Advocacy & Safety - Don't have a liscence to drive. Never driven a car in my life. But I want to bike.

On the roads. And I'm 16. Is that legal? And even if it is, is it a horrible idea? I just want to bike to places that would normally take me 40 min or an hour to walk to. Can somebody give me some basic advice so I don't die? (Oh yeah, I'm not really in shape either. Not fat but... I don't bike much or anything. Don't really exercise for the sake of exercising). And I haven't started drivers ed.

It's legal to ride a bike on any public road, other than certain controlled access freeways. It's not a horrible idea. In fact, it's a brilliant idea.

You don't need a license of any kind, but you do have to follow traffic laws. Go with traffic, not against it. Stop for stoplights and stop signs. Yield right of way when you don't have it. Certain other laws apply only to bikes: if you're traveling at less than the prevailing speed, you have to stay to the right as far as practicable. And since you're under 18, you have to wear a helmet in California and many other states. Check to see if you're required to wear one where you live.

And you will die. Eventually. Just probably not from riding your bike.

I would recommend reading through a drivers manual just to learn the rules of the road.

You'll find some excellent material for review at John Allen's web site: http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/index.htm

Read Street Smarts and ride with confidence.

You do have a legal right to use the road.

Find your state bicycle laws and read those. Ask questions on what you do not understand or are unsure of in the laws.

+1 all these ideas about learning the rules of the road, and the Streets Smarts booklet is great. Also check out http://massbike.org/skills/traffic.htm, a more general conceptual overview. (It assumes you know how to drive a car, but it is a good overview anyway.)

But also, don't overlook the possibility of learning more bike handling skills than you may have if you haven't ridden much since being a kid. Make sure you can:

ride in a straight line,
look behind you without swerving (or use a mirror, but looking is better),
maintain control while signalling turns,
use your gears, and
brake quickly without going over the handlebars (trick: get off the seat and lean back to counteract the forward momentum).

You can practice all these in an empty parking lot if you need to.

It probably will be more challenging without knowing how to drive a car, but like driving a car, you do get better with experience, and when (if) you do take Driver's Ed, you'll be that much further ahead.

And don't worry about not being in shape. That comes with time. You'll huff and puff the first week or so, but it will get better. I was never into being in shape for its own sake either, and I'm still skinny and flabby, except with a better cardiovascular system and sexy thighs! :thumb:

It will also be a lot easier if you have a bike that fits and if it is adjusted to your size. The seat should be set so, with you leg completely straight, you can just rest your heel on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke. Practice on quiet streets before you go on the busy ones. A helmet mounted mirror helps keep you aware of what the traffic is behind you. It is easier to carry things on the bike (basket or rear rack) than on your back. A helmet is a good idea but not necessary - more head injuries arise from falling down stairs than bike riding. Good luck.

Congratulations for deciding to start biking. It's probably not as dangerous as you think.

Since you've never driven, and you've never biked in traffic, it might be a little bit scary the first few times you ride on busy roads (depending on the speed limit, and how polite the drivers are). I know that I felt weird the first time I took the lane on a bike. Read the Street Smarts guidebook that SeattleShaun posted. Just practice and gain confidence in your ability, and that will go away.

Also, if you spend much time biking in traffic, you will probably be a safer driver once you get your license.

It's a lot easier to ride on busy roads if you stay at least 2 feet inside the lane - the first time I rode on a busy rural road, I rode 1-2 inches from the edge of the road - needless to say, I was squeezed off quite a few times in half a mile. After I started riding a few feet inside the lane, I've only been squeezed off the road once (which is much less than the number of close encounters I've had when driving).

Don't worry too much about it. Wear a helmet. Generally ride as a car would (not on the sidewalk, not opposite lane against oncoming traffic) Know that you are practically invisible to cars and they will do things that perplex logic.

+1 on learning to look behind yourself without swerving. thats the first thing one should get used to before heading out into traffic. also, try and plan your route on side streets. even if you have to go a little out of the way it can make your ride more enjoyable, maybe even faster if you can avoid stoplights. bring a map with you if you arent totally familiar with your area. it can come in handy if the route you planned turns out to be unfit for cycling.

See if you have a local bike group. Check the bike shops or Google for some info. You may find a good community of cyclists that will help you get set up and find some routes around your city. Some might even offer to take a ride and give you some pointers.

First thing is, don't ride in traffic if you don't have to. In a lot of cases, you can find side streets that'll get you there without having to ride on the busier roads.

If you get a chance, do take driver's ed and learn to drive. Even if you don't drive much, it'll give you a better appreciation for what drivers are doing.

Another great resource, if you can find it, is John Franklin's "Cyclecraft," although you will have to mirror-image everything, because he is British. :)

qliss,

One of the benefits of having driven a car--especially on a commute, chore run--is to see the monotony of it. To realize how difficult it is to pay attention when you drive.

