My Top Tips for Bike Riding in the City!
This is what happened to me in the fall of 2020. I somehow managed to get a 2” long rusty nail stuck in the side of my solid rubber tire. It got caught up on my rear rack and brought me to a screeching halt. I was lucky to retain control of the bike and get out of the road and onto the sidewalk.
About a month after this happened, the same rear tire slipped on the painted crosswalk lines in the road. I went flying, scraped up my face and fractured my thumb. In my 35 years of riding a bike in the city, these two incidents proved to me that anything can happen, at any time. You’re not expecting it, that’s why its called an accident. I soon after traded in that dark, heavy, uncomfortable “commuter” bike towards my light, bright & beautiful fuji road bike and have a new found love, (or obsession) for bicycling. Though I've been riding all along, I now really look forward to each and every ride and try to enjoy every moment!
So here’s MY list for safe & happy biking in the city.
me and my goofy helmet
#1 - Wear a Helmet
This is a no-brainer. Yes, you will look like a dork. Wear your helmet, it might save your life! I have a small mirror attached to mine that allows me to see the entire road behind me so I don’t have to turn my head so often.
this is called a Sharrow!
#2 - Obey Traffic Laws
The above image is called a Sharrow. It is the recommended lane or area that bicyclists should travel on the road to avoid opening doors and turning cars. Most drivers in the city do not understand that bicyclists are encouraged to use the entire lane, so they become impatient, beeping or speeding around you, most times just to end up at a red light where you will then pull up next to them. Follow the rules and pay attention to cars on both sides of you. Road rage is real for cars and bicycles as well. Don’t get angry, just back off and breathe. You will probably still arrive at your destination quicker than if you were driving a car.
Stop at red lights and wait until they turn green. Some drivers do actually appreciate this and will in turn give bicyclists more respect. We need to start by giving the drivers respect as well.
Stay in the bike lane, if there is one. Follow the arrows. You should not be riding the wrong direction in a bike lane. Same goes for one way streets!
Don’t ride on the sidewalk, it is for people to walk on! (get it, sideWALK?) If you do have to get off the road, WALK with your bike on the sidewalk. There’s nothing more annoying than someone zipping around on the sidewalk dodging people on their bike!
If you’re at a light and get a walk signal, be considerate of the pedestrians, after all it’s their time to cross. If you must go, let them pass first, or better yet, walk your bike across the road.
Don’t f**k with the bus!
#3 - Always Assume that you are not seen
Like it says on the back of the MBTA buses, “CAUTION, If you cannot see my mirrors then I cannot see you”. If you’re coming up on a bus getting ready to pull over in a bus stop to pick someone up or let someone off, stop and wait behind them. Don’t mess with the bus. They have very good, patient drivers who have a schedule to keep.
ALWAYS assume that drivers do not see you. Putting your arm out to signal a turn doesn’t mean that you are safe to do so. Drivers have a lot going on, including looking at their phones, putting on makeup, smoking pot, eating their fast food, and dealing with the challenges and frustrations that go along with their daily driving lives. I had a car for years and will never have one again as long as I’m in the city. The freedom is amazing; no parking woes, snow shoveling or pothole damage! And dear drivers, to paraphrase the wonderful Sharon Salzberg, you ARE the traffic! don’t take out your frustration on us bike commuters! Get a smaller car, carpool, take public transportation, or get a bike!
my rear red flashing light!
#4 - Gear yourself up
In addition to the mandatory bike helmet, there are other things that will be helpful so you can travel easily and do most everything with your bike.
Get a rear fender to avoid back splash from rain or slush puddles. There are many different light & inexpensive versions that just clip on to your seat post. There is no worse feeling than wet pants at work all morning, or “mud butt” as I like to call it. Trust me, you don’t want that liquid touching any part of you. Boston, you may be my home, but I do not love that dirty water.
Get a set of lights. I have a usb rechargeable set from ApaceVision. The set includes a front light that has 3 different brightness levels and a super obnoxious blinking mode. Cars usually get out of the way automatically when I use this mode at night - no lie. It also includes a rear red light thats able to tie onto many different parts of the back of your bike with the included silicon attachment band. It has steady and crazy blinking modes as well.
Next thing I recommend is a pair of sunglasses. The pair I use has interchangeable lenses, including a yellow lens for night riding. No more bugs in your eyes! Also helps keep your eyes from tearing up (and then freezing into ice cubes) in the winter months.
Another thing I really like having is a small bell to let other bicyclists know you’re going to pass them or to alert pedestrians that are standing in the street. I’ve tried a few different ones but found my tiny ottolock bell to be just loud enough to do the job.
If you don’t care about the weight of your bike, you can get a rear rack, pannier bags, or a front basket for shopping trips. I used to have a rear rack but now want the least amount of add-ons because I am enjoying the ultra lightness of my bike!
Other things you can get are a small tire inflator pump, tools and patch kit, if you will be traveling out of the city. I like to keep wet wipes and a small bottle of dry chain lube with me as well.
Double-lock your quick-release wheels!
#5 Invest in a good lock
I bought this bright orange Ottolock set for keeping my bike secure in the city! It includes a u-lock with a soft rubbery silicon coating to protect the paint on my bike, along with a lightweight combination cinch lock to use when I think I might need a little extra protection from thieves!
Recently, I saw a teenage kid come out to find his bike gone at stop & shop. I asked him if he had locked it up, and he said “no, i was just running in for a minute”. Always lock up your bike, even for dipping into a store for a second. Make sure it’s attached to a bike rack, parking meter or sign post that is permanently embedded in the ground. Double lock it if you have quick-release tires!
my Bike Nook rack!
#6 - keep your bike in good shape
Find a good bike shop, preferably close by, that you trust and are willing to hand over your hard earned cash to. Yes, you can get cheaper parts on Amazon, but it’s much better to support the local shops.
Keep your bike clean, especially after wet rides. In the winter months, salt will wear down your brake pads quicker than usual. I now store my bike inside my apartment with a great freestanding rack.
Strava GPS ride
#7 - have fun!
Get a fitbit or other smartwatch to track your rides, mileage, heart rate, and calories burned.
Take it one step further and get an app like Strava to track your speed and more! You can join clubs to have some friendly competition and become the “local legend” for routes you travel often!
Be kind, be considerate and enjoy your ride!
