Japanese---teacher-and-student

NO BIKE ON THE SIDEWALK MONTES

Most cyclists in PR at some point we heard someone in a car tell us we ride on the sidewalk. Naturally, these people do not know that the Law 22, Ch. XI prohibits bicycle riding on the sidewalk. These people do not know that the law entitles the rider to ride in the street. They also do not know - and this includes many cyclists in PR as well - that sidewalks are a less safe places to bicycle . Finally, many people do not know, cyclists or not, that in PR the sidewalk is for pedestrians. So, we often see cyclists riding on the sidewalk, perhaps because they are afraid of cars, or perhaps because they believe that rolling on the sidewalk is safer. These cyclists are wrong, and putting his life (and others) in unnecessary danger

Here are some reasons why it is safer for the cyclist riding bicycle on the street, and not on the sidewalk :

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1. Many sidewalks are not in good condition They often have holes, cracks, debris, etc. which can cause accidents to cyclists.
2. Sometimes continental sidewalk signs, light poles and other infrastructure will which can cause accidents to cyclists.
3. Sidewalks are walkways. Most sidewalks in PR are not very large, and can not handle the traffic of pedestrians and cyclists as well. It is much more likely that a cyclist has an accident with a pedestrian if the cyclist is on the sidewalk. A collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian can cause serious damage to both, including death.
4. Many sidewalks do not have prevented ramps connecting to the street. The getting off a curb on the sidewalk, cross the street, then go up another ditch to be reassembled on the sidewalk is something that requires a skill that many riders do not possess. Moreover, doing so is unnecessarily dangerous when it can be rolled into the street.
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5. Many sidewalks are used as if they were stationary. So often it is not possible to roll (or walk) on the sidewalk because the cars block access.
6. Some sidewalks connect with inputs / outputs to commercial parking lots, or residential. When a driver leaves one of these parks, you can usually react and stop in time if it perceives a pedestrian. But the rider is usually faster than the pedestrian, and therefore it is possible that drivers can not react in time, hitting the cyclist.
7. When a rider rolls down the street, motorists always see it (usually .) The rider is more predictable for automovilsta. When the rider is on the sidewalk, and then on the street, and then on the sidewalk, etc. the rider becomes unpredictable for automovilsta, and the risk of collision between the two increases.

Despite all these reasons NOT to ride on the sidewalk, there are some cases where it may be prudent to ride on the sidewalk temporarily :

1. When there is a cap, and the rider wants to avoid the cap and not to breathe the toxic emissions emitted by cars.
2. When the rider is in a situation of imminent danger and unexpected in the street. This does not happen very often but can happen.
3. When a construction or an accident on the street and the cyclist have no where to go.
4. When the rider wants to get off the bike, and walking down the sidewalk with his bike.

Finally, we must consider the message that cyclists automovilstas drop off when we rolled down the sidewalk. We tell them we are afraid. We say we do not belong on the street. The safety of the rider in PR will not improve until, among other things, have many more cyclists on the street. So if we want more security, we have to shoot in the street . We must reclaim our space. Space belongs to us, and that gives us the law. If we want more respect and consideration for the rider, and if we want infrastructure was built for the rider, we have to fight from the streets of the brave, and not from the sidewalk of cowards.

addition, the rider rolling down the sidewalk you lose the enjoyment and convenience of shooting more lightly and freely, and without all the hazards mentioned above, when it rolls into the street. The bike, more than anything else, it's fun and freedom. If you want to enjoy your bike as possible, and if you do it more safely, learn to ride on the street. If you feel safer, go for a ride with other people. But as far as possible, always riding on the street, and not on the sidewalk.

The next time you say from a car you go to the sidewalk, smiles and answers quietly, "Thanks for your advice, but the sidewalk is for pedestrians. The law requires us to move you and me on the street. learn to share it politely and with caution"