Author note: I am a paid member of Yay Bikes! and have been a ride leader, volunteer, and joyful member since 2016.
POP QUIZ
Q. When the temperature is 12 degrees in February in Columbus, Ohio, how does Catherine Girves best travel?
A. By the speed of bike! Talk about being in her element.
Meet Catherine, Executive Director and skirt-wearing rider extraordinaire of Yay Bikes!, a non-profit advocacy organization that works to influence the conditions that help people safely and comfortably ride bicycles for transportation. Along with Jason Poindexter, Business Manager, and Shyra Allen, Trainer/Ambassador, YayBikes! supports an amazing community of avid bicyclers of all ages and abilities looking to get out and share the city by the speed of bike.
According to Ohio Revised Code 4511, a “Bicycle” means every device, other than a device that is designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, that is propelled solely by human power upon which a person may ride, and that has two or more wheels, any of which is more than fourteen inches in diameter.
Pop Quiz
Q. Can you ride on a sidewalk in Ohio?
A. Unless you want your blood wiped off the concrete, don’t do it. Although ORC 4511.711 does not explicitly prohibit adults on a sidewalk on a bike, each intersection, curb cut, and driveway are a potential collision site. Kids up to age 14 may ride on the sidewalk, however, teaching safe road riding early is advisable. Remember the street signs put up in Columbus a couple years ago with a picture of a bike that say MAY USE FULL LANE? Do it! A bicyclist is safer in the street, going with the flow of traffic, as far to the right as practicable based upon your next turn. YOU are the determiner of whether or not to take the whole lane (I do) or to use the bike lane (if there is no debris and you have a safe cushion/buffer so as not to get hit by a car door opening). Sharrows can be helpful for determining a suggested lane position. Where the arrows point is where your bike tire should line up for best possible visibility for a driver to see you.
Still confused by the multiple “rules of the road” by the speed of bicycle? One excellent resource is provided here by the Ohio Bicycle Federation for your perusal and comment. Traffic laws are all contained in ORC 4511. Read up on them and know your rights and importantly, your responsibilities.
Today, I spent time learning from Catherine’s on-road teaching, building confidence for safer travel, as I participated in the How We Roll series, where distance traveled and high speeds are of no matter (sigh of relief for this 12 mph rider). My bike, Delores, purchased from roll.Bexely in 2016, was SO HAPPY to have her tires on the road and hang out with Catherine’s bike. It’s kind of like getting your kids or dogs together for a play date. Look how happy they are here, waiting for the sun to warm them as it comes over the top of the amazingly delicious and friendly Upper Cup Coffee, owned by Eritrean born Micael Habte, who hosted our post-drink ride debrief.
A few points of interest to note in this photo and with regard to bicycling, in general:
- Excellent quality bike locks. Bike theft in Columbus is real. Consider which part of your bike you would least like to replace and ensure that part is locked. I prefer the frame and back wheel set to be locked to the bike rack. Catherine gave me a hack of carrying a set of handcuffs to lock the front wheel to the frame from there, should I only carry one bike lock. (Note: universal key for handcuffs may be a risk, though bike thieves generally carry wcrecutters over the handcuff key).
- Bike lights #becausevisibility. Lumens are important to ensure visibility. If a car has on its lights, you should also have on yours. You are a motor vehicle as a bicyclist in Ohio. Follow the rules of the road as though you were driving a car. Bikes ARE Motor Vehicles. This includes proactive signaling, stopping at all stop signs/red lights, and having visible lights on your bicycle (white on the front, red on the back).
- Do I have to wear spandex? Catherine suggests that looking like a regular person can help decrease hostility from automobiles. She wears often wears a skirt with wind pants underneath. Color is helpful to provide visibility
- Do I have to wear a helmet? Yes, and no. In Ohio, helmets are deemed by self-determination. As Catherine and I have both suffered concussions, we ALWAYS wear helmets. This is also Yay Bikes! stance to ensure practicable safety.
- Why yes! That IS a thermos of hot tea on Catherine’s bike. She insulates the metal from clanking against the bike cage with a beer koozie. A smidgeon of caffeine is good for the muscles when biking.
- Are your toes frozen? Fingers, too? Purchase any pair of wool glove liners and wool socks, often found cheaply at discount stores or at REI Co-op, one of Yay Bikes! partners. To protect your toesies, place a plastic grocery bag in between the sock and your shoe. Voila! A warm, cheap barrier from the elements.
The most important takeaway from today’s session with Catherine: BE A PREDICTABLE BIKER.
For more information on Yay Bikes!, please attend our film festival this weekend at Studio 35, Filmed By Bike. I’ll be at the information table and signing you up for membership. Come say hi and let’s chat about how to continue making Columbus a bicycle-friendly community. The event is Sunday, March 1st with doors opening at 12:30 PM and a 1:30 PM film start time. Johnny Velo is a major supporter of making this festival a reality.
From PDX to CMH, life is better by the speed of bike! Find out how to ride to the theatre for the event with this handy dandy Bike Clintonville map.