Bike Lanes, Road Rules and Hazards | Urban Cycling | Cycling in Los Angeles

[@mariusfacktor3597]

In LA most streets are obscenely wide, like 50-80+ feet wide, but they claim they don't have enough space for a 5 foot wide protected bikeway. LA is a treacherous place to bike or walk around. It's tragically stupid because forcing everyone to drive just makes traffic worse.

[@Ace-zc2ye]

Thanks so much for this video just moved here from New York City and public transportation here isn't a fifth is good as it is back home. Too bad I haven't ridden a bike since I was like seven and never have never driven,but now I need to adapt to urban cycling to get around. This video was very informative and made me more confident to go out in the street when the time comes

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Thank you so much for your comment! LA is a different beast for sure. Ride safe out there!

[@brandonhoffman4712]

LA is tricky and antiquated as far as roads go. One time i watched a lady make a right turn in her car and wind up dropping her rear tire into a planter box, literally due to bad infrastructure that is grandfathered into legality. My advice is dont be afraid to take the sidewalk or a car lane, @ your discretion. And always check over your shoulder before doing so. There are many streets with no bike lane or designation of a shared lane, yet it is a shared lane if there is no dedicated bike path. The only pavement bikes arent allowed on are freeways and government black sites. If you want to be extra secure, ride with a body cam on. There are many lawers ready take your issue to trial and make the person @ fault pay for your damages should something happen. I live south of LA, in orange county. I like to take the santa ana river trail to the beach and ride towards newport or huntington. I dont know if LA might have something similar.

[@noderen]

Best video for me so far, bike is on the way and I'm trying to overcome some anxiety about getting on the road for the first time in like 20 years. Needed some encouragement and practical advice to make it from my apartment to the dedicated bike trail. Thanks from Huntington Beach.

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Glad you found the video helpful! Hope you enjoy those LA bike trails. Luckily HB is a better cycling community than most of LA. I used to live in HB and commuted to the beachside trails. Use a dash of common sense, don’t do anything that feels risky and be safe out there!

[@joseluisruiz3789]

thank you!!!! I'm in the market right now for a bicycle and wanted to learn the rules of bike riding and sharing the road before I buy one. I'm gonna subscribe to your channel right now and learn more about any cycling routes. I live I. Highland Park which is next to Pasadena and eagle Rock and everyone drives nuts here, I have a front and rear dash cam on my car that also records my Speed limit via GPS and I have people tailgating me just for driving the speed limit lol.

[@loft4me]

Very sensible suggestions, including pulling over to wait for cars to pass when proceeding. An example would be riding north bound on Sepulveda Bl., and right before going under the 10 freeway where a homeless encampment has large vehicles that jut out from the curb, I have pulled over. The combination of dark street due to the overpass and the RVs forcing me out into the traffic lane, I have found prudence in stopping behind the large vehicles and waiting for the cars to pass. Thank you for the tips, again, very practical.

[@jazzfan7491]

I recommend doing a video about the 4th street bike lane in the center of the city. I'm surprised how few cyclists know about it. I often see solo cyclists riding on 3rd street, just one block north, slowing traffic, angering car drivers and taking their life in their hands

[@jazzfan7491]

For maximum impact, I also suggest doing that video in Spanish, because many of those cyclists I see on 3rd st are Mexican workers going back and forth to work.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

​@@jazzfan7491 Wrong platform. Tik tok is the spot to drop the spanish version. But i bet a tik tok about cycling rules gets about 0 traction...

[@snoopyloopy]

The "Class II V3" isn't actually a bike lane as it has no markings which by definition, are what are necessary to be a bike lane. Bicyclists have the right to any road that doesn't expressly prohibit bicycles, not JUST on Class III routes/sharrows. The advice to stay near the shoulder/curb is horrific, especially in a lot of the streets in LA which aren't actually wide enough for sharing with cars in a lane. While it's true that freeway shoulders are generally off-limits, I've found the few instances where it is allowed to be a nonissue and in many ways preferable to riding in standard bike lanes (or worse) on many of the arterials of the region.

[@martinblount5686]

This terrible video is likely to get cyclists in compromising situations or injured. Worst advice I've ever seen.

[@barcalona55]

So can I cycle on the sidewalk or not

[@halfsider2783]

Very helpful thank you

[@natawhert8118]

Valid with the dorohedo pfp 😩

[@MunchGuides]

Thank you so much for this informative video! It really helps a lot. I just have one question. Where it shows a Class 3 Bike Path, can you still ride on the road with an E-Bike even if you don't see the classk 3 bike sign on the ground?

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Great question, yes that is fine! These bikeways are typically positioned on low traffic streets. As long as you can keep pace with the speed of traffic. Remember Class III bikes have a max 28mph. I have another video that helps clarify that better. Cycling In San Diego: E-Bike Rules, Class Types and Safety kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5DOl6V8mrilec0 If you don’t see markings on the pavement look for upright signs along the sidewalks. If you’re still confused Google maps is your best friend. They have all the information and indicates all bikeway class types. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@MunchGuides]

@@TrailsofCalifornia appreciate it thank you so much! I’ll check the link rn!

[@CaptainDank710]

What about the hills when it’s one lane ? And double yellow

[@martinblount5686]

If the lane is wide enough for motorists to allow 3 ft between their car and the cyclist then ride as far to the right as is PRACTICABLE, not as is POSSIBLE. If the lane is not wide enough for motorists to allow 3 ft between their car and the cyclist then take the lane and use safe opportunities to pull to the right to release the traffic behind you.

