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I would add: Learn how to shift your bike. While you'll never look cool on a bike one of the worst looks for a cyclist is leaving a stop in the wrong gear and having to stand on the pedals just to cross an intersection before the light changes. This goes for fixie riders too. No road going vehicle since the Dynaflow equipped Buicks of the 1950s have had only had one gear and the Buick at least had a torque conveter.
Just saying, there was no real argument for why track stands are bad... and sometimes they're fun!! Maybe I don't care if you think I look stupid.
I'd also like to add for the car drivers out there: it's great that so many people are accommodating to bikes in this city, but please, do not stop to let us pass at a busy intersection when it isn't clear or isn't our turn. This is confusing for bikers and frustrating for cars that get backed up. It's also dangerous because other cars coming from other directions may not see or understand that you're giving bikes your own green light, and that puts us in a potentially life-threatening position. At uncontrolled intersections, just treat us like cars. We'll be fine, I promise.
WEAR A HELMET
that way others know that you're doing a dangerous daredevil activity that they should reconsider before attempting... or don't... drivers will give you more room if you're not wearing a helmet... they know you're fragile...
LET THERE BE LIGHT
not blinking ones... sure, your batteries will last forever, but you'll be annoying and it'll be harder for drivers to judge your approaching speed...
KNOW THE GODDAMN RULES
or don't... just go with the flow... if a kindergartner can do it then so can you... driver don't know the rules so they'll be mad at you either way... other cyclists will always think you're below them so ignore them...
GOOGLE MAPS IS YOUR FRIEND
it's a city, expect a lot of cross traffic to pull out directly in front of you at all times while riding on all those quiet streets that Google told you to take... the drivers you do encounter on the street will also be passing within inches of you due to the narrow roads...
RIDE IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS TRAFFIC
what if I am British? or what if, like a lot of people, they were taught to go towards traffic when biking and walking that way they can see it coming and get out of the way? yeah, they exist, so don't such a dick about it...
SIGNAL
or don't... it's not legally required, because you're still learning to control your bike and need both hands on the handlebars...
DON’T YELL
yell all you want... shout with joy and jubilation... or shout "on your left" as you pass... shouts are not jarring for anybody who spends time in a city... there are loud noises everywhere, you're not really bothering anybody...
THE BELL IS FOR PASSING, NOT FOR SAYING “HELLO!”
your use of your bell is protected free speech in Oregon... ding away! ding joyously!
OH YEAH, LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU’RE PASSING
it's the law... and it will sometimes prevent people front suddenly turning into your path... but be careful, as sometimes is startles people into turning into your path... so do it well in advance so you can react to however they respond...
STAY OFF THE SIDEWALKS
it's the law downtown, and a good idea for anywhere there's a lot of people... ride on the road, in the middle of the lane... it's where you're supposed to ride... drivers can wait...
AVOID BUSY STREETS
or don't... Hawthorne is a great route as it's straight with an easy incline and not a lot of drivers darting across it right in front of you... it also has extra lanes so drivers can easily pass you... if you avoid the busy streets then you also avoid the reason you went outside in the first place... most destinations are on busy streets... that's why they're busy... bike on them, you have places to go...
SPITTING
plants are trying to have sex with my sinus and it results in mucus... the gutter seems like a good place for such grossness... maybe you like the taste bus some would prefer not to swallow it...
ON DARK, RAINY NIGHTS...
yeah, it's a dark rainy night... we know...
STOP DOING TRACK STANDS
stop caring that people are doing track stands... maybe you're happy sitting there motionless like a machine waiting for its next orders... some people are antsy and need to keep twitching... cope with it...
“BUT I NEED TO DO A TRACK STAND BECAUSE MY SHOES CLIP INTO MY PEDALS!”
and I'd rather walk to the next bus stop instead of standing there waiting 5 minutes... are you unable to cope with other people's behavior?
RIDE STRAIGHT
or don't... if you swerve a lot then drivers and cyclists will assume you're highly unskilled and give you a lot of room...
DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING
don't assume that this article had actual advice you should follow...
...
AND FOR DRIVERS...
• Bike lanes are for bikes: yes, it's annoying when drivers use the bike lane for passenger drop-off and pick-up... it's also perfectly legal as long as they're not just idling in the bike lane... but just because it's legal doesn't mean you should do it and it's quite unsafe for cyclists...
• Use the right roads: please! stay off the greenways with the bike share arrow on them... if you're on one of those for more than 2 blocks then you're doing it wrong... when enough drivers do it then the city has to put in a diverter and force you off, creating a maze for the next time you actually do need to get through there...
• Don’t tailgate: if you're following very close then I'll bike slower to ensure any collision isn't fatal... back off to a safe distance and I might speed up if I can...
Visiting PDX over the holiday weekend, I was perplexed by this article. I agree with some of Spiffy's comment but he/she is over the top in tone as well.
'No one has ever looked cool riding a bike.' Where did this come from? Fashion can be as much a part of road bike culture as the activity itself. See: Copenhagenize, Rapha, Fausto Coppi, Italy, etc..
Wearing a helmet: That ship has sailed for the most part, yes? I would much rather see people riding bike share Limebike, Ofo, the Nike bike etc.. w/o helmet than in their car.
Signal- pointing if fine. I would hypothesize that a percentage of drivers/pedestrians do not know what the 'right turn' hand signal is indicating.
Once you have figured out basic rules, see the real rules here:
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/