Urban Bicycling Basics

SUPPORTED BY THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS

Materials developed by Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA). Adapted for use in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Bike Fed
Franciscan Healthcare
YOUR CONTACT INFO
NAME
ROLL MODEL NAME
CONTACT INFO
To learn more about the Wisconsin Bike Feds Women & Bicycles Program, contact Carolyn
Dvorak at carolyn.dvorak@wisconsinbikefed.org, or visit wisconsinbikefed.org.
This workbook is designed to be used as an educational tool in small group sessions with Roll
Models to provide an initial overview on the main aspects of bicycling, through conversations and
activities. If youd like a digital copy of this workbook, please visit wisconsinbikefed.org
Original workbook written and illustrated by Washington Area Bicyclist Associations Outreach Coordinator Nelle Pierson. Designed by Angela Parrotta, local
graphic designer and bike enthusiast. Edited by the WABA staff, Kristin Farthing, Cecilia Dos Santos, Lesly Jones, and Megan Odett.
Updated text and design by Wisconsin Bike Fed.
THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS
Table of Contents
Breaking Down Bicycling: Myths & Misconceptions 4
We Ride Bicycles 5
What Can the Bicycle Offer You? 6
Your Two-Wheeled Friend with Benets 7
Top 12 Must-Knows for Urban Bicycling 8
Basic Bicycling Necessities 9
Keeping Up Appearances: How to Make Bicycling Look Good 10
Carrying Things by Bicycle 12
Selecting Your Bicycle Route 13
Tips for Bicycling in Trafc and on Trails 14
Bicycling with Children 16
Selecting the Bicycle for You 18
Parts of the Bicycle 19
Bicycle Maintenance & Care 20
Additional Bicycle Resources 21
About WABA 22
Women & Bicycles Supporters 23
WABAs mission is to grow bicycling as an easy, affordable, healthy, and fun way to travel from point A to point B
in and around Washington, D.C. While the information presented here is a good starting point, ultimately its up to
you to decide whether bicycling is a safe mode of transportation. So we encourage you to continue to research and
gure out what makes bicycling safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for you.
The Wisconsin Bike Feds mission is to build a better, more bike-friendly Wisconsin through
educational efforts, legislation at the state capitol, encouragement events like Bike To Work, and
more. To nd out how you can get invovled in making Wisconsin the best state in the country to
ride a bike, visit wisconsinbikefed.org
Table of Contents
4
Breaking Down Bicycling:
Myths & Misconceptions
1. Ill be wet, cold, and miserable.
2. I wont be able to climb hills.
3. My underwear will show.
4. Lycra and pointy helmets
are my future.
5. Ill get too sweaty.
6. Ill get too tired.
7. I wont be able to look
professional at the ofce.
8. Im too busy to bike.
9. Ill get hurt.
10. Ill get killed.
We want to equip you with the information and provide the encouragement to help you stay safe,
stay comfortable, and enjoy your ride, but youre going to have to spend some time
on a bicycle to come to your own conclusions. *
BEFORE GETTING INTO THE INS AND OUTS OF URBAN BICYCLING, its important to address some issues that keep some
people from bicycling. For the most part these issues concern everyone along the way. So its normal to share these concerns. Listed
below are the 10 most common barriers to bicycling collected by April Streeter, author of Women on Wheels.
Breaking Down Bicycling
Myths and Misconceptions
4
5
We Ride Bicycles
HERE ARE SOME STORIES FROM LOCAL LADIES WHO MADE BICYCLING A PART OF THEIR LIVES. Even though our
bikes may be different and the reasons why we choose to ride may be different, we are all bicyclists and we all enjoy the benets.
MEGAN ODETT
Bicycling with my son on our longtail cargo
bike has made my daily commute more fun
than I ever thought possible. Our rides keep
him happy and me healthy, and we love the
freedom to stop at a moments notice for
whatever catches our fancy. What started as
a practical choice to save money and avoid
city parking struggles has turned into one of
our favorite shared activities.
SANDI FRANK
I am proud to say that I have logged many,
many miles (only falling once). Ive cycled in
the heat, in the cold, early mornings, very
late nights and even in the rain might I add.
Ive met new friends, discovered a strength I
didnt know I had, encouraged friends to get
bikes, convinced a few to ride bikes after
many years of not being on one, and, I have
a few friends who are now interested in
learning to ride. Most of all, Ive discovered
a passion that has been lost since childhood.
ANGELA PARROTTA
I rst got into cycling in 2008 when I
teamed up with a non-prot, Bike & Build,
to lead a cycling trip across the country, and
raise money and awareness for affordable
housing. The experience was so great, I did it
again in 2010. I am a huge advocate of the
bike and you can often nd me on my
womens specic Felt road bike heading to
Carolinas BBQ on the W&OD trail. I also
have a deep love for spandex and lady bibs.
ZANNA WORZELLA
You can nd me riding my dark green, hybrid
Mongoose to work, to the store, to dinner, to
(ll in the blank). I ride becausewell I
cant think of one good reason not tobut
mainly because it gives me a strong sense of
place. I get to experience my surroundings
completely exposed to the elements, its
quite intimate actually.
MAGGIE SMITH
My interest in biking was sparked when I
started leading tours for high schoolers; the
same touring bike that has taken me across
many states now carries me to and from work
every day. Ive since become both a
commuter and a recreational cyclist, and
have acquired a road specic bike for the
latter. I bike because its a convenient, cheap
and human powered form of inner city
transportation, because its an exhilarating
way to absorb a landscape, and because its
one of my favorite ways to share time with
friends (or in the case of this photo, my
mother).
LAURETTA ELLIS
I wanted to kill two birds with 1 stone, so I
decided to ride my bike when I ran my
errands, that way, I would get the errands out
of the way and exercise in at the same time.
