Forum: bicycles.stackexchange.com
Tags: <etiquette>
Title: Is it bad etiquette to ride road bike through a small residential area?
Question: Is it considered bad etiquette to ride a road bike through a small residential area? Not talking about a cheap bike and riding on the sidewalk but a nicer road bike at a decent pace. I don't want to upset anyone by cutting through their neighborhood but it would be a lot easier for my commute.

Answers:
sents: text: I wouldn't consider it to be bad etiquette
text: IF: You're not breaking the posted road speed limit.
text: Watch not only for cars backing out but for kids.
text: Watch for dogs.
text: In small neighborhoods like this
text: it's also not a bad idea to stay out in the lane and not hug the curb.
text: This gives you much more time if a car or child comes hurtling out into the road and you're not going to be slowing down a following car very much.
text: Edit: include the warning to watch for dogs.
text: This is pretty important.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/638/alesplin
score: 27
sents: text: No.
text: Absolutely not.
text: And why would it be?
text: Should you run a race through there without getting the residents onboard first?
text: Of course not.
text: (And who would?)
text: But taking a bike ride through residential areas?
text: Why would anyone object?
text: And if they do, how could it possibly be labeled unreasonable for a cyclist to come down the street at 10-20 mph when cars come down it all the time at 20-40 mph?
text: Pretend you live there and ask yourself which one you want coming down your street at their maximum speed and recklessness.
text: I'd take a peloton of drunken idiots on bikes over a single car.
text: The former could be merely entertaining, but the latter rather lethal.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/3497/Carey Gregory
score: 20
sents: text: I'm assuming you're in the US.
text: If that's true, a bicyclist has the same rights (and obligations) as a motor vehicle, so etiquette doesn't come into it.
text: You have the right to use the public roads (and the obligation to stop at stop signs).
text: Unless there's something odd about your bike riding (you ride with a boom box cranked up to 11?)
text: , I would think you'd be welcome to cut through a residential area, as you make no noise, emit no pollution and are arguably less impactful than a car.
text: Be polite, wave at folks who yield to you at intersections and enjoy the ride!
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/10925/Peter
score: 13
sents: text: I has a sad that you even felt like you had to ask this question, no matter what kind of bike you have.
text: :(
text: Out of curiosity, where do you live?
text: I would just try to be a considerate and careful cyclist.
text: If you're used to riding, then you are used to being aware of crazy stuff that could happen around you.
text: If you live in an area that makes you ask this question, the drivers might not know how to deal with cyclists.
text: They might not think to look for you, or if they do see you, they could assume they always have the right-of-way.
text: It's probably the same in your regular commute.
text: They might have their guards down a little more in the familiarity of their bicycle-free neighbourhood.
text: But, no, it is not bad etiquette to ride your bike on public streets.
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/10941/alaina
score: 11
sents: text: If you do it naked, it will probably be considered bad etiquette.
text: (Remember Bicycle Race by Queen?)
text: I guess nobody in your city ever uses a bike?!
text: In the 1800s people were afraid that trains would scare cows along the rail track, and make milk go sour.
text: Nowadays we know this is not true.
text: Biking through urban areas won't make anyone's milk sour! ;-)
answer_details: author: bicycles.stackexchange.com/users/10947/SPRBRN
score: 3

Summary of the answers:
It is absolutely not bad etiquette to ride a bike through a residential area. Bikes are allowed on public roads and are less impactful than cars. It is advised to watch out for children and dogs and to be considerate to people in the area.
It is not bad etiquette to use public roads safely and according to the rules. Be polite and aware of the risks associated with your environment.