Of course I felt fear as well. Could I survive New York City traffic? Would I be safe? Would I be able to dodge aggressive taxicabs and distracted tourists? Would pedestrians jet out in front of me while I’m traveling down a hill, sending me propelling forward over my handle bars?
As you can see, I am not an urban bicycling expert, which is the perfect reason to write this article. Since making the decision to commute by bicycle, I have discovered a tremendous amount of helpful resources for bicycle commuters and have found that traveling on city streets is not as frightening as I imagined. If you are not a bicycle commuter, but have bounced the idea around in your head, I am guessing that your feelings are much like mine were, so I decided to share all of these great resources with you!
If you don’t have a bicycle yet, don’t worry. You don’t need one to attend Bike New York’s hour and a half Bike Commuting 101 workshop. Bike New York is an organization dedicated to encouraging the use of bicycles for recreation and transportation, and to promoting safe bicycling in the city. They offer free workshops to help new cyclists learn everything from how to purchase the right bike for their needs to developing confident traffic skills. Bike Commuting 101 increased my own confidence and excitement about bicycling in the city. Their all day Savvy Cyclist course taught me preventative riding techniques, which ended with a four-mile group ride. Check out their other courses and events at Bikenewyork.org.
If you don’t have time to attend a class (although I highly recommend it), there are some great online resources to learn about safe riding. Www.bicyclesafe.com offers important tips on how not to get hit by cars—something I think we both would agree is a top priority. http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm goes in depth about all sorts of riding situations and also provides useful information about bicycle accessories like mirrors and helmets.
Once you’ve purchased your bicycle, you will want to keep it safe from theft. Bicycle theft is big business in New York City and everyone who keeps a bicycle outdoors at any time should consider themselves at risk. If you plan to leave your bicycle, even for a few seconds, getting a good lock is important. You will find a great article on bicycle theft and locks here, http://www.slate.com/id/2140083. From my research, Kryptonite New York City locks seem to be the best, with the New York U-Lock coming in first place. Experienced riders will tell you to lock your frame and wheels to a sturdy pole, one that is high enough that the lock can’t be lifted over easily. Many people lock their frame and front or back wheel to the pole with a U-Lock and the remaining wheel to the frame with a cable or chain. Cables can easily be clipped through, so if you have a really expensive wheel, read the Slate article or talk to your local bicycle shop about the best option for you. You also may find that you want to lock down your seat. I know, I know, but the benefits of riding are worth it.
Along with locks there are a few other tools you will want to have. A bicycle helmet is a must. Although it is not illegal to ride without a helmet if you are over fourteen years old, helmets can mean the difference between keeping your brain intact or damaging it if you are ever in an accident. If you ride at night, law requires a white headlight for the front of your bike and red light for the back. You will also need a bell to alert others that you are approaching when necessary. All of these things can be found at most bicycle shops.
For getting around town, Ride the City, www.ridethecity.com, is a new Web site and great resource for cyclists. When you enter your starting address and destination, it will tell you the safest route to get there. Ride the City will take you along bike paths when they’re available and will show you the streets that have bike lanes. If you are not worried about using the safest route, Ride the City also offers you the option to view the most direct route.
A Few More Things
Don’t ride on the sidewalks. It’s actually more dangerous for both you and the pedestrians walking on them. Also, make sure you always ride with traffic. Don’t even consider riding against traffic, even if you’re in a bike lane. You’ll see people do this occasionally, but it just makes things difficult for everyone, plus it’s against the law.
I have found so much joy in riding everywhere these last few weeks. I am amazed by how quickly I can get places. I do not miss waiting for delayed trains to arrive while sitting in humid subway stations, and because I enjoy bicycling so much, I will often go to places in the city that were just too difficult to get to via subway.
I hope you’ll give riding a try! If you do, drop me a line and let me know how it goes.
More great resources are available at the sites below:
•Transportation alternatives for connecting with other cyclists and exciting group rides
http://www.transalt.org/
•News, events, rules, advice, etc. for cyclists in New York: www.bikingrules.org
•How not to lock your bike: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/hal-grades-your-bike-locking/
Melissa King is a life and wellness coach in New York City. She works with women on weight loss, better success in dating, and career satisfaction. Her Web site is http://www.myheartdances.com. Contact her at melissa@myheartdances.com.