During the peak of rush hour or even on busy weekends, riding an ebike through the city is easily one of the most convenient and pleasant ways to get around. Here are our top eight tips for getting comfortable navigating bustling urban streets.
1. Use Dedicated Bike Infrastructure Whenever You Can
If you’re lucky enough to live in a city (like Minneapolis!) with robust bike infrastructure, navigating your way downtown is a heck of a lot easier. Choosing protected bike lanes, greenways, and dedicated bike paths can make your trip calmer.
Whenever possible, plan your route around this infrastructure rather than following the same roads you’d take with a car. It might take you an extra mile or a few more minutes, but the quieter ride is almost always worth it.
2. Choose Slower Streets Over Faster Ones
One hack for creating a solid bike route is to take roads that run parallel to the ones you’d normally drive on. They usually have lower speed limits, fewer lanes, and less through traffic. Plus, taking the route less traveled will expose you to all kinds of hidden gems in your city that you wouldn’t normally experience in a car.
3. Check What’s Happening Downtown Before You Leave
It only takes being forced to navigate bumper-to-bumper traffic once to teach you that sometimes it’s best to stay clear of certain areas downtown all together. Big sporting events, concerts, festivals, and even construction can turn normally easy routes into gridlock. If you regularly ride past large venues that host events like these, do a quick check to get a reading on what kind of conditions you can expect.
On the flip side, if you’re attending an event like a concert or sports game, taking your ebike is a great way to skip the traffic! Many parking garages have bike areas—just be sure to bring a super sturdy lock.
4. Stay Visible and Attentive
Your best bet for staying safe while riding in the city is to keep your head on a swivel and stay visible. In addition to keeping an eye on the traffic ahead, be sure to pay attention to parked cars, intersections, pedestrians, driveways, and cars approaching from behind. Avoid riding so close to parked cars that you could get hit by someone opening their door. Check out the Rear Vehicle Radar System to get alerts on your bike display screen for cars approaching.
Lights help too. Both the Marker and Tracer have integrated front and rear lighting, which helps drivers notice you—especially at sunrise or dusk, under heavy tree cover, or on overcast days.
5. Signal Early and Be Predictable
The easier you are to read, the easier it is for drivers and other riders to share the road with you. Use clear hand signals before turning or changing lanes (you can do this by simply pointing left or right), hold a steady line, and avoid making any sudden maneuvers.
The rear light on Monarc bikes has a built-in turn signal, which gives you another way to communicate with traffic behind you.
6. Give Yourself Extra Braking Room
Ebikes are heavier than traditional bikes and can carry more momentum, especially at higher speeds. That’s why it’s extra important to look ahead, anticipate slow downs in traffic, and brake a bit earlier than you would on a regular bike. Smooth and predictable beats fast and reactive!
7. Watch the Weather and Pack for a Change
Here in Minnesota, the weather can turn on a dime. Pack extra layers like a lightweight rain shell and gloves during cooler seasons. It can make the difference between a comfortable ride home and a miserable one.
If the conditions get truly bad, city riding has one major perk: there’s usually a coffee shop, library, brewery, or other warm place nearby where you can wait things out or warm up.
8. Carry the Basics Without Carrying Them on Your Back
You don’t need much for most city rides, but a few essentials are worth bringing along.
Consider packing:
- A quality bike lock
- Flat repair supplies
- An extra layer
- Water and a snack
- Phone and wallet
- Charger or spare battery for especially long days
Check out our Pannier Bag and Stem Bag for extra storage.
Make Every City Ride a Better Ride
City riding gets easier with every trip. The more familiar you get with your routes, the more confident you’ll feel navigating traffic, finding shortcuts, and discovering new corners of your city. With a little planning and the right gear, your daily ride can become one of the best parts of your day. So grab your helmet, hop on your Monarc, and enjoy the ride!