Whether it’s to save the environment or to save gas money — or to take advantage of free bike valet at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on Main Street — everyone’s getting on a bike, and you should to. 9 steps to get you on your bikerly way –

1. Get a bike. I just popped over to Helen’s Cycles to pick up my pink townie, but if you’re the type who likes to do your research first, check out this comprehensive two-part guide on how to pick out and purchase a bike from Alex Thompson of Westside Bikeside. Need a visualization? The Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge has a cute Bike Builder.

2. Pick a bike path. Lotsa bike route mapping tools can help get you moving. Use those while we wait on Google Transit to add a “Bike There” option.

3. Register your bike. In LA and Santa Monica, bike registration’s required — though few know about it. Go legal to avoid getting cited (rare, but possible). Update: Bicycle licenses are no longer required! That ordinance got repealed in June 2009.

4. Make friends at a group bike ride! LA’s full of mass bike rides and friendly bicyclists who ride in them. I should do the Critical Mass Santa Monica ride more often –

5. Take a bike safety class. Think biking in the city’s only for the fearless? CICLE, LA County Bicycle Coalition, and other groups hold ongoing bike skills and safety classes for cheap. Take advantage of them both to stay safe and to avoid unnecessary hassles on the road. Of course, your getting on a bike in itself will make the roads safer — More cyclists means fewer accidents! At the very least, read these tips on how not to collide with cars or people.

6. Fix it yourself! Tired of forking over your hard-earned money to the bike shop for minor issues? I take my bike to Bikerowave where a skilled volunteer gives me hands-on lessons on how to fix my bike myself — for just $7 an hour. The Bicycle Kitchen and Bike Oven also offer similar services in LA.

7. Volunteer for a bike organization. All the aforementioned bike orgs are hungry for volunteers. Whether it’s valet parking bikes or teaching a new rider how to fix a flat, apply your two-wheeling skills for a good cause.

8. Get political! Want more bike racks? Ask for it! I did, and now the Santa Monica Public Library has more bike racks. And putting your two cents in at community meetings for the city or transit organizations will help not just you, but all the bicyclists in your ‘hood.

9. Read bike blogs for inspiration! Some of my local faves are Bike Girl Blog, Westside Bikeside!, and Gary Rides Bikes. Got an LA-area bike blog? Link to it for us in the comments!

[crossposted on BlogHer]

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