Biking rules in NJ/USA?

[Tiger7]

Hi, I am planning to buy a bike for this summer. could anybody out there give some details abt
1. Is helmet a rule (or just a safety measure) to have while riding the bike?
2. can I ride the bike on road or should I always use sidewalk(where ever available)?
3. can I lock it to any pole near station (in NJ) if there is no bike stand?
4. can I take bike into PATH/Lighrail/NJTransit?
4. any website to know abt bike laws/rules and fine/ticket etc.

finally, is wal-mart a good place to find a bike at reasonable rate?

thanks in advance.

[ajay_chatopadhya]

Hi, I am planning to buy a bike for this summer. could anybody out there give some details abt
1. Is helmet a rule (or just a safety measure) to have while riding the bike?
2. can I ride the bike on road or should I always use sidewalk(where ever available)?
3. can I lock it to any pole near station (in NJ) if there is no bike stand?
4. can I take bike into PATH/Lighrail/NJTransit?
4. any website to know abt bike laws/rules and fine/ticket etc.

finally, is wal-mart a good place to find a bike at reasonable rate?

thanks in advance.

1) Helmet is not a rule. I wouldn't wear it unless you plan to bike in the city (manhattan). I wouldn't bike in manhattan without it.
2) you can ride any where - so long as the traffic is not dangerous, there is a walk way on a side. You can't bike the holland tunnel or any high ways, free ways etc.
3) lock it, leave it and loose it (specially if your bike has not been bought from target)
4) yes you can. There are rush hour restrictions on the path train. Don't know about light rail.

Rules are generally relaxed for bikers. However, you should be careful of your own safety. Wear bright colors, have lights on your bike etc. if you are riding in dark. Be extra careful when on road, specially in Manhattan - those buses can be hard, specially when they make a cut right in front of you. And I think, you are not allowed to bike on the walkways in Manhattan. I've noticed people bike against traffic. I wouldn't ever cross a red light.

[Tiger7]

for #3, do u mean, "lock at your own risk?". I just am curious if there will be any fine from police or any respective premises?

[Lenin]

for #2...


It is illegal in New Jersey to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Legally you MUST use the street, a bike path, or the Waterfront Walkway!

[venus_aisle]

aaah Lenin.. I did not know that. I frequently ride on the sidewalks. Makes me feel safer.

[msion1]

A helmet might not be the law but I encourage you to wear one for your own safety.

[Nic]

I recommend full body armour cycling on any road in Manhattan or New Jersey, especially around dusk when your average driver seems to be particularly unaware of cyclists. I think if you cycle on the sidewalks with due sensitivity to pedestrians' needs it's OK, even if it is technically illegal - and you can always get off and push. I don't know why some cyclist cycle the wrong way down one way streets - that seems particularly dumb, particularly where people might pull out of side roads onto the one way street. There are complicated rules about how many cycles PATH and the Light Railway let you carry, but again, a bit of common sense goes a bit further than the letter of the law.

[Stinky]

There are complicated rules about how many cycles PATH and the Light Railway let you carry....The rules for both are: no bikes during the weekday rush hours. Additional rule for PATH only: not more than two bikes per car.

[Lenin]

Also something about "you must STAND with your bike." I guess otherwise you take up 3 or 4 seats.

PATH used to demand a license which you got for free. I got one a million years ago but nobody ever asked to see it.

A LOVELY ride is to take the PATH to WTC and bike up and up and up the Riverfront until you have biked half to death ...then turn around and do the other half. It's SAFE and beautiful.
Driving the streets of Hudson County is just NUTS...you are just begging to be seriously injured, helmet or not.

If ONLY they connected the WALKWAY to Hoboken it would be NIRVANA...but by the time it's connected I'm afraid that I'll be in a wheelchair or worse...a casket.