I started riding my bike all around the
neighborhood to run my errands, to the bank,
post ofce, library and even my weekly
meetings. Once I got comfortable with that, I
started riding trails and with groups, such as
Black Women Bike D.C. My bike is a Trek
Navigator 2.0. It is a comfort bike, with wide
tires and seat, straight handlebars for an
upright ride and 21 speeds. I now can ride
30+ miles trails.
We Ride Bicycles
CARRIE MELIN
I love to ride my bicycle for many reasons: It is
just plain and its good for the environment. I
ride my bike to work every day, so exercise is
part of my daily routine. It is cheap. I do not
have to pay for a parking permit at work which
can be pricey. Riding a bicycle also helps me
be in tune with the seasons. I can hear the
birds returning after a long winter. I can see
the trees budding and later smell the tree
blossoms. Of course, in the winter, I can feel
the bite of the cold northern winds, but as the
Scandinavians say, there is no such thing as
bad weather, just inappropriate attire.
5
CASSANDRA HABEL
As a long-time resident of Madison, its hard
for me to imagine my life without cycling. But
it wasnt until I started working in the cycling
industry ve years ago that I realized the im-
pact commuting by bike had! Its a way to stay
physically t, a way to reduce trafc conges-
tion, a way to relieve stress, and a way to bring
people together. My regular mode of transpor-
tation quickly became a passion that I want to
share with others. Working at Saris Cycling
has given me the opportunity to help out at
many events. I hope to make cycling fun and
accessible to women and new riders alike and
my dream and look forward to opening my
own bicycle shop someday.
CLAIRE RIORDAN
Not only do I love to bring my bicycle on
cross-country cycling adventures during the
summertime, but she remains my main form
of transportation when Im at home, too. I am
an active member of the cycling community
here in Stevens Point, advocating for safer
bike routes and supporting local bike mainte-
nance facilities. I am a constant advocate for
choosing to ride rather than drive amongst my
friends and participate in our towns Bike the
Drive event every year. A friend with a bike is
a friend indeed!
HEATHER CLEVELAND
Upon moving to Milwaukee, I wanted to be a
biker and was envious when I saw bikers us-
ing their morning breakfast to fuel themselves
to work. I didnt consider myself a biker until
I sold my car. I practiced not driving for one
year; only driving it on Sundays for grocer-
ies. Once I sold my car, I was a biker. I biked
everywhere. On Sundays, I used a zipcar for
groceries. If the weather was nasty, I took the
bus. I met so many great people and had so
many adventures while riding my bike. The
bike got me out of the car bubble and into the
community.
MADDY RIORDAN
My family has been inuential in my love of
biking. Biking gives me an escape from ev-
eryday life as well as allows me to clear my
head and really put things into perspective.
There are very few obstacles on the road that
cannot be maneuvered around. I look forward
to sharing my familys love of biking with my
daughter
KATE RIORDAN
I started to commute by bike when I moved
to Philadelphia after college. I didnt want to
pay $5/day just to get to work and back on the
subway, so I bought an inexpensive bike and
started making the 14-mile round-trip com-
mute to work daily, and started to love other
parts of bicycling - never having to think about
how Im going to exercise, always spending a
part of my day outside, and, my favorite part,
constantly seeing and discovering new sights I
never would have noticed otherwise.
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What Can the Bicycle Offer You?
Its about freedom. Its about independence. I can go where I want when I want, how fast or slow I want. Im not held back by
restrictions of wealth. Im not held back by restrictions of status. Im not held back by restrictions of time. I get to my location
within the millisecond of when I predicted I would be there. I can park directly in front of the bar, restaurant or otherwise carpeted
venue without paying a valet. Without belting in. Without stepping on any dirty gas pedal. Without making any payments to anyone.
On the way there, I will feel the vivacity of being ALIVE. I will fill my lungs with air. I will feel the blood pumping through my veins.
I will feel my heartbeat pounding in my chest.
Kristin Tieche, Velo Vogue
THE BENEFITS OF BICYCLING ARE BOUNDLESS
Fill in the spaces below with the ways in which bicycling can benet you.
What Can the Bicycle Ofer You?
6
7
Your Two-Wheeled Friend with Benefits
1. BICYCLING IS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE SHORT TRIPS
Most trips Americans make are short:
2. BICYCLING CAN HELP YOU LIVE LONGER AND BETTER
Women who bike 30+ minutes a day have a lower risk
of breast cancer and adolescents who bicycle are 48%
less likely to be overweight as adults.
Time spent outdoors, and out with friends.
3. BICYCLING IS FREEING
Freedom from the burdens of cars.
Freedom to load up, leave, arrive, and park on your
time schedule.
4. BICYCLING SAVES YOU MONEY
The average American household spends over $8,000
per year on owning and driving their cars more than they
spend on food.
Bicycles cost little to buy or operate, and theres no gas,
parking, or insurance to pay for.






5. BICYCLING CAN SAVE YOU TIME
6. BICYCLING REDUCES ROAD CONGESTION AND AIR POLLUTION
Trafc congestion wastes nearly 3 billion gallons of gas
per year in the U.S.
7. BICYCLING IS SAFE, AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT SAFER
There is safety in numbers: the more cyclists there are,
the safer bicycling is.
8. BICYCLING IS EMPOWERING
Micro challenges throughout your day are micro
opportunities to boost self esteem.
Strong relationship between physical health and
emotional health.
Subconscious understanding that you are serving as
a role model to others.
Fun, thrilling, adventurous.
By avoiding trafc and parking.
For every one mile pedaled
rather than driven, about 1
pound of CO2 is saved.
The average commuter
cyclist has just one accident
every 8.7 years.
You nd yourself demanding
public space, defying
stereotypes, and nding more
mental strength.
On a round trip commute of
10 miles, bicyclists save
around $10 daily.
49% are less than 3 miles,
39% are less than 2 miles &
24% are less than 1 mile.
3 hours of biking per week
reduces the risk of heart
disease and stroke by 50%.
Stats and research compiled by Bikes Belong.
