Written by Daniel Garcia Ilustrated by Vanessa Rosales
W hy would anyone want to ride a bike in the city? Cars are scary and sharing the road can be difficult at first. There are a lot of advantages to riding your bike, so don’t feel intimidated. The positives make it worth your while.
TO W AWAY ZO NE
Riding your bike instead of driving means you don’t have to deal with a lot of stressful issues, like traffic and parking. Parking in most downtowns can be a major headache and very expensive. Riding your bike lets you enjoy all the advantages of living in the city while avoiding most of the things that can get you very frustrated about it. You’ll find a lot of situations where it actually doesn’t make sense to drive your car.
Environment Using a bike makes your footprint in the world a lot smaller, and even if you’re not into saving the world, you can’t argue over all the gas money you’re going to save!
Fitness Besides the convenience of riding a bike, there’s also the fitness aspect. Why spend over $40 on a gym membership that you drive to after work, when you can just make your commute to work your workout on a bike! Time is money and although riding a bike may take a little longer, it will save you the gym membership, gas, and time that you can be using to do things that you really enjoy.
Freedom The sense of freedom you get while traveling under your own power is one of the best reasons to travel by bike. You’ll start noticing things about your city that you’ve been missing trapped in your car all this time.
Getting into cycling is easy, all you need is a bike and you’re ready.
If you already have one, dust it off, if it’s been sitting for a while, take it to your local bike shop for a tune up and you’re ready to get started! A bicycle is a fairly simple machine, and although there are a lot of different types of bikes, each having it’s own riding personality, every bike will have the same basic parts and components. The next pages will be a quick overview of the parts found on most bikes, and a brief breakdown of the three more common types of bikes you will find on the road: Road, Mountain, and City Bike.
The Road Bike BEST FOR: Pavement
A road bike will be the most common bike you’ll find in an urban setting. The road bike is easily spotted by the skinny tires and the more hunched over riding position you’ll find a rider in. A road bike will get you places in the fastest time and with the most efficient effort, but with speed comes a trade off with comfort.
of “fixed gear” bikes, which only have one gear that is affixed to the rear wheel. Fixed gear bikes have a direct drive between the pedals and rear wheel, which means if the rear tire is spinning, so are the pedals. Coasting is not possible on these bikes, and stopping can be done by applying backwards pressure to the pedals.
Road bikes will usually have multiple gears, although there has been a revival
Drop Bars
Riser Bars
Handlebars There are many different handlebars that can be used on road bikes, each significantly altering the “feel” of riding a road bike. The two most common handlebars are “drop” handlebars and “riser” or “flat” handlebars. Drop handlebars offer a more aerodynamic riding position, but are the least comfortable. Riser, or Flat handlebars give the rider a more upright position on the bike and are more comfortable, but increase wind resistance and reduce efficiency.
The Mountain Bike BEST FOR: Off-Road riding on dirt, rocky, or gravel roads.
Mountain bikes are the most versatile bike available. A mountain bike is easily spotted by the suspension on the frame and fork, and larger “knobby� tires that provide more traction of rough terrain. A mountain bike can be easily adapted to city riding, where the only thing really necessary is replacing the tires. Since traction isn’t as big of an issue on city street as off-road, changing the tires to slick or semi-slick will improve the riding on pavement.
A mountain bike will also have multiple gears, but will usually feature a lighter gearing range for easier climbing. Overall, a mountain bike that is well adapted to pavement is a great choice, in a city with rough road. A mountain bike will easily travel over gravel and potholes, and is a more comfortable ride with its riser bars, which also provides the rider with better visibility to see over traffic.
The City Bike Also known as: Commuter Bike Town Bike Comfort Bike
A city bike, is a bike with multiple names. Sometimes referred to as “town” bikes, or “comfort” bikes. City bikes are easily spotted by it’s more upright seating position, and are usually fitted with full fenders to keep the rider dry under wet conditions. Also usually found on city bikes are racks and baskets to carry bags or groceries. City bikes are built to best suit a riders need in navigating through a city in regular clothing. A city bike will
BEST FOR: The City
usually have limited gearing options, as speed is not an important factor riding in the stop and go traffic found in a city setting. The handlebars are usually “upright” bars, that sweep towards the rider and give the rider the most upright position of all the bikes.
N o w that you have a bike and are ready to ride, there’s a couple items you should bring with you when you get out onto the streets. The items listed here can all fit either in your bicycle mounted basket, or in a bag that you can wear.
HELMET: Some cyclists claim wearing a helmet isn’t necessary. As a cyclist, you are going to be around big vehicles so its always better to be prepared. It is highly recommend always wearing one when you’re on your bike.
ALLAN WRENCHES: Most adjustments on your bike can be done with allan, or hex wrenches.
