Practice

At first, biking next to two-ton hunks of metal (cars) scares most people. How do you get over it? Walk or drive your bike to a quiet parking lot and ride around. Ride down rows of cars, getting closer and closer. When you get within four feet of a line of cars, practice looking inside the cars. Look for people who might open doors or pull out in front of you. Then practice following cars through the lot. When you’re ready, repeat these steps on a quiet side street.

Get to know your bike

You might not ever need these skills, but knowing how your bike performs will build your confidence. Learn how small a space your bike will fit through by riding between objects, such as parked cars or sign poles. Do this until you can judge spaces on sight.