Your Two-Wheeled Friend with Benets
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8
Top 12 Must-Knows for Urban Bicycling
1. When riding in traffic, be calm, alert, confident, and PREDICTABLE. 2. Take time to practice, ride
with others, and take notes. 3. Safety is sexy; wear a helmet, ride with lights, and
ditch the headphones. 4. Obey signs and trafc laws. Stop at stop signs and stop lights.
5. Dont be a salmon. Ride with the flow of traffic. 6. Though you may feel comfortable
on the sidewalk, youre safer in the street. 7. If a bike lane or facility isnt present,
ITS IN YOUR INTEREST TO TAKE THE LANE. 8. Turn like a car using the full lane and signals, or turn like
a pedestrian in the crosswalk. 9. Communicate passing and turning
with eye contact, verbal cues, and hand signals. 10. Try to bike three feet or more from parked
cars in order to avoid the door zone. 11. Always slow down and yield to pedestrians and joggers.
12. MOST IMPORTANTLY, remember to relax and enjoy your bicycle ride.
Must-Knows for Urban Bicycling
8
9
Basic Bicycling Necessities
For most, the weather dictates whether its a day for a bicycle ride. Hurricanes, thunderstorms, or blizzards? Below freezing
temperatures? Probably good days to take the Metro or drive or telecommute. Some enjoy bicycling in the rain, as it can offer a
whole new range of sensations. Others fancy a nice, dry bus ride. Youre going to have to feel this aspect of bicycling out for yourself.
Below is a helpful overview of the basics to be prepared for the elements, because even if you opt out of riding during extreme
conditions, its worth being prepared.
EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS SUPER SUGGESTIONS
Drivers license/ID/Insurance card/ cash/Metro card Panniers and waterproof bags
Lights for visibility (white in front and blinky red in rear) Fenders
Bell Waterproof jacket and pants
Water bottle and snacks Spare inner tube and tools to change a at tire
Bike lock (U-Lock) Extra bike lights or batteries
Helmet Hand towel
Bicycle beauty kit Flat pack and handheld pump/C02 cartridge
Sunglasses Bicycling cap
Sunscreen Protective eye wear/sunglasses with clear lens
Bicycling cap Waterproof gloves
Thin, light, loose tting clothing that breathes (dresses
and skirts have built in AC!)
Scarf, buff, or anything that can cover your mouth
and nose
Long sleeved light linen button up shirt helps you stay
more cool than short sleeves because it shades your
skin from the sun.
A thin, synthetic or wool base layer that is sweat wicking
for top or bottom, or both.
Breathable shoes Tights or leg warmers to stay warm or take off if you get
too hot.
Second change of clothes Jacket that serves as a windproof shell, being mindful
that your core heats up quickly, and can often overheat.
Bicycling cap Everything listed above
Exercise shorts/spandex shorts Waterproof winter jacket and pants
Lightweight waterproof rain jacket (no plastic) A couple base layers
Breathable shoes, waterproof shoes like the keen
sandals
Second change of clothes
Second change of clothes
DRY
WET
HOT COLD
...AND FOR THE MORE AMBITIOUS, AN OVERVIEW OF THE BASICS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE ELEMENTS
Basic Bicycling Necessities
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10
Keeping Up Appearances:
How to Make Bicycling Look Good
Even though we all have different approaches to style, here are a few key tips
to staying fresh on your bicycle and avoid arriving a hot mess.
TOP 5 TIPS TO STAYING FRESH
1. Find your fresh route: Map out a low speed route for the days you
need to arrive glistening, not soaked.
2. Take it easy and take your time: Biking doesnt always mean
turning your trip into a top-speed workout. Low pedal speeds =
low heart rate = low sweat.
3. Figure out your schedule: Determine the clothes, items, and
packing routine that work best for you. If you can ride in your
work clothes, great. If you need to fold and pack a second
change of clothes, great. If you need to turn a desk drawer or
entire ling cabinet into your work closet, great! No matter your
approach, we do suggest keeping a spare change of clothes at
work, including socks and underwear.
4. Seek out amenities: Check to see if your ofce building has a
space for you to freshen up.
5. Invest: Seriously, invest in a rack and a rack bag. Youll
celebrate the decision every day you ride. Do it.
Other Aspects of Women & Bicycles:
Menstruation: We highly recommend using tampons
or a diva cup(!!). We know that sometimes pads are
essential but avoid them if you can.
Yeast infections: This is where bike seats and the
breeze are your best friends. Avoid seats that
restrict air ow, and clothing that traps moisture
and heat; both increase the odds of irritating and
painful infections.
BICYCLE BEAUTY KIT
Clothing
Comb or brush
Hair product
Hand towel
Deodorant/Perfume
Safety pins
Sunscreen
Wet wipes
Shoes: To wear heels, or not to wear heels? That is a question
with a simple answer: be comfortable.
Heels: Biking in heels is no harder than biking in sneakers,
as long as you get the right type of heel. This is because
youre doing all the pedaling with the ball of your foot, and
the heel can actually help give you more footing. Heels work
best when they have a solid platform, non-slippery soles,
and straps.
Sneakers: Are always an option. Just throw your work shoes,
or going-out shoes in your bag and change once you get to
your nal location. Or store a couple pairs of shoes in your
desk drawers.
Flats: Be sure to nd ats with stiff soles, for better pedaling
support and to protect the muscles in your feet.
Sandals: Closed-toe shoes are important to protect your
toesies.
Keeping up Appearances
How to Make Bicycling Look Good
10
11
Overall dress code: Dress normally. Be comfortable. Be visible. If youre
comfortable bicycling in your normal clothes and have sufcient lights on
your bicycle, then dress normally. If youre wearing pantsuits, we
recommend wearing a strap on your right ankle to prevent your chain from
eating your pant cuff. If you wear dresses and skirts, we recommend
nding a bike frame that allows you to sit and pedal comfortably. Cycling
spandex is not a prerequisite for bicycling, and neither are day-glow neon
colors. While we love the sweat wicking material in spandex and the safety
factors in high visibility clothing, you can achieve both priorities in other
ways. In summation: be comfortable, be seen.