FLAT REPAIR KIT: Items included are a wrench to remove your tire (usually 15 mm), tire levers, a spare tube and/or tire patch kit, and a small air pump.
LIGHTS: Whenever you will be riding in the dark, lights aren’t just an essential, it’s the law.
BIKE LOCK: Always lock your bike.
WATER BOTTLE: (OPTIONAL) Hydration is important.
Whenever you plan on leaving your bike unattended for any period of time, you should always lock your bike. It will take just a few seconds for a thief to get on your bike and ride away. It’s important to invest in an adequate bike lock, either a U-Lock or a heavy chain lock. Stay away from thin cable lock as they can very easily be cut by small pliers.
Where To Lock It Unfortunately there isn’t always a bike rack near by where you can lock your bike, but that’s okay, any sturdy object that is affixed to the ground will do. Some common examples are a light pole, street signs, or a metal railing. Stay away from locking your bike to objects that can be lifted, or that are short enough for someone to lift your bike over it.
How To Lock It If you’re equipped with just a U-Lock, you should run the lock through the rear tire as well as the frame. If bike theft is an issue where you’re from, you should also run a cable lock through the front tire as well so any potential thief can’t run away with one of your tires. You should never just lock your tire, because it is very easy to remove the tire and run away with the rest of your bike.
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Avoid all distractions while you’re riding, including headphones and using your phone.
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When riding at night, always use a white front headlight, and a rear red light.
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Follow all traffic laws, they apply to you too, not just motorists,
4 Stay alert to your surroundings, and what motorist are doing around you.
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Signal your intentions, such as stopping and turning. Be predictable.
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RIGHT TURN LEFT TURN
STOP
The main issue people have with biking on the roads is the fear of getting hit by a car. Rightfully so, getting hit by a car is not a pleasant experience, but there are a lot of things you can do to greatly reduce the possibility of being involved in a crash. Always follow the flow of traffic, this is the best way to be predictable and to be visible to motorist.
Now that you’re equipped with the tools to ride a bike, you are prepared to get on the road. Do cars still scare you? Its okay if they do. They are intimidating and Bicycling is all about knowing what you can and cannot do on the road. It is important to know your lanes.
MOVING VEHICLE
BARRIER
SIDEWALK
PROTECTED BIKE PATH
Protected Bike Path protective barrier
These bike paths separate you from vehicular traffic, and are the safest paths to take. Protected bike paths can travel along riverbeds and beaches, where cars are not allowed, or on the street, separating you from traffic by parked cars or physical barriers.
CAR LANES
BIKE LANE
SIDE WALK
Bike Lane Bike lanes are painted on the road, sometimes next to parked cars, and will sometimes have an added buffer to help further separate cyclist from moving vehicles. Be aware of vehicles merging into the lane to make left turns, or trying to park. Also be aware of people getting out of parked vehicles into your lane.
CAR LANES
BIKE LANE
SIDE WALK
SHARED LANE
SIDE WALK
Shared Lane Shared lanes are distinguished with sharrows which is a bike symbol with chevrons. These lanes are usually slow moving, low traffic lanes where cyclists are encouraged to take the lane because the lane is too narrow for a bike and car to travel side by side.
CAR LANE
Go The Right Way Cycling on the road means you have to follow the same traffic laws cars do. Even in bike lanes, cyclists must always travel with the direction of traffic. Inexperienced cyclist sometimes travel in the opposite direction to see traffic, but you are riding in most drivers blind spot when you do this. This is referred to as “salmon riding” and is very dangerous, so make sure you’re always traveling the right way.
Unless stated otherwise, you are allowed to ride on any street, even if there is no bike lane or shared line signage. Bicycles are usually classified as slow moving vehicle, and most laws state you must ride as far right of the lane as it is practical for you to stay safe. Narrow lanes, trash and debris on the side of the road, and avoiding motorist blind spots are all reason enough for you to take the whole lane. Getting rear ended is a legitimate concern, but you are less likely to get hit from behind by a car that can clearly see you in front of them then a car crossing an intersection that can’t.
The following are different scenarios you will encounter on the roads and how to be the most predictable and visible.
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Right Cross
The Right Cross is when a car crossing an intersection either pulls out in front of you, and you run into them, or they run into you. This scenario usually happens when you ride too close to the right, a car at an intersection can’t see you. In order to avoid this, you should ride farther into the lane so you become more visible, and try and make eye contact with cars as you come up to intersections. If you can’t make eye contact, assume the driver can’t see you, and slow down in preparation to stop suddenly.
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Right Hook
The Right Hook happens when a car passes you, then turns right at an intersection or driveway in front of you. This can also happen at a red light, as you pass cars on their right side, and they suddenly turn right and hit you. Riding further into the lane encourages drivers that are turning right to slow and wait behind you, instead of trying to pass you suddenly. When you come to a red light, filter into the lane and wait behind the car, instead of to the right where they can’t see you. At a red light with multiple cars stopped, pass on the right very slowly, and make sure to stop in front of the car so they can see you in case they plan on turning right.
