Other Good Stuff from the Bicycle Kitchen

Riding the City:

1. The most important thing about riding in the city is that you MUST BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRAFFIC AND YOU BELONG IN THE STREET!!! Yes city traffic is dangerous. Yes cars are moving fast. Yes cars are bigger than you. Yes cars are not watching for you. But if you ride like you BELIEVE you are traffic (which you legally are) you will be safer and riding Los Angeles will be the best experience ever!

2. The next most important thing is to be visible. Be loud! Make yourself noticeable, wear a wig or whatever, but make sure those motorists know you're there.You have to be in plain view all the time while riding through the city. A good rule of thumb is to stay a car door's width away from parked cars and keep that position. When the parked cars end, don't swerve into the open space, be consistent and hold your position and remember that you are traffic and belong exactly where you are - in the flow of traffic.

3. Don't ride on the sidewalk, entering the street at every corner and then back up on the sidewalk is unsafe and inconsistent. Cars will not know that you are entering the street and when they go to make a turn they could easily run you over. Be visible all the time. Also, the sidewalk is a bad idea cuz you are trying to get somewhere right? It will take you forever on the sidewalk. Hit the street and ride yo!

4. The city streets at night - are the BEST!!! None of our lives stop when the sun goes down - many of our lives actually are just beginning - cuz your job ain't your life right? It is the law that all bicycles must have lights on them while riding at night. The Police can and sometimes do pull you over if you do not have lights on your ride. More importantly you will be - yup - VISIBLE if you use lights while riding at night, and that will help make you safer. Don't change anything about the way you ride at night from your daytime style - keep being part of traffic and keep a consistent position in the street. Man, Los Angeles ROCKS at night - the taco trucks, the lights, the folks waiting for the bus, the temperature, going out to the clubs - everything in L.A. is better at night if you are riding a bicycle. Folks going out in their cars will be searching for parking spaces and you will be pulling right up to the front door of the club ready to boogie - whoooweeeee! And then when you want to head to the next hot spot, BOOM, there is your ride, front and center ready to roll!!!
(Jeff - This isn't true about KC. The loneliest place in KC is downtown at night. It's slowly, no, glacially, changing but downtown at night is a fun place to ride.)
5. Now we are not anybody's mothers, but - It is very important to wear a helmet. Some folks don't - that's cool. Personally I think it is foolish to not wear a helmet. The best rider in town, will all the skills, and the slickest ride can be hit by a car that broke the law or was not watching. No amount of cool will save your skull from breaking into a jigsaw puzzle once it hits the ground - WEAR YOUR HELMETS!!!!