Biking through a city scares a lot of people.
Urban cycling sounds terrifying, but its not as complicated or dangerous as it seems.
The same goes for any city.
Once youre comfortable, youll forget about the dangers and just enjoy yourself.
Are you allowed to ride on sidewalks?
Is it legally safe to pass a car on the left side when youre on a bike?
To do so,The League of American Bicyclistshas ahandy guide that breaks down the laws in each state.
Theres one basic tenet though:follow the rules of the road just as you would in a car.
Dont run lights, dont cut people off, and double-check youre in the correct lane when youre turning.
The same goes for parked cars opening their doors into a bike lane.
Basically, just never assume anything of drivers when youre on a bike.
This is especially useful in the winter months when the sunset tends to creep up on you.
I likeKnog lightsbecause theyre easy to clip on and rechargeable over USB.
verify you remove those lights before you lock your bike up outside.
Theyre an easy target for thieves.
That said, the lack of gears makes them a bit troublesome for anywhere with a lot of hills.
Thats what happens when youre on a bike that doesnt fit, except youre going 30 miles per hour.
Just because youre in a bike lane doesnt mean youre behind some protective barrier.
Its a lane, and drivers will teach it as such.
Practice on side streets:Its just like riding a bike is a bogus claim.
If you havent ridden in a long time, getting on for the first time will feel weird.
Stick to side streets without a lot of cars to practice until you get comfortable.
If youre commuting, theres no shame in avoiding the big roads until youre ready.
Use Google Maps:Google Maps has cycling directions, and theyre fantastic.
If you dont know how to get around, plot out your route in Google Maps first.
Stay aware, and youll be safe.
This typically just includes a patch kit for repairing tires, but a good one includes more than that.
The Sweethomehas a fantastic guidefor what you need in a repair kit.
A patch kitfor, you guessed it, patching holes in a tube.
Hand pumpfor pumping up those tubes.
Wrenchormulti-tool, depending on your bike, you might need a wrench or multi-tool to remove the wheel.
Remember, this is a basic kit.
Always check your tire pressure before you hit the road as well.
Otherwise, regular maintenance justmeans the occasional do-it-yourself tune up.
If things feel funky when you ride, your bike needs adjustments.
This usually means just a tiny little half-turn of a screw somewhere.
Lock Up Your Bike Correctly
Bikes get stolen all the time.
Its just one of those things thats bound to happen.
The best throw in of bike lock is aU-lock like this.
The more people that are around your bike, the better.
As with any hobby, there are dozens of other things to think about and learn.
But all that stuff depends on what jot down of biking you want to do.
Remixed by Tara Jacoby.
