Ever had a car blocking the bike lane? Ever had to pass a slower bicyclist in front of you? What do you do when this happens? Switching lanes and avoiding obstacles on a bicycle are important skills to master for smooth and safe riding. Whether you’re on a bicycle, scooter, […]
Oh how I wish you never had to look behind you. It would be nice to enjoy just looking forward and forgetting about what’s behind you, but as in life and transportation, you have to look back sometimes to safely go forward. When I’m riding a bicycle in an urban […]
It’s May, and that means it’s bike month in America and San Francisco! The most exciting event being Bike to Work Day! In San Francisco, that day is May 9th! We have a lot to be thankful for with new bike lanes and other infrastructure breaking ground and being planned […]
Why Bike to Coachella? You’ve heard the horror stories about getting to Coachella. Hours of driving through traffic. The 30+ minute walk to get to the entrance of the festival from the Uber & taxi drop off area. Waiting for a ride at the end when everyone else is also […]
In a tragic event, a bicyclist was killed in the streets of San Francisco. As reported by the SF Examiner: “Death of bicyclist prompts outpouring of grief, renewed calls for protected bike lanes.” We want better & safer bicycle infrastructure in San Francisco, but how do we get it? In […]
Love is in the air. You want to do something special with your partner, and you want to give them the joy of bike commuting. For people who don’t bike often, a nice ride on trails with beautiful sights is a great gateway to using a bicycle for everyday transportation! […]
“What are your thoughts on the new electric scooters?” I’ve been getting asked this question a lot lately with scooter share popping up in cities around the globe. The short answer is “I think they’re great!” Anything that gets more people out on alternate transportation and into the bike lane […]
Here are 4 things that surprised me about bicycle infrastructure in Amsterdam and The Netherlands while exploring on my own and discussing bike infrastructure with locals. This is Part 3 and in a 3 part series of biking in Amsterdam and The Netherlands. In this post, I talk more about […]
Since almost everyone in The Netherlands rides their bike at some time, they understand what it feels like to be in the bike lane, and are therefore more respectful to the bicycles on the road. They know that it can be stressful to be passed closely, and they know that […]
There was a study done about how The Netherlands is one of the happiest countries in the world. I have a theory it’s because everyone here is so free. The easy bicycling, public transport, and surrounding systems making getting around so easy, you’re truly free to go wherever, whenever you […]
So you’ve heard about this free music festival in Golden Gate Park, and you wanna know how to bike to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. With over half a million people attending over the 3 days, you know the buses will be crowded and the parking will be sparse. Thousands of people […]
Some people have asked me what I do with regards to helmets when riding the bikeshare bikes. The short answer is this: I just ride the bike without a helmet. Would I prefer to wear a helmet? Yes. Is it going to stop me from riding a bike? No. More […]
So you’ve got your ticket to Burning Man and you’re preparing to go to Black Rock City, one of the best cities in the world for bike commuting. The vehicle speed limit is 5 mph and there is no speed limit for human powered bicycles. Bikes rule the roads. Make […]
So you’ve got your ticket to Outside Lands this year and you wanna know how to get there. I’ll spare telling you all the horrors of the crowded buses and lack of parking, and instead go straight to the best and easiest option: riding a bicycle. The wind in your […]
Don’t you hate that noise you hear when you pick up speed on your bicycle? Your ride was so pleasant until suddenly SSHSBOWWWIPSPSSHHSWIPSSBOW is going by your ears. Don’t you wish you could ride your bike without the wind noise? How can you get rid of the wind noise on […]
Did you know that in many cities, you can request a bike rack to be installed wherever you need one? You may wonder why some businesses and homes have bike racks in front of them, and others do not. This is not random. Citizens and businesses can request bike racks […]
Last Updated: January 14th, 2019 “I’d love to bike there, but I’m scared to leave my bike outside.” This is a genuine fear for commuters everywhere, and it needs to stop. You should still be concerned about how, where, and how long you lock your bike, but with a few […]
TL;DR Gear recommendation: This lock will keep your bike safe! Abus U Lock Mini – $$ both colors are the same No weather cover, no twisty bar. Easy. If you’ve made it here, you’ve realized that cable locks don’t keep your bike safe from real thieves. Yet, not all U-locks are […]
Last updated: January 14th, 2019 If you want to ride a bikeshare in San Francisco, the Ford GoBike, the Ford GoBike Plus, and the JUMP Bike are your only options right now. Both of the GoBikes use the same docking system, with the major difference being that the GoBike Plus […]
It’s 2018 in the Bay Area, and this year we have TWO elections to contend over. Flyers have been piling up for weeks and I just received my vote-by-mail ballot. It’s time to vote for a new mayor of San Francisco (among other things). Since I love biking, I usually […]
Gear recommendation: This is the U-lock bracket you want! Kryptonite – $ One day, I was putting my bike in the racks at work when someone next to me noticed my lock. “I love that lock!” she said. We immediately bonded over our favorite lock in the room lined with […]
You wake up in the morning and look out the window. It’s gloomy, it’s cloudy, it’s raining. Maybe today isn’t a biking day. You can just take the bus, or maybe even an Uber if it’s raining hard enough. You get ready and look for an Uber. The rideshare apps […]
It’s the rainy season here in San Francisco. It may not rain much, but one unprepared rainy day can spoil the fun of a bike commute. You may think a little water on the road from a morning rain won’t be a problem, but as soon as you get some […]
Gear Recommendation: If you don’t have a locking skewer for your seatpost, buy this chain to secure your bike seat! Your bike seat consists of 2 parts. The seatpost – This is the pole that fits into your bike frame. You can move this up and down to adjust the […]
In an ideal world, you’d hop on your bicycle, push a button, and all your lights would be on. Just like when you get in a car, flick one switch for lights and you’re ready to go. This can be done with locking bike lights! Some new bikes are integrating […]
Gear recommendation: Buy These Skewers to keep your wheels safe and secure! Pinhead is more secure but the others should do the trick. Read on to see why (and make sure these skewers will fit your wheel). Pinhead ($$) – The Whole Shabang (wheels, seat post, and handlebar stem) Pinhead […]
The Left Turn. (Or The Right Turn in some countries!) You’d think it’s is pretty simple, but did you know bicycles have at least 3 options on how to safely and efficiently make a left turn? Here’s a quick rundown of your options and why you’d use one over another. […]
The safest U-locks are also the smallest U-locks. This prevents the thief from getting the lock in a better cut position or allowing any kind of car jack tool to fit inside it. Unfortunately, small U-locks can sometimes be difficult to use. A normal empty bike rack is usually pretty […]
This is a blog about bike commuting. It’s about getting where you want to go and enjoying the journey. We’ll discuss a range of topics to help beginners and experts alike reap the benefits of bike commuting. Because commuting doesn’t just mean getting to and from your office and home, […]