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this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2026
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Bicycles
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Tbf, 15-20mph on a throttle equipped bicycle is a motorcycle and is not safe for other isers of the sidewalk.
It is a motorcycle or a moped and it is also not safe to be riding at that speed at a sidewalk among pedestrias but what's also true is that anyone can reach those speeds on a traditional bicycle and the outcome of a crash is just as severe.
Except reaching those speeds on a traditional bicycle requires significantly more effort, and is really only possible for adults that are somewhat active. I doubt there's any 10yo that can reach 30mph on a traditional bike on flat ground
The comment I replied to said 15 to 20mph. That's a pretty standard cruising speed for a healthy adult.
On a road bike a 10 can easily hit 20-30mph
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about if you're seriously suggesting a 10yo could actually hit 30mph. Get tf out of here
On a road bike? Just about any 10 year old on a slight decline.
Are bicycles normally allowed on sidewalks? I've always lived where they have to ride in bike lanes or on bike paths.
In most regions, bicycles are not legal on sidewalks.
But guess where people ride them!
(It’s on the sidewalk)
It really depends. IMO you should ride wherever is safest for everyone. I would say more people use scooters on the sidewalk than bikes. And the 15-20mph is dangerous claims don’t hold up when you can literally go 1mph or walk it if the sidewalks have pedestrians. Going 20mph on a sidewalk with people around is dangerous. Going 20mph on a sidewalk that is empty when the road has shit or no bike lanes is most likely much safer for everyone.
So then it should be fine for my Vespa to ride on the sidewalk when no one is around .
Vespa is about 3-5 times the weight of an e scooter and I assume yours runs in gasoline, so not really a fair comparison but if going under 20mph on the sidewalk is what you consider the safest course of action in a specific circumstance then I’m not sure anybody would fault you for it. Or just get yourself an e-scooter if you use your Vespa for very short trips. The convenience of being able to ride in safer locations where you’re not having to be hyper vigilant of not only your own actions but also those of cars that might very quickly end your life because someone was texting is pretty nice.
I ride a motorcycle too (not even on the sidewalk) and can tell you for a fact that e scooters are night and day safer transportation under normal use cases.
Generally no. In my state that's illegal, though everyone looks the other way if it's just kuds on regular bikes. I doubt that'll continue to be true if kids start blowing past a 30mph though