Minnesota Law Says You CAN, But Does it Mean You Should?

This is one of those things where you aren't sure what is exactly the right thing to do.

The situation is this:

You are the pedestrian walking along on the sidewalk, in a town neighborhood, not in the business area.  There is a bike lane marked on the road. This is marked on the bike lane, basically the shoulder on the road.  But kids (ages around 10, 11, or 12) zoom by on their bikes.

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When this happens, unknowingly, if the person walking steps slightly to the right, could have gotten creamed by the kid(s) on their bikes.  This is a scary situation.  But how do you fix this? By Minnesota law, if cyclists are not in the business district, and just in a neighborhood with sidewalks, they can ride on the sidewalks while giving the right of way to the pedestrians.

• Bicyclists are required to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, when riding slower than the speed of traffic.
• Full lane use is allowed when traveling at the normal speed of traffic, preparing for a turn, overtaking and passing, avoiding hazards or unsafe conditions, traveling in a lane too narrow to share, and avoiding a mandatory turn lane.
• Bicyclists may, but are not required to, utilize any usable path for bicycles that has been provided adjacent to a roadway.
• Except within the business district, bicycles are permitted on sidewalks when bicyclists yield to the right-of-way of any pedestrian and give an audible signal when overtaking and passing any pedestrian. Check local ordinances for variations on this rule. 

So, while yes, you can ride on the sidewalk, but should you?  I get that the area I was speaking of is along Cooper Avenue in St. Cloud.  That area can be dangerous because of how busy Cooper Avenue is, with a lot of people turning off in either direction.  Riding on the sidewalk can be safer for the cyclist.  But is it safer for the pedestrian?  Probably not.

Cyclists, if they are choosing to be on the sidewalk along with the pedestrians, and there are a lot of them in this area, need to make their presence known.  Or just jump down onto the bike lane until you have passed the walkers, then jump back up onto the sidewalk. That might be safer for everyone.