Bikes

Bikes bikes bikes! Everybody thinks that everybody drives everywhere in Louisiana, but it's just not true. BR has plenty of bikeable places, a plethora of biking people, and a perplexingly generous helping of bike-related events.

Bike Rides

There are many regularly scheduled bike rides in the area and Critical Mass is surprisingly huge, mostly populated by LSU affiliates. There are many other regular bike rides scheduled, including a full moon ride, a pub roll, and a Saturday ride from Highland Coffees to the Farmer's Market. Every month bicyclists collect these events, draw up, and xerox a small 8.5" x 5.5" calendar of bike events for that month. You can always find this at the Critical Mass ride or at your local bike shop.

Baton Rouge Bike Calendar - Feb 2009 (PDF)

Monthly leisurely rides:
  • every Sat: Farmers' Market Ride 9am leaves Highland Coffees 9:15am
  • 1st Sun: FREE Museums Ride (downtown) 1pm meets at Highland Coffees
  • 2nd Friday: Critical Sass (Ladies Only ride) (irregular meetings)
  • final Fri: Critical Mass 5:30pm at the LSU Clocktower

Monthly bike culture events:

  • 1st Fri: b.r.Alley Cat Race 6:30pm, location rotates monthly

  • 3rd Tues/Wed: B.R.A.S.S. Works Maintenance & Repair classes

    ($5+ donation each) 6:30-8pm at The Bicycle Shop, Tuesday beginner, Wednesday intermediate. Bring your bike and a cleaning rag.

    RSVP to brsafestreets@hotmail.com.

Weekly racing:

  • every Wed: Weeber Weds (racing) 7:15pm at Garden Dist. Tennis Cts.
  • every Tues/Thurs: Training Race 5:30pm (racing) Farr Park at River Rd

Monthly meetings (_th Thursday of the Month):

  • 2nd: Bicycle-Pedestrian mtg 5:30-7pm at CRPC office, 333 N. 19th St.
  • 3rd: Design (the next month)'s Calendar mtg 8pm at Highland Coffes
  • 4th: B.R.A.S.S. mtg 6:30-7:45pm Carver branch library 720 Terrace St. Ride together 5:55pm from the Bicycle Shop on Highland

Bike Facilities

BR Bike Map (PDF)

Bike News & Additional Bicycle-related Phenomena

Report your experiences!

  • Report all traffic accidents to the appropriate Police Department
  • To make service reports to city: dial 3-1-1, office (225) 389-3090, fax (225) 389-2199, leave message (225) 389-2070, or go online
  • Email yourbicyclestoryhere@yahoo.com with your name, contact information, and bicycling stories — good or bad, so that Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets can compile the reports and periodically send them to 'responsible parties' within the city-parish government's political and law enforcement arms.

Bike Organizations

LSU Student Organizations and University Offices

Bike Shops

Bike Laws and Regulations

Louisiana Bike Laws (Abridged)

City Parish Planning Commission's Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative:

  • RS 32:106 Methods of Giving Hand and Arm Signals: Left Turn, Right Turn, Stop or Decrease Speed
  • RS 32:193 Operation of Bicycles; General Provision
  • RS 32:194 Traffic Laws Apply to Persons Riding Bicycles: Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway of this state shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.
  • RS 32:195 Riding on Bicycles: ...keep at least one hand upon the handle bars...
  • RS 32:196 Clinging to Vehicles: No...
  • RS 32:197 Riding on Roadways and Bicycle Paths:
    • Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
    • Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
    • Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
  • RS 32:199 Bicycle Helmets; Restraining Seats: ...child under the age of twelve... The provisions of R.S. 32:57 shall not apply to a violation of this Section. No civil penalties or court costs shall be assessed for any violation of this Section.
  • RS 32:329 Bicycles; Front Lamps; Side and Rear Reflectors: Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five (5) hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear and a reflector on each side facing outward at the right angle to the bicycle frame, all of a type approved by the department which shall be visible from all distances within six (6) hundred feet to one hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five (5) hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
  • RS 32:346 Brakes on Bicycles

LSU Biking Regulations

Office of Parking, Traffic, and Transportation:

  • Regulations have been established to provide for the orderly movement and parking of bicycles on campus. In using bicycles on campus, the rights and safety of others should be considered at all times. Editor's note: Such a clause DOES NOT EXIST for any other mode of transportation! Students may be charged with a violation of the Code of Student Conduct for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk or parking or storing a bicycle in a University building.
  • 63. A Baton Rouge city ordinance requires that bicycles be registered. Since several city streets traverse campus, it is recommended that all students register their bicycles with the Baton Rouge City Police Department. The fee for this registration is $5. To register your bicycle or for more information call (225) 389-3822.
  • 64. Bicycle riders are subject to the same rules as motor vehicle operators and should ride on the right hand side of the street, obey all traffic signals and signs, and give hand signals.
  • 65. Bicycles will not be ridden on sidewalks or lawns.
  • 66. Bicycles will be parked in bicycle racks, in other designated parking areas, or on lawns.
  • 67. Bicycles may not be operated or parked inside buildings, on sidewalks, in passageways to the Quadrangle, in any location impeding pedestrian and vehicular movement, or in such a way as to create a hazard.
  • 68. Bicycles will be chained only to bicycle racks.
  • 69. Persons violating bicycle regulations will be ticketed and fined $7. Severe violations will result in the bicycle being impounded and an additional $5 fee assessed.
  • 70. All bicycles found on campus between the end of the summer term and the beginning of the fall semester will be considered abandoned and will be impounded. A bicycle may be claimed, with proof of ownership, at the Office of Parking, Traffic, & Transportation. After 60 days unclaimed bicycles may be disposed of. The University is not responsible for damage to bicycles or bicycle locks incurred during the impoundment procedure.

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