[@funchable212]

Where are those separated bike paths you mentioned at the end?

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

San Gabriel rivertrail, Long Beach shoreline bike path or the Los Angeles rivertrail

[@dakrisht]

Native Angelino now living and loving the OC. LA is perhaps the *worst* city on earth for cycling. From the spaced out drivers texting and not signaling, horrid road conditions, homeless encampments taking over sidewalks and various bike only paths, poorly maintained Class I lanes, the list goes on. Be careful riding in LA - very careful. A shame.

[@joeanthony7638]

Is the OC Safer or better ?

[@dakrisht]

@@joeanthony7638 both. By a long shot.

[@joeanthony7638]

dakrisht Lucky you. Yea La is shit when it comes to biking ! I stay by Pasadena so I go do my cycling there it’s pretty bike friendly riding to the Rose Bowl ..atleast better than La

[@andrewincalifornia2066]

@@dakrisht acting like Orange County is separate than LA, it’s the same thing

[@dakrisht]

@@andrewincalifornia2066 you trippin dude. Two different worlds and it’s not even close. Lmao

[@enyioma8]

Ready in five minutes... I hope so 😅

[@cornellius01]

Just had a ride in LA. I'd say it's at the stage where, yes there are bike lanes, but everyone would probably be safer if there weren't. And the attitude of drivers towards cyclists in LA is just insane. It's maybe comparable to Houston 10 years ago.

[@carlosramos9301]

Great video

[@martinblount5686]

Actually this is not a video I would recommend. Consider Cycling Savvy instead.

[@natawhert8118]

What about streets in neighborhoods?

[@chinitopower]

great view

[@Charles-pc7fd]

i love riding my electric 🛴

[@KVNSEYY]

Tbh is go bike on the time of the day most people are occupied. Lets say you bike during busy traffic, then use small resident streets. I do avg of 20 miles per day. I know many LA parts streets very good because I use them. Last, is getting better in cycling. Be aware of your surroundings forsure, have a rear and front lights, and do it consistently.

[@martinblount5686]

There is a lot of bad and or outdated information in this video. I recommend Cycling Savvy.

[@martinblount5686]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/laaVd55qaL-skMU&pp=ygUrY3ljbGluZyBzYXZ2eSBncm91cCByaWRpbmcgbGFuZSBzYWZldHkgdGlwcw%3D%3D

[@loft4me]

One note-worthy point to riding on sidewalks. Across the street from Westminster Community college, if you ride on the sidewalk there, you will be ticketed. I was forced to get off of the street at this location, and pull my bike onto the sidewalk. But instead of continuing to ride on the sidewalk, I pushed my bike. Unfortunately, the couple who followed me but rode their bike on the sidewalk, was ticketed. Riding slow and respectively on the sidewalk should in 99.9% of the time, avoid you a ticket, except for Westminster, in southern California.

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Hmmm, I've been around that area plenty of times but haven't experienced what you have. Good information. Thanks for sharing. Perhaps I'll make a similar video highlighting the hazards around OC.

[@jazzfan7491]

Also worth noting that the rules -- and I admit that my information is based on research from a couple of years ago -- are that riding on sidewalks is not allowed in Santa Monica, and also not allowed in the "business area" of Beverly Hills (basically within a few blocks of Wilshire, but look this up to be sure), as well as downtown (again, look it up). Other than that in general it's okay to ride on sidewalks.

[@tigeruppercut7]

God bless you. Stay safe out there. I'm too selfish to ride a bike in LA. I've decided to try to ride a bit more public transportation in lieu of driving. But I won't risk my life nor my lungs.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

As far as im aware cyclists are allowed to ride on every highway, just not freeways. PCH, Beach Blvd (hwy 39), Laguna canyon rd (hwy 133), lakewood (19) alameda st (47), western (213), etc.

[@martinblount5686]

There are sections of freeway in SoCal and San Diego where cycling on the freeway is allowed and an area for cyclists is provided. One constant rule is cyclists must NOT cross an exit. They must exit and re-enter the freeway further on their route.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

@martinblount5686 Cyclists are only allowed to cycle on freeways when it is the only navigable route. Besides that its illegal. If a cycling route is provided then its not on the freeway, though it might be right next to it (As far as i know). The santa ana river trail runs right next to the 91 for a stint, i dont enjoy being that close to vehicles at speed nor the smog and heat that comes off the 91 freeway. Its like getting heat waves of trash air.

[@docouchi7929]

A lot of class 1 in the cities are the homeless homes … and look out for those with malicious attempts to take it from you…. It’s not frequent but it’s always wise to watch out

[@amadeosendiulo2137]

1:40 Dutch people wouldn't agree xD

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Higher standards in the Netherlands for sure!

[@patrickreynolds5262]

I would just like to raise a point about the class 3 lane. While bikes are permitted to occupy the full lane, they should only do it if they're not slowing/impeding traffic. They're meant to bring awareness to the idea of "sharing" not "hoarding". And for the record, I ride a road bike around LA every day but am not in this odd club of angry oppressed entitled douchebags that seem to love confrontation more than bicycling. We're all trying to coexist and have a nice day.

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Thanks for the comment! Great clarification that I must’ve missed 👍

[@aktazf1192]

Bike on the sidewalk. Road bikers are a nuisance and endanger themselves and other drivers

[@heyziane4996]

someone's mad

[@spacepenguin22]

You’re cool.