Dresses and skirts: Not into exposing
your underwear in public? Dont worry, we
took one for the team, and experienced
all the embarrassing Marilyn Monroe
slip-ups for you. If youre wearing skirts:
We highly recommend: tights, leggings,
or a comfy pair of spandex shorts.
Skirt garter: this contraption holds your
skirt down.
Underwear: Wear underwear that is
comfortable. But NEVER wear under-
wear if you wear cycling spandex. Youll
thank us later. Unless your skin gets
irritated by spandex, then invest in a
pair of performance fabric underwear.
Hair: Theres no end-all be-all solution to helmet hair
and for some of us its not a big deal at all. We suggest:
A cycling cap under your helmet; theyre cute, keep
the sun out of your eyes, absorb sweat, and prevent
hair from forming little helmet poofs.
Bandana: for all types of hair, and especially braids.
Post ride: Most gals head straight to the bathroom to
comb, hairspray, and fuss their helmet hair away.
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12
Carrying Things by Bicycle
There are several options for loading up your bicycle with your daily belongings. These options vary depending on where youd
like to carry things, how much youd like to carry, what your bicycle can accommodate, and how much youre willing to spend.
Carrying things with a backpack, messenger bag, or purse is easy and theres a good chance you already have
something like this that you regularly use. This is the option with the lowest barrier to entry which is why you see
so many people riding with bags. Its easy to ll up your backpack!
What do you need to carry, how would you like to carry it, and how much are you
willing to spend?
BY BASKET
BY RACK
BY TRAILER
BY YOURSELF
*
Carrying Things on your Bike
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13
Selecting Your Bicycle Route
To map out an ideal bicycle route, here are a few good questions to keep in mind. How much time do you have? Will you incorporate
the Metro or bus system? Do you prefer bike trails, or bike lanes? To avoid hills or busy roads, would you rather take a slightly longer
route? Or do you want to take to the hills and the long open roads, and go a little faster to get a better workout?
Combining bicycling with other forms of transportation:
Incorporating the bus, the Metro and regional trains into your bike
trip is a convenient tool that can improve your commute and serve
as a trusted backup transportation option.
WHEN? Use buses, Metro, or Amtrak trains, when you want
to travel long distances, when the weather is poor, when youve
enjoyed too many libations, when you have a at tire or a bike
problem, or when youre feeling lazy.
HOW? These options take some practice and some getting
used to, but it with time they become second nature.
CAPITAL BIKESHARE: DC, Arlington, and Alexandria are all home
to one of the best bikeshare systems in the Nation. With a daily,
monthly, or annual membership (at affordable rates) you can have
access to over a thousand bikes stationed throughout the region.
You can pick up a bike at any station, ride around cost free for 30
minutes, and return the bike to any station. If you have the same
bike out for more than 30 minutes you will be charged for the
time. If you already own a bike, having a membership certainly
comes in handy.
PARK AND RIDE: Pack your bike and drive your car to a Metro
station or a friends house and bike the last leg of your commute.
Make sure leaving your car for an extended period of time is safe
and legal.
METRO: You can bring folding bikes on Metros all hours of service,
and non-folding bikes in non-rush hours (rush hours are 710am
and 47pm), at no additional charge. You must use elevators, and
nd a spot at the front or rear of the subway car.
BUSES: You can bring your bike on all city buses, at no additional
cost, if there is an open space on the front bike rack.
AMTRAK: You can bring bikes on Amtrak trains if they are a train
with walk-on bicycle service. Folding bikes can be taken on all
trains in lieu of baggage. Be sure to check the organizations
website before planning your trip.
There many tools at our disposal to nd routes that meet
your needs. Here are some good starting points.
BIKE MAP: Track down a bike map, study the trails and bike
lanes, and plot out a few key connections.
FRIENDS: Pair up with a friend who bikes and is familiar with
your area and ask them nicely to be your bike guide for a day,
and get to know their favorite routes.
FORUMS: If your friends arent familiar with your regions bike
lanes and trails, post your route questions to our Women &
Bicycles Facebook page, or the Washington Area Bike Forum,
(bikearlingtonforum.com), and a helpful bike enthusiast will
follow-up with suggestions.
GOOGLE MAPS: Hop onto google maps, select the bicycling
feature, and let google gure out your route. This isnt always the
best option; you may not be provided with the most direct route, or
road information may not be the most up-to-date. Also this option
isnt available on smartphones.
BIKE PLANNER: For an even better online mapping tool, check
out www.bikeplanner.org. This new site will map your bike route
and give you the ability to decide whether you want your route to
be more quick, at, bike-friendly, or include bikeshare
stations.
SMARTPHONE APPS: If youre looking for a smartphone
approach, download Bike Nav, a bike mapping app, or
mapmyride.
Once you have a route in mind, write it down and test it out.
Always give yourself some extra time for new routes. Getting lost,
and nding the way can be pretty rewarding on a bike, but getting
lost is never fun when youre running late.
Youll nd the city comes to life in a very personal way as you build
on your mental bike map. Youll nd yourself shaping routes around
your favorite scenery, best spots to see sunsetsor sunrises, and
youll start to notice many familiar faces in the bike lanes.
Selecting your Route
13
To When planning your bicycle route, here are some things to consider. How much time will you have? Will you use transit part way or
drive part way? Do you prefer bike trails or bike lanes? Would you rather take a slightly longer route to avoid hills or busy roads? Would
you rather take the hills and open roads and go a little faster?
Combining bicycling with other forms of transportation
WHEN? Use the bus or train when you want to travel long
distances, when the weather is poor, when you have a bike
problem, when you have enjoyed too many libations or
when you are feeling lazy.
BIKESHARE: available in Madison and is coming to Milwau-
kee. With a daily, monthly or annual pass, you can have ac-
cess to bikes from stations throughout the city for 30 minutes
at a time, allowing you to leave your bike at home and still ride
while in the city.
