It’s the spring term, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and you are feeling great. This term you might think you are going to ride your bike to class every day to get some exercise and treat the environment a little better. That’s perfect, but there are few things you should consider first.
Locking your bike
At the beginning of every spring term, I’m tempted to walk around campus with a small pair of bolt cutters and “obtain” a $1000 bike in less time than it would take you to unlock it. And I’m not alone; there are other people who will do exactly this. The easiest bikes to target are those that are locked through the front tire only. Take a look around campus; every time you see just a tire locked to a bike stand, the rest of the bike was stolen. Always lock your bike to a secure post and the frame.
The next least effective method of locking your bike is a cable lock. These things are absolute garbage; a bike thief can quickly cut it with a small pair of bolt cutters that can be concealed easily. Get a U-Lock; even better, get two, the smaller the better. Personally, I use a U-Lock and a cable lock so a thief would need two types of cutting devices. A general rule of thumb is that your lock should cost at least 10% of the value of your bike.
Finally lock your bike in a well-populated area, to a bike rack if possible. Locking your bike to trees kills them, and your bike blocks wheelchair access if you lock it to a railing.
Riding your bike
Ride your bike as if you were driving a car. Signal your turns, be predictable, and respect the (car) rules of the road, and it will be a much safer ride for you and those around you. Please also stay off the sidewalks. The bike lanes in Waterloo are great, and even if there isn’t a bike lane, there is enough room for you on the side of the road. You may think it’s safer, but people have been killed from cyclists riding on sidewalks. Remember, always wear a helmet.
Fixing your bike
Waterloo has an amazing bike centre in the basement of the SLC (entrance is by the loading bay). You can go there and have all the tools you could possibly need to fix your bike for just a couple dollars. If you are not quite as handy, there are volunteers there to teach you how to fix your bike (they won’t do it for you). If you need parts, accessories, or just want someone to tune up your bike, I highly recommend McPhail’s or King Street Cycles in Uptown.
Now you are ready to ride your bike to class! If you’re looking for more of an adventure check out the Hydro Cut (hydrocut.ca) just west of Waterloo for some quality mountain biking, or the Kissing Bridge Trail (kissingbridgetrailway.ca) to the north of Waterloo for a calmer and more beautiful ride.
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