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But what happens if those trails don’t take you where you need to
go? You’ll have to get comfortable with what makes a bike friendly road and
start finding the best routes for yourself. Whenever you are walking or driving
you’ll want to start keeping an eye out to your surroundings. When you take
note of streets as you pass by, a few things to look out for are:
-
Bike lanes- a dedicated
space on the road for bicyclists marked by stripes and signs, keep an eye out
for solid and dotted lines.
-
Sidewalks- might seem
like a good idea but can sometimes be more dangerous.
-
Street
parked cars
-
Construction- try to
avoid all together.
-
The quality
of the road (pot holes, rocky pavement, etc.)
-
Intersection
visibility
-
Narrow roads
-
Shoulder
space- this is extra important if there are no bike lanes or sidewalks.
-
Heavy
traffic- if is not safe for any bicyclist, but beginners should take extra
precaution.
-
Heavy
pedestrian crossings
While you will want to do your own assessment, Google Maps also has a feature that will give
you bike routes, and if you need extra help, your local bike shops are full of
people who are familiar with the roads. Bike smart.