PARK AND RIDE: Pack your bike in the car and drive to a
friends house, or a safe place to leave your car and ride the
last leg of your commute. This is a great way to deal with long
travel distances and still feel good when you arrive at your des-
tination. Make sure leaving your car for an extended period is
safe and legal.
CITY BUSES: You can bring your bike on many city buses
at no additional charge as long as there is space on the front
bike rack.
Amtrak: You can take your bike on Amtrak trains if they are a
train with walk-on bicycle service. Folding bikes can be taken
on all trains in lieu of baggage.
There are many tools at our disposal to nd routes that
meet your needs. Here are some good starting points.
BIKE MAP: Track down a bike map and study the
trails, bike lanes and connections.
FRIENDS: Pair up with friends who bicycle in the same
area and ask for route suggestions or ride together for a
day.
GOOGLE MAPS: Look at google maps bicycle option. It
may not be the most direct option or the most up to date
choice.
SMARTPHONE APPS: If you are looking for a smart-
phone option, download Bike Nav or mapmyride.
Once you have a route, write it down and test it out on a
day when you have plenty of time. You will nd yourself
creating your own routes is a lot of fun on a bike.
14
Tips for Bicycling in Traffic and on Trails
TYPES OF BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
In most places you can ride your bicycle in bike lanes, protected bike lanes, and on multi-use trails, sidewalks, and _______.
_____ , or shared lane markings, encourage bicyclists to use the full lane, and they remind cars that bicyclists will be present.
Even though it is not advised, and often a less safe option, in D.C. its legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk
except for ______________.
Protected bike lanes are also called ____________ and ____________.
On multi-use trails and paths, you are sharing space with _____________.
You should always stop at __________ and __________.
LANE PLACEMENT
When bike lanes or sharrows are not present, ride to the _________ side of the trafc lane that goes in the direction you
are traveling.
When changing lanes, when the lane is too small for cars to pass you safely, or when you are avoiding potholes, debris, or
parked cars, it is most safe to ride in the _________ of the lane.
When turning left, you should position yourself in the lane like a ________ or behave as a pedestrian and initiate a box turn.
PASSING AND YIELDING
Use hand signals when its safe to do so, and when it benets the people behind you when you are
turning left and right and __________.
When riding with other bicyclists it helps to use verbal signals to let them know when you are turning
left and right and __________.
TURNING
A box turn is a simple way to turn _________ at major intersections.
When turning right, point _________ with your _________ hand.
When turning left, point_________ with your _________ hand.
If you want to continue learning about safely navigating our city streets and the rules of the road, check out the WABA website,
take one of WABAs Condent City Cycling classes, and come out to our Women & Bicycles rides and workshops.
Tips for Bicycling in Trafc and on Trails
If you want to continue learning about safe urban cycling and the rules of the road, visit our website at
wisconsinbikefed.org to learn more or check out a Savvy City Cycling workshop in your area.
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Tips for Bicycling in Trafc and on Trails
16
Biking with Children
Even though you may not be looking to bike with your children any time soon, this topic is important to explore. Generally speaking
women are still the primary caretakers in our society, and largely responsible for their familys transportation choices which means we
have the power to bring the benets of bicycling to our family members AND signicantly grow the number of people on bikes. With
overall improvements in bicycling conditions in our region, and growing popularity in bicycling, more and more parents are taking to
the bike lanes with their children.
DISCLAIMER: this is just an introduction. The topic of biking with kids is worthy of its own booklet. Fortunately, comprehensive
guides, books, blogs, and social groups are easily accessible and provide innite tips and suggestions.
The following are excerpts from Bring the kids on your next bike ride with these products by Megan Odett.
As the organizer of Kidical Mass D.C., and events like ABCs of Family Biking, I love to share the ins and outs of biking with kids.
Biking around D.C. with my son during the past 2 years has been more fun than I ever could have imagined. Its a joy for both of us
because my son loves that we can pull over on the road whenever we see anything interesting. And I get a very real thrill that unlike
other parents in the area, I dont have to worry about hunting for parking when Im dropping him off at day care. Plus, by using the
bike to run everyday errands with him in tow, Im teaching him that bikes are a safe, useful, and normal way of getting around.
Ive learned a lot about the different approaches to biking with kids and think that with the right knowledge, nearly any parent can
share the delights of cycling with their own children. Below is a summary of some of the most common cycling options for parents
who have kids aged from infancy to early school age, listed in order of cost.
BIKE SEATS ($)
If you want to try biking with your children without making a big
investment in gear, aftermarket bike seats are a great rst step.
Easily adaptable to a variety of bike types and brands, relatively
cheap, and offering the intimacy of having your child within arms
reach during the whole ride, bike seats that bolt onto either the
front stem or rear rack of your bike are a great economical choice.
The most commonly-seen bike seats bike seats are Topeaks rear
seat (ubiquitous in bike shops) and the iBert front-mounted seat,
a neon green contraption that is outstanding for its ability to t
onto a broad range of bike types and sizes.
I have used both front and rear seats and there are pluses and
minuses to both. Front seats are unbeatable for staying in contact
with and monitoring the comfort of your child. Your child gets to
see everything thats going on around him or her, and drivers cant
miss the fact that youre child is with you.
A front seats main disadvantage, is that theyre only usable for
2 or maybe 3 years because most have a maximum weight limit
of 35 pounds. Rear-mounted seats, though, will hold kids weigh-
ing up to 50 pounds. Kids riding behind cyclists are also a little
more protected from the weather than kids riding on the front of
the bike. With a price point of $100 to $200, child seats are the
most economical way to start biking with kids if you already have an
appropriate bike.
TRAILERS ($$)
For many years, trailers were the ultimate bike accessory for the
hard-core, year-round cycling parent in the United States. They
attach to nearly any kind of bike, include canopies to keep out the
cold and rain, can carry a signicant amount of cargo, and can
accommodate a broad age range of passengers. Many trailers also
convert to strollers, meaning that parents can potentially address
two needs with a single tool. If youre on a limited budget and
need to invest in a single kidhauling accessory that will carry your
child from an infant (in a car-seat, of course) to school age, trailers
are probably your best bet. There is also a strong resale economy
for trailers, so its usually easy to either nd a used trailer online or
sell your own trailer when youre nished with it.
