In some places it seems safer to bike carefully on the sidewalk. I prefer the street, if there is a space for bikes, but sometimes the sidewalk is safer.
I prefer the street, or road if it has a shoulder.
There's often more pedestrians in the street by parked cars than on the sidewalk; pedestrians darting out from between cars and getting into the driver's side door. The sidewalk is often wide open with no one on it.
Sometimes it's easier to see a pedestrian on the sidewalk than when they are darting out between parked cars on the street. Imagine how close to the cars and car doors you would be here if there wasn't a bike lane. I tend to go slow in these type of areas.
It seems like almost one out of every 4 cars is backing out when there is nose in parking. Bikes can be squished between backing cars and moving traffic.
Often one has to go to the sidewalk to push the walk button for activating the stoplight. It can be hard for the system to detect a bike on the street.
When making a 90 degree turn, I prefer not using turn lanes, but crossing, one street at a time, to each corner. I'm not in a hurry.
Lots of people walk on trails that are for mixed use. Not that much different than sidewalks. A speedlimit is the best way to keep things safe (if it's followed). This is also the best way to regulate electric bicycles. It's easier to have a speedlimit than to try and figure out what type of motor qualifies for trail use. Motorized wheelchair? How about handicap access? Skateboard? What type of motor does the bike have? How much of it is pedal assist.
I'm in favor of motorized bikes, though I don't yet feel I need one myself. They increase use of bicycling due to their extreme popularity. Almost half the bikes I see, these days, are the motor assisted pedal bikes. Much of US culture is too fast. I prefer life in the slow lane; the name of my blog.
Sign I saw a few years back in downtown Moscow, Idaho.
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