So Y'all Want To Bike In LA. Hither's How To Get Started

Published July 22, 2019

You've already achieved Step 1.

Considering to bicycle in L.A. is the hardest part!

The city'southward history has made it very clear that cars rule the roads.

For example, Fifty.A. took some heat off of drivers for pedestrian fatalities by being one of the get-go cities to identify blame on people for walking into the streets, and then information technology criminalized jaywalking. And a more recent LAPD campaign nearly pedestrian safety suggested that walkers wear reflective vests as opposed to, say, that drivers should exist safer.

Only by police force, bicyclists take the aforementioned rights to the roads as vehicles — fifty-fifty if it doesn't feel like it all the fourth dimension.

And there are means to go far work. Biking is my primary mode of transportation always since I moved to L.A. in 2012, and information technology'southward how I frequently become to the part, to interviews, and more.

Since you lot want to take to two wheels, too, hither'due south my advice on where to begin.

Mayor Eric Garcetti is seen biking along Wilshire Boulevard during CicLAvia in 2017.

Mayor Eric Garcetti is seen biking along Wilshire Boulevard during CicLAvia in 2017. (Courtesy Mayor Eric Garcetti via Flickr Creative Commons)

CONSIDER THE BENEFITS

Biking can brand a lot more sense than driving in many scenarios.

You don't need to rummage an area to discover parking, for example. If I'yard out, I'll ofttimes lock up on a bike rack, parking sign, parking meter, etc.

Depending on the area, y'all besides won't be slowed downwards by traffic. In fact, information technology might be faster than driving. There are many times when I've blazed by a line of backed-upwardly cars in downtown L.A., Culver City, Santa Monica and more during rush 60 minutes.

The thrifty should also know that biking is a smashing workout – recollect of it like SoulCycle, but for costless.

Speaking of money, if y'all always decide to give up your machine completely and stick with walking/transit/biking, it can save you a bunch. When I sold my VW Golf years ago, I figured I saved about $700 each calendar month (car payment, insurance, gas, parking, etc).

START Minor

Call up of the usual routes you take that are pretty brusque and are mostly on quieter side streets.

Perhaps it's to get a few things from the grocery shop a few blocks abroad, to run into up with friends at a nearby coffee shop, or drop books off at the library.

You'll be able to get comfy with bicycling by doing these trips you lot're already familiar with that aren't also enervating.

GET YOUR GEAR

Information technology won't accept a lot to go you started. Obvi, a bike is necessary. Just get the right one for the task.

If y'all'll mostly exist riding slowly on a variety of terrain similar sand and gravel, beach cruisers are a fine choice. They are cute and easy to ride because of their wide wheels and heavy frame. However, they're non really built for speed or hills.

If y'all plan to get faster on city streets or up and down a fair amount of inclines, and then opt for a route or hybrid bicycle. Thinner wheels mean a quicker ride. The faint of eye will desire ane with several gears to deal with the many, many hills of Los Angeles.

If yous're a newbie to how gears piece of work, start with a low gear once you brainstorm to pedal. Then when information technology becomes too easy, switch to a higher gear so more than of that pedal power gets you lot going faster. Only when you striking a loma, downshift to a lower gear so your legs don't have to piece of work as hard to button you up.

Finally, if you don't want to buy one correct abroad, at that place are many cycle share programs in the region to get you started and comfortable on a bike. Here'south a few:

  • Los Angeles (Metro Bike Share)

  • Santa Monica (Breeze Bike Share)

  • Beverly Hills Bike Share

  • Westward Hollywood (WeHo Pedals)

  • Long Beach Bike Share

Santa Monica Breeze bike share bikes are shown in a stock photo from 2015.

Santa Monica Cakewalk bike share bikes are shown in a stock photo from 2015. (Serena Grace via Flickr Creative Commons)

If y'all do own a bike, become a good lock – cable locks and concatenation links can exist hands cut through, so invest in a U-lock of some kind. Recall that the best strategy is to accept your wheel more secure than the one side by side to information technology, and that there are right and incorrect ways to lock it upward.

Personally, I fit the U-lock around my back bike AND the triangle part of the frame, with an extra cable looped around the front wheel.

Credit: Leo Duran

(Leo Duran/LAist)

Credit: Leo Duran

(Leo Duran/LAist)

The availability of bicycle racks can be hit-or-miss in the region, only remember that locking up to a tall parking sign or a parking meter are good alternatives.

Invest in a wheel helmet, besides. Technically, only children 17 years old and nether are required to wear helmets in California. Even so, I'm a firm believer that it just takes one bad spill to change your life forever, so everyone could do good from wearing i.

Every bit a beginner, don't worry most spending a fortune on i – many affordable models charge per unit very highly in scientific tests. But I highly recommend ones with vents since that aeration volition go along you lot cool in the dominicus (and I promise they don't mess upward hair as much as you lot might worry they will).