The two big names in the trailer world are Burley and Chariot.
Made in the U.S.A. and Canada respectively, Burley and Chariot
offer trailers in a wide range of sizes and weights at prices ranging
from $300 to close to $700 depending on the size and features.
Thanks to its many years in the business, Burley has a fantastic
customer support system that offers replacement parts even for
models that havent been made in ve or more years. Chariot
produces a similar eet of trailers but focuses more on the
multi-sport market: they offer conversion kits for walking, jogging,
and even skiing to increase the versatility of their trailers. A strong
new entry to the bike trailer market is Canada-based Wike, whose
Moonlite trailer is a great budget option for carrying two kids
and extra cargo.
Biking with Children
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LONGTAILS ($$$)
A recent innovation, longtails are a great compromise between
the speed and maneuverability of a regular two-wheeled bike and
the cargo capacity of a boxbike. The original longtail is Xtracycles
Free Radical. The Free Radical is a frame extension that bolts on
to an existing bike frame in the place of the rear wheel, moving
the rear wheel back and adding an extended platform to the back
of the bike.
Since rst developing the Free Radical, Xtracycle has continued
to rene its design and has spawned several variations on the
original concept of bikes with extended tails. The company
partnered with Surly to design an all in one longtail bike, the Big
Dummy, that incorporates the longtail concept in a single frame
and is therefore sturdier and able to handle larger loads. Recent
other variations have included Xtracycles Radish (a lighter-weight,
step-through frame), the Yuba Mundo, and the Kona Ute. Longtails
are a great way to carry multiple children at the same time or to
carry older kids. Even after they outgrow bike seats and trailers,
kids can perch on the rear decks of these versatile bikes. With a
little creativity, you can even t three kids at a time on a longtail.
Longtails are relatively lightweight for their cargo capacity and,
though even a simple FreeRadical conversion kit costs more than
some trailers, are a great investment for their ability to accommo-
date many different combinations of cargo and kids. Free Radicals
are about $500 while other longtail styles can cost from $1,100
to $2,000.
BOXBIKES ($$$$)
The true SUVs of the cycling world, cargo trikes and baketsen are
low-maintenance, weatherproof, nearly bombproof kidhauling
machines. Both types of cargo bikes feature a dramatically
extended front end with a large, sturdy front box mounted on the
frame. Cargo trikes have one rear wheel and two front wheels on
either side of the box while baketsen (the Dutch plural for
boxbike) have one rear wheel and one front wheel that sits in
front of the box. Some baketsen sport a box large enough to
comfortably accommodate even four children, or two children,
a dog, and a bunch of groceries.
Equipped with weather canopies, plenty of cargo space, built-in
seats with seatbelts, and sometimes even integrated lighting
systems, boxbikes are the ultimate turnkey option for families who
want to make a full commitment to going car-free or extremely
car-light. They often feature fully enclosed shifting and braking
systems for maximum weatherproofness, so keeping these bikes
outside shouldnt be a problem. This is especially important for
those without dedicated garage space. Many boxbikes have chain
guards while some even include full chain cases for the ultimate
maintenance-free drivetrain.
As you might expect, all these features come with a price.
Boxbikes typically start at $2,700 and, depending on capacity
and other factors, can increase in price to $4,000 or more. Of
course, thats about 10 times more than most people would ever
dream of paying for a bike. But $4,000 is about one-third the cost
of the very cheapest car you can purchase new. Plus the annual
maintenance costs for the boxbike are practically nil. More than
any other family biking tool, boxbikes are designed to serve as true
car replacements, giving that price tag a different context and
making them a worthwhile investment. Additionally, considering
how much space car seats take up in the back seat of a sedan, a
cargo trike or bakets could even carry more children than your
typical family sedan!
For additional information, we highly recommend the
following resources:
kidicalmassdc.blogspot.com
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Family Biking Guide
simplybikeblog.com
totcycle.com
humofthecity.com
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BUYING YOUR BICYCLE
If you plan to buy a new bike, rst know your needs and your terrain, and then head to your local bike shop to spend some time getting
to know what feels good and what size you need. Make sure you get the correct size to ensure you have the most comfortable ride, and to
avoid aches and pains. If the bike shop doesnt have your dream bike, not to worry, there are many shops in the region who specialize in
different types and brands, so get to know a couple shops and one that works best for you. Denitely be sure to own or purchase a helmet,
lights, and a bell before you ride your new bike home.
A few bike shops in Virginia and Maryland sell used bikes, but regulations prevent shops in D.C. from doing the same. If you plan to go
online, the D.C. region has an impressive Craigslist bike market, where you can nd an array of good quality and affordable options. But be
forewarned, this can be time consuming, so know your bike size and the type of bicycle youre in the market for before starting your search.
Selecting the Bicycle for You
WHICH BICYCLE IS BEST FOR YOU?
What matters most is that youre comfortable, and you enjoy riding your bicycle. You need to nd a bike that ts your body, your needs,
your terrain, and your style. There are many bike options to choose from, each with various functions and varying price tags.
TYPES OF BICYCLES
City bikes
Dutch bikes
Road bikes
Mountain bikes
Touring
Hybrids
Tricycles
Cruiser
Recumbents
Folding
Cargo bikes
Tandem
Longtails
Electric-assist
Capital Bikeshare
Your bike
Selecting the Bicycle for You
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Bikeshare
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Parts of the Bicycle
PARTS OF THE BICYCLE
You dont need to know the parts of your bicycle to ride it. However, being familiar with the names of parts will come in handy on
many occasions. We encourage you to spend time getting to know your bike, and then get to know your local mechanic.
BIKE SEATS
Our behinds are like snowakes. They come in all different shapes and sizes and what may feel great to me might not work for you.
