CWL 2009 #1 - Denver Sidewalk Parking Law, and Alexandria and PG County's ban on sidewalk cycling.

Sidewalk cycling is mostly legal in the region. It is only illegal in the Central Business District and where specifically prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices (though I can't think of any examples of these in the area).Update: as noted in the comments below, the WABA guide to Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area -

"Cycling on Sidewalks: Allowed except where prohibited by local ordinance, such as
Prince William County and Alexandria. Bicyclists must give audible signal before passing pedestrian.

Allowed where permitted by local ordinance (such as in Montgomery County).

This may mean that it isn't allowed in PG County (which makes me, yet again, a scofflaw as I always use the sidewalk to go up the big hill on Good Luck Road). I'd like to see both Alexandria and PG County reevaluate these rules to see if they can limit the boundary as DC did or perhaps change it to "allowed except where specifically prohibited by signs" or something. So add that to the wish list Update end.

1201.9 There shall be no prohibition against any person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the District, so long as the rider does not create a hazard; Provided, that no person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Central Business District except on those sidewalks expressly designated by Order of the Mayor, nor shall any person ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in any area outside of the Central Business District if it is expressly prohibited by Order of the Mayor and appropriate signs to such effect are posted.

The idea, I suppose, behind banning them in the CBD is that cycling on the sidewalk should be legal where safe, but in the CBD there are so many pedestrians that it is never safe.

One could argue that the law should be loosened at night or other times (weekends, holidays, etc..) but personally the only time I find the CBD harrowing is at rush hour, so I don't think it's a fight worth having.

But I do like the new sidewalk parking law out of Denver. In Denver it's illegal to ride on a sidewalk unless it's a marked bike route (except for uniformed city employees, police officers and newspaper delivery people - how quaint). But a recent law allows cyclists to use the sidewalk, at very low speed when parking.

Riding on Sidewalks for the Purpose of Parking: Denver law will now allow bicyclists to ride on the sidewalk not in excess of 6 miles per hour if they are within one block of the location where they plan to park their bike.

Though I don't know of anyone who's gotten a sidewalk cycling ticket in the CBD, if we want to pass some common sense laws, this seems like a good one to start with. Parking is one of the five cases where I feel sidewalk cycling is a good idea. Not exactly Earth-shattering, but it decriminalizes normal, safe behavior. Of course a cyclist would still have to yield to pedestrians and would be banned from creating a hazard.

The Denver law changes:

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, which is not part of a designated bicycle route, at a speed in excess of six (6) miles per hour.

(a)Riding bicycles or electrical assisted bicycles upon or along sidewalks, whether on public property or private property opened for use by the general public, shall be unlawful except:...

(4) When the operator or rider thereof is preparing to dismount and park the bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle at a location on the block on which the bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle is being operated, or the operator has just mounted and has not yet crossed a street or alley.

The sections above could be rewritten for DC by adding in a reference to the Central Business District.

Photo by ecstaticist

Comments

[BlindPilot]

For the record, sidewalk cycling is illegal in Alexandria... this from WABA's Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area -

"Cycling on Sidewalks: Allowed except where prohibited by local ordinance, such as
Prince William County and Alexandria. Bicyclists must give audible signal before passing pedestrian."

Nonetheless, I have never seen anyone ticketed for it, and it is sadly very common practice in my area (Del Ray). I think that the Denver sidewalk law makes a heck of a lot of sense.

Just curious, though... it sounds like the 6 mph thing applies to Segways, too. Not sure how common they are in Denver, but the Segway tour groups I've seen in DC often do well over 6 mph on sidewalks in the CBD. If such a change were to be implemented in DC law, I think that there would be stiff resistance from the Segway companies. I can even imagine some reluctance on the part of bicycle renting outfits. Many tourists who rent bikes to see the sights downtown and on the Mall might not be too crazy about getting on a bike in "the big city" w/o the perceived safety of being on a sidewalk.

[Jon]

For Maryland, the WABA guide says: "Allowed where permitted by local ordinance (such as in Montgomery County)." I *think* the implication is that it's illegal in Prince George's County.

[Washcycle]

You're right, I misread the Maryland law. "a person may not drive a vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area...Exceptions - Bicycles...Where permitted by local ordinance, a person may ride a bicycle, play vehicle, or unicycle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area."

[PWbikedude]

Note - Cycling on sidewalks is no longer prohibited in Prince William County

Excerpt from PWC Police Department web site

Note the changes to State & County laws governing these kinds of vehicles!

Changes to State and County laws governing motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, and motorized skateboards went into effect on July 1, 2006. The definitions for these vehicles have been updated, allowing the law to "catch up" with the market. Following are the highlights that YOU need to know:

Bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, motorized skateboards or scooters, motor-driven cycles, or electric power-assisted bicycles:

* May be driven on sidewalks, shared-use paths, or across a roadway in a crosswalk unless prohibited by traffic control devices. When crossing a roadway, the driver has the same rights and duties of a pedestrian.
* Must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and paths, and must audibly signal before overtaking a pedestrian.

http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=040074003440002617

[Chris]

It's worth noting also that the "Central Business District" in DC is really quite small:

http://app.ddot.dc.gov/information/bicycle/cbd_map.shtm