid being hit by a car, then you are potentially making a fatal mistake. When you ride your bike on the sidewalk and go onto a crosswalk, it is hard for drivers to see you because they are looking in their side mirrors for cyclists on the road, not on the sidewalk.

When you ride your bike on the sidewalk, you are making it nearly impossible for drivers to see you, so it is more likely that they will hit you when they are turning and you are in a crosswalk. Ride your bike where you are comfortable, as long as it is legal, but be aware of the risk factors that are involved.

When you are riding your bike on the sidewalk, be cautious and aware of the other people sharing the sidewalk with you. Be clear with where you are going, and loudly give signals when you are going to pass someone. This not only alerts them of your presence, but it also tells them which side you will pass them on. If possible, yield to pedestrians. Instead, focus on making sure that you, and others that share the sidewalk with you, get to your destination safely.

Overall, it is illegal for you to ride your bike against the flow of traffic. Before you try to avoid this law by riding your bike on the sidewalk, check and see what the laws are regarding bikes on sidewalks in your state. If possible, ride your bike in the bike lane and stay as far to the right as possible so you can avoid cars and cars can avoid you.

When riding your bike on the road, be aware of where cars are in front and behind you. Be sure to read my entire article on how and when to bike on sidewalks. It took me years of trial and error to figure out the best and most affordable setup for my daily bike commuting. I would only recommend the gear that is good quality for a good price. When riding against traffic, you may miss important information — or worse, enter an intersection at an improper and unsafe time.

In general, cyclists tend to follow laws, not break them. Still, none of these stats will fly with a police officer who wants to ticket you.

If you are an in a collision while riding the wrong way, you will be at fault. In many states, bikes are considered vehicles, which means they are not allowed on sidewalks some areas make exceptions for children. However, there are many areas where bike infrastructure is absent and streets are intimidating for cyclists. Speeding, double parking, and other reckless driving behavior cause cyclists to feel unsafe and vulnerable on streets that lack dedicated, protected bike lanes.

That is the second biggest difference. Walking makes it a lot easier to get entirely off the road when that is an option. So, even though you are most likely harder to see while walking, you are also much harder to hit than a cyclist who has to stay on the road. If you are using the road, then people in cars will expect you to follow the rules of the road.

If you just go right through a stop sign or stoplight without stopping, you are putting yourself and everyone else at risk. A 4, lb car will is a lot harder to slow down and maneuver than a lb bicyclist.

So, choose your battles wisely. If you follow the rules, it will be a lot safer for everyone. For red states, you are expected to stay as far right as is safely possible. Blue states say that you get a whole lane, but it has to be as far to the right as is safely possible. Yellow states and Washington D. It was the major resource I used for this map. You can get some more specific details on each state there.

I make content that empowers people to enjoy riding their bikes. Are you interested in learning more about that? I'll send content straight to your inbox. And don't worry about spam. I only write articles a month. Last name. Here are some hand — picked posts that I think you might find helpful.