Riding a bike on the sidewalk in Lakewood!
The most interesting to me of Lakewood’s many bike Ordinances involves sidewalk riding. (Lakewood ORD. §373.10- below).
Often misquoted and misunderstood even by Lakewood citizens:
• Lakewood allows bike riding on the sidewalk unless its congested with pedestrian traffic or is prohibited by signage. This is different because most local Ordinances prohibit sidewalk riding in business districts. If congested, cyclists must walk their bikes.
• Bicycle riders under 8 are prohibited riding in designated streets unless accompanied by an adult.
• Bikes must yield the right of way to pedestrians in all cases and sound an audible (voice or bell) passing warning.
• For busy crosswalks, bike speed is limited to an equivalent fast walk.
Note, mobility devices we now see on Lakewood streets (such as Bird e-scooters) are excluded from riding on the sidewalk other than to park or go off and on adjacent properties
Ken Knabe, Greater Cleveland’s Bike Attorney, 14222 Madison Avenue, Lakewood. 216 228 7200
373.10 RIDING ON SIDEWALK.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) below, it shall be legal to operate a bicycle (per Section 301.04) upon a sidewalk when sidewalks are available and not congested with pedestrian traffic. If the sidewalk is congested with pedestrian traffic, any bicycle operator using the sidewalk shall walk the bicycle. At no time shall a bicyclist under the age of eight years operate a bicycle on Berea Road; Detroit Avenue; Madison Avenue; Warren Road between Franklin Boulevard and Detroit Avenue; or West 117 Street, unless while under the supervision of an adult.
(b) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk, upon or along which signs have been erected by authority of the Director of Public Safety prohibiting such bicycle riding; or if the bicycle is wider than the customary widths of two-wheeled bicycles. No person shall operate a mobility device on sidewalks, except when necessary to go on or off adjacent properties or to park.
(c) A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. This audible signal may be given by the voice or by a bell or other warning device capable of giving an audible signal and shall be given at such a distance and in such a manner as not to startle person or persons being overtaken and passed.
(d) A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, before overtaking and passing a blind person carrying a white cane or guided by a dog, shall dismount and overtake or pass on foot, if necessary for safety.
(e) A person shall not operate a bicycle from a sidewalk so as to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(f) No person shall operate a bicycle on a sidewalk at a speed greater than an ordinary walk when approaching or entering a crosswalk or approaching or crossing a driveway if a vehicle is approaching the crosswalk or driveway. This paragraph does not require reduced speeds for bicycles when other vehicles are not present.
(Ord. 47-19. Passed 12-16-2019.)
