Riding a Bike in NYC: The Do’s and Don’ts

Tired of the subway? Try biking.

With all of the hustle and bustle throughout New York City, it’s easy to forget that not everyone takes an Uber, rides a subway, or walks everywhere they go.  Biking in NYC is becoming more popular, and the summer is a perfect time to try biking in the five boroughs for the first time.  If you’re nervous –that’s okay! There’s a lot going on in NYC and the roads are no different, but here are some simple do’s and don’ts to make biking in NYC a lot easier.

Don’t: Ignore bike safety.

Remember the turning signs you learned in Driver’s Education? They might have felt silly then, but they’re helpful to know when you’re on a bike.  Before you go biking, brush up on your safety techniques and road rules – NYC DOT is a good resource to start with. Since New York is a city of pedestrians, be conscious of walkers, runners, dogs, strollers, etc, and even if no one’s around, don’t speed.

Do: Wear a helmet!

Even if you’re biking in a quiet, residential neighborhood, wear a helmet and other protective biking gear.
Make sure your helmet fits well, doesn’t block your eyesight, and that the strap fits securely under your chin. There’s  no such thing as being too safe, so if you want to increase your safety by wearing elbow or knee pads – do it! NYC offers free helmets, get more info in the DOT link above.

Be safe! {Photo credit}

Don’t: Ride on sidewalks.

Riding a bicycle can be dangerous to others if you ride it in places meant for pedestrians only.  Never ride your bike on a sidewalk, even if there are no other people on it at the time.  Instead, get off and walk your bicycle to the next street. That’s much safer for everyone, and people will thank you for it.

Do: Use bike lanes.

Bike lanes are the safest place to ride your bike in NYC, even in the city’s most crowded areas. Usually, lanes are marked by green paint or white marks on the road, so they are clearly separate from car traffic. Make sure to note which direction the bike lane is going, as bike lanes only go one way.  (If you want to go a different direction, you may have to ride to a different street a few blocks away.)

Don’t: Ride in crowded areas.

areas do have bike lanes, the amount of foot traffic makes it near impossible to navigate safely. You’ll ultimately save time by using a side street a few blocks away, so don’t be afraid to take the longer route.

Use bike lanes. {Photo credit}

Do: Carry a map.

Despite the easy-to-navigate grid system, it helps to have a map on hand so you can plan out your bike route. One-way bike lanes can make city biking tricky, so having an easy-to-access resource pays off in the long run.

NYC Bike Maps has borough-specific options you can use on your smartphone, and Google Maps can also provide bike-specific directions.

Don’t: Be afraid to rent a bike!

CitiBike – NYC’s bike share system – is a fun and affordable way to navigate NYC.  So long as your bike ride
will be shorter than 45 minutes (the allotted time per CitiBike ride), you can avoid the hassle of carrying a bike
lock and finding a safe spot to lock up your bicycle.  Simply drop off the CitiBike at the station closest to your destination. If you’re visiting NYC, you can sign up for a one-day CitiBike pass to try it out.

Do: Join a biking organization.

If you want to make some new friends while you ride your bike, there are several New York City bike clubs that support new riders, hold events, and can serve as a friendly resource.  Bike New York, WE Bike NYC, and the New York Bicycling Coalition are just some of the groups you can join – but plenty of others will also welcome you with open arms.

Happy biking! {Photo credit}

Posted on July 5, 2016

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