Most bike seats are designed for men: They poke out and up right where women need them to poke down. This can cause
all sorts of problems from pain to chang to infections.
Signs of a good seat: More padding does not mean more comfort. A good seat will support the bone structure resting on the seat (the
public rami and the ischial tuberosities), rather than allowing the soft esh and muscles to collapse onto the seat. You may benet
from a cut out in the middle of the seat to relieve pressure and increase airow.
Try out a variety: If youve given your seat a few test rides and its still causing you pain, try out another seat. Most people go through
a few before they nd the one that works best, and most bike shops will offer you a loaner.
Give it time: Even when youve found a good t its going to take some getting used to. Your body still needs time to adjust and time
for seat muscles to grow.
Parts of the Bicycle
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Bicycle Maintenance & Care
EVERY TIME YOU RIDE
Before you hop on your bicycle for a short trip, or a long ride,
its important to perform this simple bike check to make sure
everything is in its right place.
***ABC QUICK CHECK***
AIR: Pinch your tires with your ngers to see if your inner tubes
may need more air, or use a bicycle pump to check your tire
pressure. Its important to make sure your tires are always properly
inated. The recommended tire pressure (PSI- pounds per square
inch) can almost always be found written on the side of your tire.
BRAKES: Make sure your brakes are doing their job. Look to see
that your brake pads are lined up with your wheel rims, and test
out your brakes by pulling your brake levers a couple times. When
you fully engage your brake levers, you should have enough room
to stick your thumb between your brake lever and your handlebar,
this means youll have enough braking power when you need it.
CRANKS, CHAIN, AND CASSETTE: Give a quick look to make sure
your crank arms; the part that connects your pedals to the bike
frame, rotate easily and the bolts that connect them to the frame
are tight. Also, make sure your chain isnt loose and that it isnt
skipping gears.
QUICK RELEASES: Are the rotating levers that attach your wheels
to your bike frame. Its really easy to forget about tightening your
quick releases if youre taking your wheel off and on a lot. The
levers should always be tight, and pointed toward the back of your
bike to ensure nothing catches on them along the way.
CHECK: Give it a spin! Its important to become familiar with your
bike, and know how it sounds and feels in normal conditions. That
way, youll be in tune to the little changes your bike experiences
overtime that indicate its time for new parts and a tune-up.
DO IT REGULARLY, DO IT YOURSELF,
BICYCLE MAINTENANCE
Pump your tires regularly at least once a week, using the
recommended PSI. This will reduce your chances of getting at
tires, and make pedaling a lot easier. You must know what type
of valve your inner tube has before pumping up your tire because
your bicycle pump must have the matching system. You will either
have a presta valve or schrader valve. Both are pictured below.
Clean and lube your chain at least once a month and after rides in
wet weather. You wouldnt go months without ossing, would you?
A clean chain is more efcient and makes your parts last longer.
Learn a little about basic bike maintenance: This can be a very
empowering and quite a rewarding hobby for some, plus its
inexpensive and a nice way to get intimate with your bike. Many
local bike shops offer classes and bike co-ops whose mission is to
teach you how to work on your bike. If bicycle maintenance and
repair is not your thing, support our local bike economy and get to
know your local bike shop mechanics! These folks are the experts
and appreciate your business. They will even sometimes share a
good deal of bicycling know-how with you.
*
No matter what, take the time to take
care of your bike. Its very easy to let
little, preventative problems turn into
big, expensive problems.
Bicycle Maintenance & Care
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About WABA
Women & Bicycles is the Washington Area Bicyclist Associations outreach and
encouragement program geared to address the gender gap in bicycling, one meetup,
social ride, or workshop at a time. We provide a space to learn about and experience
the joys of bicycling through opportunities for helpful exchanges between women
who already bicycle and women who are interested in bicycling.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) supports and promotes bicycling
as a transportation mode for area residents. Bicycling provides a low cost, enjoyable
way to travel that is healthy for both the bicycle operator and for our quality of life.
WABA is a member supported nonprot advocating for better bicycling conditions
and transportation choices for a healthier environment. We provide bike education
for children, adults, and motorists about safe bicycling, and host regional events that
celebrate bicycling.
Join the movement, join WABA today!
Call WABA at (202) 518-0524 or visit our website at www.waba.org.
Follow us @WABADC and on Facebook www.facebook.com/wabadc.
The League of American Bicyclists represents the interests of the nations 57
million bicyclists and provides support to local bike advocacy organizations across
the country. In 2012, they set out to close the gender gap in bicycling by creating
Women Bike, an outreach program that empowers more women to bicycle and
become engaged in the diverse leadership opportunities of the bicycle movement.
To learn more about the League of American Bicyclists and Women Bike, please visit
www.bikeleague.org/programs/women.
Our bike culture in the U.S. is growing and changing, and while it definitely isnt
Copenhagen Chic, its not just geek either - it is as varied and multi-cultural as our
society. Thats good, because ultimately its not whether youre riding chic or geek.
Its just the fact that youre riding.
April Streeter, Women on Wheels, 2012
About Women & Bicycles
Wisconsin Bike Fed is a membership-based nonprot organization that works to
make your ride better, whether its on city streets, country roads, or single-track.
Members support our work, like lobbying at the State Capitol for better bike laws,
educating children and adults about bike safety, and encouraging more people to choose
bicycling as part of their daily life.
To sign up, visit wisconsinbikefed.org/join
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B i c y c l e M a i n t e n a n c e & C a r e
E V E R Y T I M E Y O U R I D E
B e f o r e y o u h o p o n y o u r b i c y c l e f o r a s h o r t t r i p , o r a l o n g r i d e ,
i t s i m p o r t a n t t o p e r f o r m t h i s s i m p l e b i k e c h e c k t o m a k e s u r e
e v e r y t h i n g i s i n i t s r i g h t p l a c e .