Bicyclists at the intersection of Spring and 3rd Streets in downtown L.A. The city recently reconfigured the lanes so cyclists have to cross diagonally to where the bike lane continues on the opposite side of the street.

Bicyclists at the intersection of Spring and third Streets in downtown L.A. The city recently reconfigured the lanes and so cyclists take to cross diagonally to where the bike lane continues on the opposite side of the street. (Leo Duran/LAist)

And to make sure you're seen at night, you may want to get a reflective belong and ankle cuffs. Forepart-facing lights are important, also, and actually required by law.

Once y'all've reached a certain level in your biking expertise, at that place are several companies that make bicycle-specific apparel that are perfect for the role or everyday article of clothing (check out our reviews of some of them from a few years ago). No Spandex necessary.

TRY NOT TO Bike ON THE SIDEWALK

A first-timer'southward mistake is to ride nearly exclusively on the sidewalk. Information technology might brand sense because it feels safer to be away from traffic.

But it can exist surprisingly unsafe.

A bike on a Los Angeles sidewalk.

A bike on a Los Angeles sidewalk. (Susanica Tam for LAist)

Riding on the sidewalk means that you're harder for cars to detect at intersections and crosswalks. Plus pedestrians and vehicles are liable to announced of a sudden from driveways, entryways and from around corners at whatsoever time and into your mode.

Biking on sidewalks is also illegal in unlike cities across the region — it's legal in L.A. city, for instance, but against the law in Santa Monica and Manhattan Embankment.

By and large, it tin be safer to stick to wheel lanes or roads, ideally on the right side whenever possible (except, for example, when turning left).

If you have worries about sharing a lane with traffic, in that location's a footling psychology on your side.

Stay with me, but if there's not plenty room for a car to pass you lot, don't automatically veer as far right equally y'all can perchance be. I've learned that it encourages vehicles to get extremely close when they endeavor to get by, which is dangerous for everyone involved.

Instead, be dauntless and take upward the entire lane. Then, when there is a good opportunity and more than than enough infinite, motion bated. Drivers might be frustrated for a few seconds in their commute, merely they will tiresome down or alter lanes to make sure they don't striking you.

Yous'll both eventually get to where y'all need to be, and no one was hurt in the process.

Sign up for our daily newsletter, and we'll send y'all our latest guides — along with the news you need to alive your best life in L.A.

Exist PREDICTABLE

No driver or pedestrian likes a bicyclist who does any he or she wants on the road. There are plenty of those people out in that location already, and they create a bad proper noun for the balance of us.

But exist the change you desire to see in the globe, and exist courteous.

The easiest rule to remember is that every bit a bicyclist, y'all are obligated to follow all the rules of the road similar cars – stop at stop signs, yield to pedestrians, give the correct-of-mode at intersections, etc.

Use proper hand signals, likewise, to communicate which manner yous're headed.

Diagram of proper bike hand signals.

Diagram of proper bike manus signals. (Courtesy City of Boston)

NOW THAT Y'all'VE GOT THE HANG OF IT

When you're fix to accept longer wheel rides, I've found Google Maps to be a expert outset at devising the all-time routes that use a combination of bike lanes and side streets. When you encounter the road in real life, though, just remember to trust your ain senses on whether the path is really the best ane for yous. If yous're nervous virtually biking in and around traffic, nosotros also accept a list of L.A.'southward best bicycle rides in areas that are car-free or have very calorie-free traffic.

There are some really great hangouts right off of bicycle trails, as well. Spoke Wheel Cafe is alongside the LA River Bike Path, and it's great for a snack or beer. You'll be able to catch some great views by cycling on a beachside route like Long Embankment'southward Shoreline pedestrian/bicycle path.

Finally, find a local bike shop with friendly staff to help you with maintenance. Information technology can be a hard job considering, even among bicyclists, nosotros know that some shops are nicer to work with than others.

A FEW CAVEATS

Now that you lot're a lilliputian more comfy biking in Fifty.A., here are a few doses of reality:

SoCal's crumbling roads aren't ever in the best condition for bikes or cars, with potholes ravaging the pavement. So depending on where you go, it might be a rocky experience. And L.A. keeps battling on whether bike lanes should exist built in the first identify.

On top of that, Los Angeles drivers aren't the best – a study by GasBuddy reports that Angelenos are the about aggressive in the state behind the wheel. Safety is a abiding and very real business concern — lookout man out for yourself at all times.

Likewise, I never kid myself: L.A. can get really, really hot. Sometimes I won't bike because I don't want to exist gross and sweaty at my destination. It'due south okay! You don't have to wheel all the time. If yous practise, retrieve to bring plenty water.