PSA: Harris County Bicyclists

It's no mystery that people have been more active outdoors recently than in the past. This is a great thing and I'm happy to see so many joggers, roller bladers, skateboarders, walkers, and cyclists. However, there seems to be some confusion regarding the laws as to where cyclists should be, in the street or on the sidewalk.

The state of Texas does not have a law prohibiting cyclists from using the sidewalks. However, Harris County does. In Harris County, there are no cyclists allowed on the sidewalks in business districts. This includes places like Downtown Houston and the Galleria.

Outside of those districts, cyclists are permitted on sidewalks but must yield to pedestrians on foot. This means that if a pedestrian is walking in the middle of the sidewalk, it is the cyclists' responsibility to go around them. This is especially true if the cyclist is approaching the rear of the pedestrian.