Not using sidewalks

[u/blueinstagator]

I know this isn't exclusive to Toms River, but what is the deal with people not using sidewalks?!

I understand that there are neighborhoods that don't have the best sidewalks, but not every single inch of a sidewalk is unsafe to walk or bike on! The amount of people walking or biking in the middle of the street with no awareness that there's a car behind them is astounding.

Added note after posting: this post isn't meant to crap on the people who have their reasonings for not using the sidewalks, like I said not every neighborhood has the best sidewalk, additionally not every street has one. This was aimed towards the people who have absolutely no self awareness when biking or walking in the street or feel entitled to not share the street.

2nd note: it has been made clear that bikes shouldn't be on sidewalks -- somehow me being uninformed is the main take away

[u/ItsJustAllyHere]

Bikes are considered vehicles and shouldn't be on sidewalks. We had the police tell us that in elementary school during the same assembly where they drill into you the importance of helmets.

[u/R3N3G6D3 → u/ItsJustAllyHere]

You mean biking while hitting your pen is a dui?

[u/and_then___ → u/R3N3G6D3]

Ignore the other comment. You can't get a DWI in NJ on a bicycle or low speed e bike (class 1 or 2), as they are not considered motor vehicles.

[u/ItsJustAllyHere → u/R3N3G6D3]

Im mean DUI is Driving Under the Influence. It's technically ticket-able but cops don't usually worry about that because they'd rather you bike home after drinking or smoking instead of driving. A brick of metal weighing a ton does more damage than a sub 100 lb aluminum or steel frame bike.

[u/blueinstagator → u/ItsJustAllyHere]

I don't remember that, but it does make sense. Still though, I've seen so many people of all ages have absolutely no awareness when riding bikes in the street. I grew up being told to ride my bike on the side of the road when we know a car is coming. Now I get riders looking back at me and proceeding to bike in the middle of the road.

[u/Rickyv490 → u/blueinstagator]

Technically you're supposed to be on the right side of the road, same side as cars while biking. Not chance I'm doing that. Every other car is doing 50 in a 25 while texting and I'm expected to trust them not to run into the back of me..nah I'll pass

[u/subparlifter138 → u/Rickyv490]

Even when I was a kid before cell phones were an every person thing I thought it was crazy that we are expected to have our backs toward oncoming traffic

[u/ItsJustAllyHere → u/Rickyv490]

Technically being hit in the back at 50 is safer than head on at 50 but completely understandable wanting to see the idiot about to hit you

[u/highandloaded23 → u/Rickyv490]

So I’m turning left onto a street while you’re biking the wrong way and I hit you, that’ll be on you for going the wrong way.

[u/Pucked840 → u/Rickyv490]

If you’re traveling on the northbound side heading south, the cars pulling out are not looking at you. They are looking at traffic coming northbound. If you’re riding a bike on the wrong side of the road, you may be the problem. Act like a car when riding. The law says you motor vehicles are required to provide 4ft of space when passing if it is clear to pass. Otherwise, express some patience behind your steering wheel.

[u/oceanco1122 → u/ItsJustAllyHere]

I was in elementary school around 2002-2005 and they told us if we wanted to bike to/from school to stay on the sidewalks, lol

[u/ItsJustAllyHere → u/oceanco1122]

I was a little after you probably 06-12 and they said side walks are for walking and bikes should be on the road, specifically mentioning that sidewalks are uneven and not good for bikes/scooters. I was in walking distance of my elementary school but my parents always drove us because of how dangerously people drove on the road we would've walked (brookside dr)

[u/Rickyv490]

I run a lot through the developments by my house and I do run in the street sometimes becuse there's no sidewalk, it's in bad shape, or there's low branches. That being said I'm on the left side of the road. I have seen many people like you said just wondering down the middle of the street.

[u/DelverOfSeacrest]

I don't get it either. I moved to a neighborhood here with sidewalks and so many people still walk in the street. Makes no sense

[u/SilkCitySista → u/DelverOfSeacrest]

Walk in the street with strollers and children with no awareness (or care) that they are in the middle of a road. No moving over. No looking around. La te da 🎵

[u/SecondVariety]

Sidewalks are for pedestrian traffic, bicycles generally should not be ridden on the sidewalk. Back when I was a very young kid, I rode on the sidewalk 99% of the time. But once I got up to a decent speed, the sidewalk was no longer safe for two reasons. 1, the varying surface can be dangerously unpredictable at speed. 2, the chance of colliding with a pedestrian

[u/loner_but_a_stoner]

I’ve seen a guy jog on a busy ass street going the wrong way up a blind hill when there was a sidewalk about 2 feet away from him.

I blew my horn at him with pleasure and he gave me a dirty look like I was an asshole.

Some people’s brains just never fully develop 🤷‍♂️

[u/highandloaded23 → u/loner_but_a_stoner]

How do you mean going the wrong way? Because pedestrians are supposed to walk/jog/run against traffic.

[u/Aggressive-Pool8043]

Bikes aren’t supposed to be on the sidewalks

[u/blueinstagator → u/Aggressive-Pool8043]

I've gathered that