Bicyclists favor streets over sidewalks

COLUMBUS (AP) — Some bicycling advocates are worried about pedestrians’ — and their own — safety should the city lift its ban on bikes on sidewalks.

The proposed change was introduced by Councilwoman Charleta Tavares as part of an ordinance that would require cyclists younger than 18 to wear a helmet.

“Every day there is a new person getting on a bike,” said Councilwoman Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, a cyclist.

City law already treats bikes as vehicles and it should stay that way, she said.

Riding on the sidewalk with traffic increases the risk of a crash by 180 percent over riding on the road with traffic and riding on the sidewalk against traffic increases the risk by 430 percent, according to a 1994 study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

“A typical bike is moving four to five times faster than a pedestrian,” said Andrew Hall, a cyclist who rides with traffic. “Some drivers underestimate bike speed. This becomes dangerous at intersections on quasi-urban streets when cars look to make right-hand turns into a business or driveway.”

Hall also is worried that allowing bikes on sidewalks would make more drivers think they belong there. City engineers opposed allowing bicycles on sidewalks, which they say should be reserved for pedestrians.

However, Hall said children should be allowed to learn to ride on sidewalks.

O’Shaughnessy said bicycles belong on the road with other vehicles, but tricycles, Big Wheels and bikes with training wheels should not be defined as vehicles, which would allow them to be on the sidewalks.