Keeping your bike running is fairly simple. Bi-weekly chain lubrication and checks are essentially all that are needed to keep a bike in working order, but there are some essential items you should pick up in order to make your ride better.

Tires

If your tires have worn-out tread or cracks in the sidewalls, it may be time for replacements.

Fenders

These will keep your butt dry on rainy days.There is a wide range of fenders available for any bike.

Bell

Having a bell to ring not only warns people that you are coming, but it is also mandatory in Edmonton.

Lights

Being visible at night is absolutely necessary, and it’s nice to be able to see where you’re going.

Lock / Security

If you want to keep your bike, a solid U-lock is the best way to go.

Tools

A metric hex key set, small screwdriver, and tire levers will work for most repair needs, as well as a spare tube and pump for fixing flats on the go.

Biking Laws

Here is some information so you can stay on the right side of the law while biking in Edmonton.

Stop lights / Signs While biking, you must stop at stop signs and traffic lights. Failure to do so can result in a $287 fine (UHRRR, Sections 54(1) and 37(a)).

Sidewalks

Unless your wheel diameter is 50 cm or smaller, you must ride your bike on either the road or a multi-use path.

Riding on the sidewalk can result in a $100 fine (Bylaw 5590, Section 49)

Crosswalks

Like drivers, cyclists must yield to people in crosswalks.

Not yielding to pedestrians can result in a $575 fine (UHRRR, Section 41(1)).

Bells

All bikes must be equipped with a bell, and you must use it to signal when passing pedestrians on multi-use trails.

Not using a bell can result in a $250 fine (Bylaw 5590, Section 50)

Alcohol

While riding your bike after a few drinks cannot result in a DUI, being drunk on your bike can result in a public intoxication charge. A public intoxication charge can result in an arrest and a $115 fine (AGLC Gaming and Liquor Act, Section 115(1))

Biking at MacEwan University

Although the university has security officials that work around the clock to ensure the safety of student property, locking up your bike anywhere has its risks. Within 24 hours, Security Services does six to eight routine patrols of the campus.

For many of the outside bike racks, the security of your bike is all about the quality of your lock. A better lock makes stealing a bike more difficult.

“Its a combination of a good, strong lock and a good cable, and affixing it to something very secure,” says Raymond Boudreau, director of MacEwan University Security Services. “That’s what is critical.”

According to Boudreau, the best place to lock up in terms of security is in the parkades underneath the Robbins building. [pullquote]“The biggest tip that I have is to use the underground parkade bike storage areas,” says Boudreau.[/pullquote] “We have lots of locking areas for bikes in the underground parkades in buildings 6 and 7 and we have a beautiful bike storage area with a bike tune-up station in building 9.”

Building 9 (the Robbins) also features a new bike repair station that has all of the tools needed to do a rudimentary tune up and keep a bike ready for the road, as well as tire pumps and a stand to hold up your bike as you work on it.