Sign says "No Bicycles Allowed on Sidewalks"
Although we do not encourage bicycling on sidewalks, the Village of Bal Harbour has made it illegal to ride a bicycle on their sidewalks. Unfortunately, the Village of Bal Harbour has not provided any safe bicycling alternatives. Bicyclists are therefore relegated to riding on the road, on heavily traveled A1A, where there are no bicycle lanes. As a relatively young and experienced cyclist I don’t mind riding on the road. But if I had a ten-year-old kid, I would not want him riding on A1A.
My father once got a ticket for biking on the sidewalk in Bal Harbour.
That “village” is so uptight.
What’s wrong with bicylcing on a sidewalk? Why not?
Kevin,
Riding a bicycle on a sidewalk can be more dangerous then riding on the road. Several studies have shown this to be true. Cars do not expect to see bicycles on sidewalks, especially when pulling in/out of driveways. Bicycles on sidewalks are also outside motorists’ field of vision.
But at the same time, it can be really dangerous to ride on the road. I’ve never ridden before on a road bike route, I feel like it’s more dangerous, I’ve always just ridden on sidewalks. Obviously, I take a lot of precautions and always slow down and/or stop at curves and intersections. Then again, I’m in the FIU area, so I don’t really have another choice as there are no bike-only paths here except for at Tamiami Park.
Felipe,
riding on a sidewalk CAN be more dangerous, but sometimes it isn’t.
As the dead cyclist on friday demonstrates to me, Biscayne is a dangerous street for biking. I’ve ridding up and down biscayne without problem, but I’ll often times (especially around 71st) take the sidewalk because the cars are all over the place!
As far as crossing streets though, I make it a habit to look in ALL directions before I reach an intersection so I know where cars are and keep track of them as I get to and cross the intersection.
This has been a great habit so far because many cars do not use turn signals, and even when I’m riding on the road, will cut in front of me to turn.
VERY dangerous, but thankfully I’m always watching them.
My husband and I like to take bike trips using trirail and riding near the beach. Lots of great biking until you reach Dade County. How is it possible that a place that promotes itself as a top tourist location not have proper bike paths near its beaches? Surfside, Golden Beach, Bal Harbor, its extremely embarrassing how little Dade County cares about the tourist or local that likes to ride bikes near our beautiful beaches.
most politicians don’t ride bikes, and in all the places you mention, UBC Mum, there is no sense of community.
I lived in Surfside and Bay Harbor for most of my life. It’s just a place to live for most residents, and a place for pet projects for politicians.
FDOT has already begun a study for the feasibility of bikeways all the way down A1A from the county line to 5th and Alton in Miami Beach (this came up at the recent Miami Beach Bikeways Committee meeting). When asked about Bal Harbour, the FDOT guy said that, once the study is done in that area, if there is not sufficient space on the road for a bike lane and the sidewalk is the preferred choice, FDOT will seek a change to the city ordinance, as they have jurisdiction over A1A.
We’ll see.
I only use sidewalks under extreme circumstances, but it is not a “preferred choice”
the sidewalk, aside from the dangers posed by cars not noticing or thinking of you, or pedestrians hating you and wanting to kick you, has tons of poles, posts, hydrants, but stops, and other minutiaea every which way.