Pick Your Route
Some routine or leisure trips by bike are easy to make, but a little planning is a good idea for longer, unfamiliar trips. The route you normally drive may not be the best route by bike. Look for maps that indicate bike routes, bike lanes, multi-use trails or difficulty levels to help you plan.

Bringing Your Bike on the Bus 
All Columbia transit buses have bike racks. It’s easy—just pay the normal fare and bring your bike along! See Bikes and Transit tips on the next page for more information.

Bike Parking
Columbia has on-street bike racks. Many businesses provide bike racks, so finding somewhere to lock up usually isn’t too hard. If you plan to commute, scout out the best place to park your bike in advance.

U-Lock

Lock It Right
At a minimum, you should put a lock through your frame and the front wheel. This is especially important if you have a quick-release wheel; if you lock only the wheel, the rest of your bike can be detached and carried away. Options for locking the frame and both wheels include:
•   Removing the front wheel so it can be locked with the rest of the bike.
•   Using two locks.

Lock-up Tip: Locking both the frame and the front wheel makes breaking your U-lock tougher for thieves. It also helps keep your bike from falling over if bumped.

Fixing A Tire

Maintenance on the Fly
The most common mechanical problem bicyclists experience is a flat tire. It’s not much fun, but actually it’s surprisingly easy to fix a flat tire. Want to know how? Call your local bike shop for a schedule of bike repair classes.