Here’s how the curbside war feels. While stopped on the sidewalk waiting for the red light to turn green, I heard a voice. The voice came from a young man in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s car turning the corner.

“On the sidewalk, bro,” he said.

Fighting the Curbside War while Daily Commuting

During daily commuting, I have to constantly fight for road, sidewalk, and bicycle parking space. It feels like the city is going to war with me, with bicycle thieves acting as cheerleaders in the background.

Some streets have bicycle lanes that are well-protected from speeding traffic. Without the worry of getting crushed by 4,000 lbs. traveling at 30 MPH or more, it is easy to reach grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants. The problem is that most bicycle paths and lanes are located on the side of the road in the door zone.

Bicycle Commuting in the Gutter Lane

With only a faded yellow line telling motorists that you are in a bike lane, they are often only a foot away while swerving around you. Listening for revving engines is often the only indication that a vehicle is approaching from behind.

Unless you have a bicycle mirror on your helmet or handlebars, you must frequently turn your head to see how close drivers in a hurry are getting to you while passing.

You can always move into the gutter closer to the curb, but then you must deal with debris and glass that slices through tires like scissors cutting paper.

Avoiding the Door Zone while Urban Cycling

Many times, the gutter area—which also doubles as car parking—is packed with vehicles neatly lined up. Think of them as steel soldiers instructed to block you from riding safely away from traffic. While trying to maintain a few feet from unpredictable doors that can swing open at any moment, you must pay attention for heads sitting behind steering wheels to avoid deadly collisions.

Adding to the curbside war, you get to ride behind vehicles with bad mufflers that ring in your ears. Then there are the city buses that blow choking fumes and refuse to move over to let you pass.

Parked Vehicles in the Bicycle Lane

On large, busy roads where parking spots were turned strictly into bicycle lanes, delivery trucks, moving vans, and disgruntled drivers who hate cyclists rule these spaces.

I’ve seen delivery trucks unloading food onto carts for restaurants. Many times, I’ve had to navigate around moving trucks when traffic slows down or stops at red lights while renters carry their furniture into their new residences.

The Curbside War brings Pedestrians in Cycling Paths

Pedestrians also seem to love walking in the bicycle lanes. Then there are the kamikaze cyclists who ride in the wrong direction, straight toward you. Unwilling to move over, they give me no choice but to swerve out toward screaming traffic—a tactic that goes against the rules of being predictable, which dictate that you should never quickly swerve or turn without first signaling to traffic with your hand.

When I’m not fighting for a few feet of riding space, I’m being bounced around on uneven, jagged sidewalks. Bicycles with larger wheels and wider tires with less air pressure don’t send jolts strong enough to loosen tooth fillings. But take a Brompton with 16-inch wheels, or a Tern Link D8 with the tires pumped to maximum capacity, and it feels like riding a dune buggy off-road.

Exertion and Sweat is part of the Curbside War

Pack a few bags of groceries in your panniers, and steep hills feel like climbing mountains. Your legs burn from exertion, and your lungs gasp for air. As sweat rolls down your face, the salt and heat sting your eyes, obscuring your vision right when you need to be at your most alert.

Carrying daily gear to work has the same effect, except you arrive at the office smelly and sweat-soaked. Handy wipes and deodorant mask the odor, but you still feel sticky and dirty. Even a change of clothes can’t replace a shower, an amenity most jobs don’t provide to urban commuters.

Finding Bicycle Parking

Just when you think you have the curbside war defeated, it throws another blow. Some areas have bicycle racks to chain your bike, but most don’t. On multiple occasions, I’ve had to lock my bicycle to large trees, signposts, and parking lot poles. Unable to see if a thief is trying to steal my ride, I have to use a cable lock to secure the wheels, a U-lock to secure the frame, and bring any accessories like lights and panniers inside with me.

Without dedicated bicycle parking, the curbside war kicks you in the pants. It throws a few rainstorms into the mix for good measure—guaranteeing a wet seat—along with the constant uncertainty of whether your ride will still be there when you return.

Defeat the Curbside War with the Proper Gear and Strategy

It might sound like the curbside war is too great to overcome, but the struggle is well worth it. Bringing the proper gear, easing into riding until you build up the physical fitness to handle the commute, and planning ahead makes it one of the most enjoyable experiences ever.

Despite the curbside war throwing bad weather, angry traffic, and hostile bicycle infrastructure at you, what keeps you riding?