Skip to main content

Questions tagged [us]

Related specifically to bicycling in the United States of America.

8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Riding on the shoulder of a road with a "do not drive on shoulder" sign

Can I ride my bicycle on the shoulder of a road that has a "do not drive on shoulder" sign in Texas? Below is an example of this configuration. By far, the shoulder seems like the safest ...
undercat's user avatar
  • 183
2 votes
2 answers
381 views

Ride on rightmost lane that goes straight or right yield to drivers?

Sometimes I ride in the middle of a right most lane that can go either straight or right. Sometimes I get honked at red light cause drivers want me to move so they can pass me and make right turn. ...
Lightsout's user avatar
  • 1,757
8 votes
6 answers
2k views

How to mitigate the risk of riding on highways

I'm planning a single-day ride between the cities of West Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida: roughly 180 miles. I'm trying to plan my route for safety. However, there are no routes to Orlando free of ...
Carlo David's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
303 views

Looking for a bicycle community in the Southwest US similar to Philadelphia/Seattle style [closed]

Recently relocated to the Southwest United States and I am in search of the type of bicycle culture that uses bicycles for commuting and not just for wanting to beat Lance Armstrong's record. In other ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
3 answers
185 views

What are the best ways to start gravel biking for a complete novice (in the Bay Area)?

I recently got a Cannondale Slate and because I’m a complete novice, I’m a little hesitant in starting to ride on trails alone. I’m mostly wondering if I’d have to perform many jumps (which I don’t ...
Patthebug's user avatar
  • 111
2 votes
1 answer
194 views

Do we have a bike insurance in the US?

I ride my bike at least 4 times ( 4 * 10 miles ) a week. Is there any bike insurance which covers both bike and life? Is there any bike insurance which also covers rental biking?
goofyui's user avatar
  • 123
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

is biking lower wacker drive in Chicago a good/feasable idea?

Not sure if location specific questions are on topic here but, here goes: I live in Chicago, and I'm curious about biking Lower Wacker Drive. (If you're not from Chicago, it's where the underground ...
chiliNUT's user avatar
  • 245
4 votes
3 answers
750 views

Is there an online bike map for the Grand Rounds bike trail in Minnesota?

This one is solid but not detailed. This is just the south loop. This says it's "available at the Longfellow House in Minnehaha Park and at rec centers and refectories along the route." Google just ...
dfrankow's user avatar
  • 143
3 votes
2 answers
928 views

Best season to get a Bike on clearance [duplicate]

I'm shopping for a new road bike, probably a Cannondale Synapse or a SuperSix Evo Carbon. Since this is around the time the new models for 2017 are going to come in, shouldn't this be the time when I'...
edocetirwi's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
639 views

Why don't women have Cat. 5?

For road racing in the US, USA Cycling has women divided into four categories (4,3,2,1) and men divided into five categories (5,4,3,2,1). The procedures for category upgrades for 4-3, 3-2 and 2-1 are ...
Ealhmund's user avatar
  • 2,055
8 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to (safely) navigate a four-way stop

What's the safest way to navigate a four-way stop on a bicycle? I've found that some cars will ignore me, others will wave me through, and still others will just treat me as any other vehicle on the ...
Gavin S. Yancey's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
497 views

Insurance for carless cyclist in California

I am a bike commuter without a car in California, that seems to be such an unusual combination that it is difficult to find insurance. I have health + disability insurance, my bike is worth less ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 111
2 votes
1 answer
851 views

Sources for vintage or reproduction decals?

What sources offer reproduction decals in the vintage Cannondale (lower-case, non-italic) style? When I finish restoring my bicycle's polished aluminum finish, I would like to apply replacement decals....
Kirk A's user avatar
  • 173
4 votes
1 answer
188 views

Will I have problems maintaining a bike from the UK in the US?

I'm moving to the US from the UK and am considering taking my fairly average hybrid road bike with me. It's nothing special but I quite like it and the cost of taking it on a plane doesn't seem to be ...
Jacob's user avatar
  • 43
-2 votes
1 answer
847 views

Does this sound right: $485 ticket for not walking my bike across the street? [closed]

We got a $485.00 ticket for not walking our bikes across the street. Can i fight this? $485.00 is a bit much!!??? This ticket was given in Glendale Ca. Has this ever happened to anyone? did you fight ...
jessica's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

I need to change my bike from UK to US Spec

I bought a bike from the UK. The brakes and shifters are on the opposite sides. I want to change it so the front brake is on the left and the rear is on the right, Same thing for the shifters. I ...
John's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
2 answers
322 views

Bicycle production/sales figures?

Is there a way to find out how many of a particular bike model were produced and/or sold? For example, "how many Schwinn LeTour bikes were produced in 1979?" The Schwinn LeTour question is just an ...
solvingPuzzles's user avatar
15 votes
6 answers
3k views

What is the "3 foot law" and which US states have it?

Some states seem to have something called the 3 foot law to keep cars away from cyclists. Why 3 feet? Which states in the USA have it?
WireGuy's user avatar
  • 607
2 votes
1 answer
839 views

Price difference between buying a bike in Europe (Austria) vs USA?