* * * A B C Q U I C K C H E C K * * *
A I R : P i n c h y o u r t i r e s w i t h y o u r n g e r s t o s e e i f y o u r i n n e r t u b e s
m a y n e e d m o r e a i r , o r u s e a b i c y c l e p u m p t o c h e c k y o u r t i r e
p r e s s u r e . I t s i m p o r t a n t t o m a k e s u r e y o u r t i r e s a r e a l w a y s p r o p e r l y
i n a t e d . T h e r e c o m m e n d e d t i r e p r e s s u r e ( P S I - p o u n d s p e r s q u a r e
i n c h ) c a n a l m o s t a l w a y s b e f o u n d w r i t t e n o n t h e s i d e o f y o u r t i r e .
B R A K E S : M a k e s u r e y o u r b r a k e s a r e d o i n g t h e i r j o b . L o o k t o s e e
t h a t y o u r b r a k e p a d s a r e l i n e d u p w i t h y o u r w h e e l r i m s , a n d t e s t
o u t y o u r b r a k e s b y p u l l i n g y o u r b r a k e l e v e r s a c o u p l e t i m e s . W h e n
y o u f u l l y e n g a g e y o u r b r a k e l e v e r s , y o u s h o u l d h a v e e n o u g h r o o m
t o s t i c k y o u r t h u m b b e t w e e n y o u r b r a k e l e v e r a n d y o u r h a n d l e b a r ,
t h i s m e a n s y o u l l h a v e e n o u g h b r a k i n g p o w e r w h e n y o u n e e d i t .
C R A N K S , C H A I N , A N D C A S S E T T E : G i v e a q u i c k l o o k t o m a k e s u r e
y o u r c r a n k a r m s ; t h e p a r t t h a t c o n n e c t s y o u r p e d a l s t o t h e b i k e
f r a m e , r o t a t e e a s i l y a n d t h e b o l t s t h a t c o n n e c t t h e m t o t h e f r a m e
a r e t i g h t . A l s o , m a k e s u r e y o u r c h a i n i s n t l o o s e a n d t h a t i t i s n t
s k i p p i n g g e a r s .
Q U I C K R E L E A S E S : A r e t h e r o t a t i n g l e v e r s t h a t a t t a c h y o u r w h e e l s
t o y o u r b i k e f r a m e . I t s r e a l l y e a s y t o f o r g e t a b o u t t i g h t e n i n g y o u r
q u i c k r e l e a s e s i f y o u r e t a k i n g y o u r w h e e l o f f a n d o n a l o t . T h e
l e v e r s s h o u l d a l w a y s b e t i g h t , a n d p o i n t e d t o w a r d t h e b a c k o f y o u r
b i k e t o e n s u r e n o t h i n g c a t c h e s o n t h e m a l o n g t h e w a y .
C H E C K : G i v e i t a s p i n ! I t s i m p o r t a n t t o b e c o m e f a m i l i a r w i t h y o u r
b i k e , a n d k n o w h o w i t s o u n d s a n d f e e l s i n n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n s . T h a t
w a y , y o u l l b e i n t u n e t o t h e l i t t l e c h a n g e s y o u r b i k e e x p e r i e n c e s
o v e r t i m e t h a t i n d i c a t e i t s t i m e f o r n e w p a r t s a n d a t u n e - u p .
D O I T R E G U L A R L Y , D O I T Y O U R S E L F ,
B I C Y C L E M A I N T E N A N C E
P u m p y o u r t i r e s r e g u l a r l y a t l e a s t o n c e a w e e k , u s i n g t h e
r e c o m m e n d e d P S I . T h i s w i l l r e d u c e y o u r c h a n c e s o f g e t t i n g a t
t i r e s , a n d m a k e p e d a l i n g a l o t e a s i e r . Y o u m u s t k n o w w h a t t y p e
o f v a l v e y o u r i n n e r t u b e h a s b e f o r e p u m p i n g u p y o u r t i r e b e c a u s e
y o u r b i c y c l e p u m p m u s t h a v e t h e m a t c h i n g s y s t e m . Y o u w i l l e i t h e r
h a v e a p r e s t a v a l v e o r s c h r a d e r v a l v e . B o t h a r e p i c t u r e d b e l o w .
C l e a n a n d l u b e y o u r c h a i n a t l e a s t o n c e a m o n t h a n d a f t e r r i d e s i n
w e t w e a t h e r . Y o u w o u l d n t g o m o n t h s w i t h o u t o s s i n g , w o u l d y o u ?
A c l e a n c h a i n i s m o r e e f c i e n t a n d m a k e s y o u r p a r t s l a s t l o n g e r .
L e a r n a l i t t l e a b o u t b a s i c b i k e m a i n t e n a n c e : T h i s c a n b e a v e r y
e m p o w e r i n g a n d q u i t e a r e w a r d i n g h o b b y f o r s o m e , p l u s i t s
i n e x p e n s i v e a n d a n i c e w a y t o g e t i n t i m a t e w i t h y o u r b i k e . M a n y
l o c a l b i k e s h o p s o f f e r c l a s s e s a n d b i k e c o - o p s w h o s e m i s s i o n i s t o
t e a c h y o u h o w t o w o r k o n y o u r b i k e . I f b i c y c l e m a i n t e n a n c e a n d
r e p a i r i s n o t y o u r t h i n g , s u p p o r t o u r l o c a l b i k e e c o n o m y a n d g e t t o
k n o w y o u r l o c a l b i k e s h o p m e c h a n i c s ! T h e s e f o l k s a r e t h e e x p e r t s
a n d a p p r e c i a t e y o u r b u s i n e s s . T h e y w i l l e v e n s o m e t i m e s s h a r e a
g o o d d e a l o f b i c y c l i n g k n o w - h o w w i t h y o u .
*
N o m a t t e r w h a t , t a k e t h e t i m e t o t a k e
c a r e o f y o u r b i k e . I t s v e r y e a s y t o l e t
l i t t l e , p r e v e n t a t i v e p r o b l e m s t u r n i n t o
b i g , e x p e n s i v e p r o b l e m s .