Recently, I have been watching and hearing people talk about where they should ride their bike. I believe it mostly depends on your needs and the type of bike you are using but there are some basic rules that all bike riders follow. I know this because I have been riding bikes for my entire life and have not had a car for most of it. I have used bikes as my only mode of transportation for many years and I have biked daily in cities like Seattle, New York, Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles. I have also spend plenty of time riding outside the city and on various mountains so this is general information that you should be able to use for years to come.
1) Bikers ride with traffic on the right side of the road in the US. Sometimes people from the NE of the US who have not biked much believe you should bike like you walk. Wrong. Bikes need to travel at high speeds to commute effectively and this can only be done with traffic. If you were to hit a car or a pedestrian going the opposite direction death would be very possible. Stay safe and bike on the right.
There is exceptions to this such as when there is a right turn only lane at a stop light in the US. Then the biker should be stopped on the right side of the right most lane that will continue straight. This way cars can still turn left safely and the biker can start traveling with traffic when the light changes.
2) Use bike paths when possible when riding in the city. Almost every city in the world now has bike paths and a quick search on the web will reveal many bike paths that you may not know about. Be sure to coordinate your trip with easy access on a safe public bike path.
When biking on a bike path be sure to right on the right, use a white 180 degree light at dark, and be friendly to the other bikers. You are not required by law to stop and help if someone is injured but if there is no one that will get to an injured person quickly you should try to help by calling 911.
3) Mountain bike in an area that you are familiar with (or be very safe and hold back), others should know where you are, and make sure they know when you should be back and who to call. It is best to mountain bike with a few friends in a location that is safe, public, and has easy access if you need to be air lifted or taken off the hill.
Be careful you do not get too aggressive while going down hills and considering large jumps. Take the jump slowly at first when possible until you have mastered it and can safety try it faster. Ride in the mountains only in well lit environments and I do not suggest ever riding in the mountains at night.
4) Don’t bike on the sidewalk. I have recently even seen staff from the city transportation department bike on the sidewalk and it is just not safe or appropriate for anyone involved. Today, the city transportation employees on bikes almost hit a pregnant lady trying to walk down the sidewalk to work. It does not leave room for people to walk safely and you would be going against traffic in many cases.
If there are any youth, children, or anyone that may move unexpectedly you should always bike well away from them. Just going slow around kids on or off a sidewalk is not enough because they may dart out in front of the bike and get injured or worse.
If there is no one on the walk way for miles or if it is the only safe place to be then sometimes the sidewalk is your only option but in 99% of the cases be on the right side of the road and leave the sidewalk for walking.
Ambulance parked in red keeping bikes from traveling on right.
When riding your bike in the city it is appropriate to use hand signals:
- Left turn: Left arm out straight
- Right turn: Left arm 90 degree angle up
- Slow down: Left arm 90 degree angle down
- It is best to use the left arm and use your right arm to drive.
Enjoy biking, help your friends understand how to do it easily, and it will help keep you healthy and your community less polluted with carbon monoxide and auto waste. Always wear your helmet!
Also, don’t take my word for it. Here is what others have to say about where to ride your bike from all over the US and the names have been removed for privacy:
“I hate sidewalk bikers. No sidewalk bicycling is an ordinance in Everett: and I’ve been clipped by bike cops on the sidewalks up there more than once.” -Seattle, WA
“A bike cop came THISCLOSE to hitting me on the sidewalk in downtown Seattle a couple of weeks ago. I actually thought it was illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, but I guess not?” -Portland, OR
“(I) watched a dude take out a 5 yr old with his bike. and he took off. We tried to catch him, but could only shout obscenities” and “just speeding through a very crowded festival. No business being on a bike inside the Seattle center at any time, much less festival time.” -Seattle, WA
“We have bike lanes here and it still doesn’t stop them from using the sidewalks. Here is what happened this last summer…this little boy ended up having to get surgery on his head, to do with getting hit” and “We don’t have cops that ride bikes here but we are a large college town were most people are from out of state coming here for school, most take buses, walk, and ride bikes. Now not everyone is like this, because I do know many responsible students, but for the majority in the morning traffic those that aren’t from here” -Iowa
I believe that covers it. Don’t ride on the sidewalk near people because it is not safe and be sure to follow the other guidelines or leave your response here.