Some of you people are freakin’ ridiculous. I’m a cyclist who puts on around 3000 miles a year. I also pay road taxes through the use of three vehicles and one trailer. I ride the roads on my bike and obey the traffic laws. I try to keep right whenever possible. And as for sidewalks - I don’t think the pedestrians would appreciate me zooming by at 25-30 miles an hour.
I’ve been cut off on the left and on the right. I’ve had people look me right in the eye as I’m riding on a road with the right-of-way, and pull out right in front of me from a stop sign, causing me to slam on the brakes and take evasive action. If I get hit, it WILL be the other person’s fault - and you better believe that person will be one miserable jerk after I (or my surviving wife) sues the living crap out of them.
And if you think I’m just some liberal weanie troll - I’m so right wing I make most of you look like Barack Obama.
We have the right to be on the road, just as any vehicle, motor cycle, jogger, or horse. There ain’t nothin’ you’ve got to get to so fast that you can’t get there 30 seconds later.
Not to mention sidewalks aren't made for that sort of speed. I'm always rather baffled by the folks who show up on these threads and say bikes are "safer" on sidewalks. Unless you're a little kid traveling at barely walking speed, it just ain't so. Sidewalks have lots of obstacles (including pedestrians), curbs, and very low visibility. Not a good thing for a real vehicle.