I am moving to Vienna, Austria in two weeks. My wife and I want to buy bikes before we leave, but I'm wondering if the hassle of trying to find great bikes on such short notice would be greater than ...
novicePrgrmr's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

California: Riding against traffic on a one-way street

I did some searching, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer to this question. Is it legal to ride against traffic on a one-way street (no bike lane) in California, specifically in Los Angeles? ...
alekop's user avatar
  • 207
3 votes
3 answers
20k views

What does a flashing yellow arrow traffic signal mean?

While bike commuting in an urban setting, I've started noticing that some intersections have flashing yellow turn signals during part of the light cycle. What does this mean? If I am on my bike in the ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 3,893
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Rules for rotary/roundabout?

Does a cyclist have the right of way in a traffic circle/roundabout/rotary (in the US)? Any tips for riding around one of these scary things? This past summer, I was riding around a rotary (a.k.a. ...
MikeG's user avatar
  • 143
13 votes
7 answers
30k views

Are runners or pedestrians allowed to use the bike lane?

This morning on my commute I encountered a runner in the bike lane I was riding in. This irked me because: The bike lane was on a busy street, with three lanes of motor vehicle traffic in each ...
Jeff's user avatar
  • 233
2 votes
3 answers
5k views

Where can I find a bulb for my vintage 70's generator light?

I currently own a 60's/70's vintage light for my bike. I have it attached to my Trek 820 series 26" mountain bike at the moment. The light worked perfectly fine until one day when I broke the bulb ...
Doug Wilhelm's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
532 views

Is there a lock rating system in the US?

There are several questions already about what's the best bike lock. I'm just looking for information on lock rating systems. I've found a couple rating systems in countries like UK (Sold Secure) and ...
Rob Lund's user avatar
  • 288
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Suggested route across Long Island?

I am contemplating riding from New Jersey, across the George Washington Bridge, across Manhattan, into Queens and on to work in Long Island. I am already spending up to 2 hours on the drive due to ...
geoffc's user avatar
  • 2,857
0 votes
1 answer
179 views

Does anyone know of a list of city roads with bad pavement ( NYC )

Is there a list/site out there that contains roads and pavement conditions? I ride a road bike and some NYC roads are really beaten up, while some maintain reasonably smooth pavement. It would be ...
George's user avatar
  • 109
3 votes
6 answers
363 views

Redmond bikers: Can you ride all year long?

I'll move to Redmond, WA in a couple months and since I was about to buy a bike, I have a few questions to see if I still should. Is it possible to ride all year long for both commute/recreation (I ...
Francisco Noriega's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
3k views

Mountain bike tires for rocky, steep, dirt trails? [closed]

I live in central Iowa and travel once a year to the Breck area (Breckenridge, CO) to do mountain biking. Since that is the Rocky Mountains, well they are rocky and steep. Very different terrain from ...
rsecca's user avatar
  • 373
8 votes
5 answers
13k views

How much should I spend on my helmet?

I'm finally going to buy a bike next month. And a helmet. I'm wondering how much I should budget for buying a helmet. I'll be riding around New York City, so I want good visibility around me. And ...
CamelBlues's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

What's a good bike for daily use in New Orleans? A flat city with lots of potholes and bad roads

Something under $500 that is relatively unbranded.
pchen's user avatar
  • 39
14 votes
4 answers
884 views

Alternatives to trailers for transporting young children

A representative in Oregon has recently introduced a bill that would prohibit children under the age of six from riding in bicycle trailers. While it is far too early to tell whether this bill will ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 3,893
26 votes
10 answers
26k views

How to carry a concealed firearm on a bike?

For those of you that happen to cycle through rough neighborhoods and are able to do concealed carry of firearms... Wondering what you wear to conceal them that works well while cycling. Obviously ...
Brian Knoblauch's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
609 views

Is taking a bike TRAILER on SF Bay Area Rapid Transit permitted?

My partner and I were considering purchasing a Burley Travoy (http://www.burley.com/products/cargo-utilities/travoy.cfm). We thought we might do this because we like to get groceries at Rainbow in ...
DC_CARR's user avatar
  • 3,870
5 votes
4 answers
527 views

bike routes around san francisco?

I'm fairly new to San Francisco. I've taken up biking the last few months while I have been here, and I want to do a variety of rides around the city. I am having no trouble making up my own, but I ...
ditojim's user avatar
  • 299
5 votes
5 answers
1k views

Is it ever legal in the USA not to have two brakes on a bike?

When using a bike on a road in the USA, is it ever legal not to have separate brakes on the front and back wheels?
Ian's user avatar
  • 6,153
11 votes
1 answer
298 views

How are the racing categories in the US decided?

I have heard mention before of racing cyclists in the US being, say, a Category 2 racer. What are these categories and how are they decided?
Anthony K's user avatar
  • 6,273
4 votes
2 answers
7k views

Can I take my bike on the New York City subway or buses?

Do I need a folding bike to do this? What are the rules? Also, even if it's allowed, is it practical to do so? Subways get pretty crowded during rush-hour, and it's hard to imagine taking a bike there ...
Goodbye Stack Exchange's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
5k views

What hand signals work best for cyclists in the US?

I am looking for some guidance on what hand signals and strategies to keep me alive on the roads.
Richard Tasker's user avatar
46 votes
14 answers
5k views

How do I gear up a bike for winter riding?

I live in NYC and would like to ride to work during the winter as well. What should one do to a mountain bike? a road bike? If you can also show products that you actually use that would be great.
milesmeow's user avatar
  • 2,373