It is good to be aware of this.

Make yourself as visible as you can.

And keep on checking A&S. I have learned so much from these fine people. Try not to choose sides just consider the discussions though, otherwise A&S will make you a violent individual.

Even by just casually browsing this forum you will quickly realize who to look out for when you ride (i.e. right and left turners) etc. etc.

Nice.. this Streetsmarts booklet is pretty good!

See qliss, I've been browsing these forums for years and always learn new things here :).

if you get a chance, do take driver's ed and learn to drive. Even if you don't drive much, it'll give you a better appreciation for what drivers are doing.


+1

On the roads. And I'm 16. Is that legal? And even if it is, is it a horrible idea? In general it's legal and a good idea. However, if you're going to ask `is it legal?' you need to tell us where you are. Laws vary from place to place.

Maybe you should talk to your parents about it first too.

Maybe you should talk to your parents about it first too.

They'll almost certainly worry, but it's probably better to be proactive about it. Obviously they're going to notice you going out on your bike, so it won't be a secret long. Hopefully they'll worry less if they see that you've thought about your safety (more than many teenagers do) and are taking steps to to maximize it. Feel free to point them to this discussion, and to any of the resources we've mentioned, and send any of us a private message if they have more concerns. (Speaking for myself at least.)

And speaking of safety:

Wear bright clothing
Wear a helmet
Use lights if you will be out at night (can be purchased at most any bike store; red taillights are cheap, buy several, and a headlight)

Check sig:

Is this a legit post? A 16 year-old asking if it's legal to ride on the road? So, he/she is 16, has a bike and the desire to get to places faster than if walking, and he/she is 16 (I know, I said that already), and has never tried riding the bike to get there?

I have a hard time believing this isn't a phony post.

Caruso

Get a rear view mirror. Wear a reflective vest. Put Lights on the Bike.

Keep an eye on the rear view mirror, and if you see a Large Truck, or an obviously dangerous driver, move over.

Wear a helmet.

Is this a legit post? A 16 year-old asking if it's legal to ride on the road? So, he/she is 16, has a bike and the desire to get to places faster than if walking, and he/she is 16 (I know, I said that already), and has never tried riding the bike to get there?

Unfortunately possible... A lot of parents don't introduce kids to cycling at all, or if they do, forbid them to ride on the roads. This person may live in an area that is not generally accepting of road riding.

Thanks everyone for the replies

And yeah its legit. It never occurred to me to ride my bike places till now. I did go on bike rides with them when I was younger but it was on bike paths. They do worry a lot (hence why I haven't taken drivers ed.) so they wouldn't let me and I'm not going to tell them. Just go places when they're gone.

When I was a kid (sorry.. ;)), we didn't have bike paths. If we did, I certainly didn't know about them. My friend and I would ride our 20" coaster brake bikes miles and miles, going to the motorcycle shop, across town to a burger joint, etc.

You also say that they worry so much that they haven't taken you to driver's ed. Really? I would think that, if they were worried about you being able to drive, they'd make sure that you get some decent training.

I also think that you'll still have to tell them somehow when & where you'll be riding. That way, if something bad happens, they'll know where to start looking for you. The trick will be to get them comfortable about you venturing past the end of the block. Maybe offer to pick up some milk at the store down the street or something like that.

Some of my earliest on-my-own ventures away from home, at least besides walking to kindergarten, were walking to the drug store to pick up my mom's blood pressure medicine. I was a lot younger than 16, though, so it seems like you've got some catching up to do.

if you see a Large Truck, ... move over.

Sorry, I feel a need to challenge this one. If the OP is already riding in an appropriate place, moving over (I'm assuming you mean farther to the right) is by definition putting him in an inappropriate place, maybe in amongst bad pavement, debris, or a place where there is just plain not enough room. Further, that movement is going to signal as an invitation to the truck driver that it is okay to pass, which now will be too close and/or more dangerous because the OP is in a bad spot for it.

I know it takes some cojones (sp?), but if you don't feel you have enough room to the right to move over in that direction any farther, just hold your line. Or if you are uncomfortable being passed where you are, you can even move to the left a bit more. This is a clearer signal to those behind you that you are claiming your space on the road, and if they want to pass, they need to put a little thought into it first.

If this frightens you at first, and you feel you must move to the right, slow down as you do it, or maybe even stop until the bad traffic is past you. Nothing wrong with that sometimes. I do it often when riding in a snowstorm, when I am usually using the right tire tracks of cars as my default position due to impossible conditions on the side.

OP, good luck, esp. with the parents. Obviously it's your choice whether to tell them or not, but I'm betting they'll find out sooner or later, maybe when you get a little lax about sneaking around all the time.