Q. I work on South King Street and have frequently noticed people riding their bicycles on the sidewalk. What is the law regarding bike riding on sidewalks? I thought the only bicycles allowed on sidewalks were those with 16-inch tires and smaller.

A. Bikes aren't allowed on the sidewalk in Downtown Honolulu because it's a special business district.

The state Traffic Code says: "Unless otherwise prohibited, a bicycle may be driven at a speed of 10 miles an hour or less on a sidewalk or sidewalk area; provided that the driver of the bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and that any bicycle riding shall be prohibited on sidewalks in business districts."

"Very, very generally, in commercial areas, it's not allowed," said Mitchell Nakagawa, executive director of the Hawai'i Bicycling League.

You aren't the only one who's asked about biking on sidewalks downtown:

Q. Are there plans for a special lane in downtown Honolulu, so pedestrians do not have to share the sidewalks with bicycles?

A. The city and the state both have bike plans but the Downtown area isn't included in any projects slated for the next three years, said Nakagawa of the Bicycling League.

"There are no priority projects that include that area," he said.

The top priority projects for O'ahu are the Leeward bike path and traffic improvements along Kalaniana'ole Highway from Waimanalo to Makapu'u.

Q. What is the law regarding riding bicycles on a roadway that doesn't have a bike lane? I've followed riders who cruise the vehicular lane going a few miles per hour in a 25 mph zone, with no regard that they are slowing traffic. It was my understanding that if bicyclists are going to ride on the road, they should comply with posted speed limits.

A. State law says: "Every person riding on a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle," unless there's a specific exception to the law.

Nakagawa said, "The bicyclists are treated just as cars. They have the right to be on the road, and by the same token, they are expected to follow the same rules as motorists."

Cyclists should stick to the right lane and slower riders might even want to ride on the shoulder if it feels safer, but, "There's no law that says cyclists have to be on the shoulder," Nakagawa said.