3 Left Cross The Left Hook is when a car traveling the opposite direction turns left into you. Avoid this scenario by never passing traffic on the right. In the situation where you’re traveling the same speed as motor vehicles, or faster, such as in heavy traffic, filter into the lane, and follow the flow of traffic. If you need to pass a vehicle, look behind, signal, and change to the left lane to pass.
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Rear Ended
If you follow the flow of traffic, use proper lane positions, and always look behind you when moving left, you are very unlikely to get rear ended. On streets with cars parked on the side of the road, avoid swerving in and out of the parked cars. You may be tempted to do this to get out of the way of traffic, but every time you swerve back into traffic, cars may not be expecting you.
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Door Zone
The Door Zone is the space next to parked cars where the door swings open. Always ride far enough to the left to avoid this area next to cars. Always scan into cars to see if someone may be exiting.
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DON’T RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK !
Most of the scenarios listed previously can also be avoided by not riding on the sidewalk. Vehicles will not be looking for you on the sidewalk, and you’re also a threat to run into pedestrians on foot.
HOW TO MAKE Making left turns is one of the more difficult and intimidating maneuvers you will do while cycling on the road. There are two ways you can accomplish a left turn, either the pedestrian style or vehicular style. The key to making a successful left turn is to plan ahead, be aware of traffic and bike with confidence.
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Pedestrian Style The pedestrian style is a longer process but a much safer way of turning left. Once you come to the intersection, pull over away from through traffic and cross the street as a pedestrian would. Once across, wait for the green light to advance in the new direction of travel.
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Vehicular Style Even for experienced cyclist, the vehicular style is the more intimidating way of turning left. One of the exceptions for a cyclist to travel in the left lanes is to make a left turn. As you start coming to the intersection, look and double check for oncoming cars, and begin to signal your intentions to merge left. When it is safe, move into the left turn lane, and complete the turn as a vehicle would.
Planning an appropriate route to get you to your destination is just as important as knowing the rules of the road. Just because you can legally ride on any street, doesn’t mean you should, and just because a street has a bike lane doesn’t mean it’s your best option. Google Maps allows you to see bike trails, dedicated bike lanes, as well as bicycle friendly roads, and can help you plan a safe and quick route. There are many other bike route planning websites online that a simple web search will find. When using an online route planning resource, you should keep an open mind to other roads that might be better options, avoiding high traffic roads with high speed limits, or poorly planned bike lanes. Often times a slightly longer route that has fewer cars will be faster than a shorter route with busier traffic. Exploring is one of the wonderful benefits of cycling to get around.
Riding a bicycle can be a very aggressive experience, as you move along the streets fighting for space among a car centered society, but if you’re going to give cycling a serious shot, you need to find a zen out on the roads. Cycling isn’t for everybody, but a lot of people never try, because riding on the road can sometimes be stressful, but the good far outweighs the bad. One of the key points to focus on with finding your zen, is that most of the time you’re moving slower than the rest of traffic (although not all the time), and instead of seeing that as a negative, look at the positive. You aren’t confined to the enclosed space of a car, and you’re not viewing the passing scenery through a window, you’re submersed in it. As you move slowly down the street, be a part of the city, and not just a passer by.
Some things you might hear while you’re on your bike: “Ride on the sidewalk!” “Move over Lance Armstrong!” “Get out of my way!” “Buy a Car!”
Some people in cars have a feeling of entitlement with the road, they sometimes feel like you don’t belong, and even though the law says you do, they don’t concern themselves with anything other than their inconvenience. They might honk their horn at you, or yell at you as they drive by, but stay centered in your zen, and don’t worry about some drivers unhappiness. Don’t let the negativity get you down, these people have to take their frustrations out on other people, so just know that it’s not personal, and they’re probably jealous that you’re out having fun while they’re stuck in a cramped car. Riding a bicycle allows you so much freedom, to travel far distances under your own power. The miles you leave behind are well earned, and traveling 10, 20 or even 50 miles by bicycle completely changes your perspective of distance. You are now equipped with the basic information to help you become confident on the road when on your bicycle. Get out there and always remember to be safe and have fun!
T he bicycle is one of the best inventions that has helped many people become independent and free from a car. Almost everyone can recall learning to ride their first bike, but can they remember learning the rules of the road? In a car driven society, being a bicylist can be scary when on the road. If you’re in a bike friendly neighborhood, there will be drivers that know what its like to be a bicyclist and give you room. In other places, there are some drivers that will try to bully you off the road. Anywhere you go, cars and their drivers can really hurt you if something goes wrong. In this book, you will find the knowledge to become a better cyclist for yourself and the drivers that you share the road with.