There’s very few occasions when streets are that scary. If you feel it’s that dangerous, just take a different route. There are unavoidable exceptions, like near certain freeway entrances and exits, but by and large you should be on the street.

Riding on the sidewalk is too slow and has been shown again time again to be more dangerous. People just don’t see you and more importantly are not looking for you. Also it reinforces the idea that cyclists should be on the sidewalk.

"2. If you do take your bike into the shop, have them adjust it to give the best, most comfortably, most upright position possible."

I wouldn’t go too upright for many reasons. First off it’s really hard on your lower back and behind because they will take all the shock if you are too upright. It’s best to be able to go into a 45 degree angle so that your arms and shoulders help cushion you as well. Also it’s hard to generate power for acceleration and speed when you’re too upright. You’re not using your whole body.

I’m not suggesting triathlon aero tuck, just something sensible. Better yet go with drop bars or bullhorns not set not too low so you can change up your sitting and hand positions. This may not matter on really short trips but over any distance you will appreciate it.

That said, here’s some advice that I would give a newbie:

1. To get started, try to find residential streets that run parallel to the main drags. For my work commute, I can easily do 75-80% of it on residential streets. Is it a bit slower? Sure. But I’ll gladly sacrifice a few more minutes out of my day in order to have an immensely more enjoyable ride.

2. If you do take your bike into the shop, have them adjust it to give the best, most comfortably, most upright position possible. Tucking into an aerodynamic position, staring at your pedals, to me is not helpful in watching what’s happening around you in traffic. You need to be able to see, and not have to look up in order to do so.

3. Some may differ, but IMHO, there are certain places in LA where I’d just rather ride on the sidewalk. "Taking the lane" is great and all, and yes, it’s your right. But it requires that other people respect that right, and rights have a way of becoming somewhat less meaningful when you’re dead or injured. Yes, the sidewalk requires that you ride more slowly because there’s a lot more obstacles and unexpected threats, but again, relax and smell the roses. A block or two on the sidewalk is not going to take all day.

4. As far as sweat and clothing, I just pack my work shirt and maybe a change of undershirt. In any bathroom, you can take your biking t-shirt off, use it with water to wipe yourself down, put on a fresh t-shirt and your work shirt, and you should be pretty good.

5. Have fun!!! Leave early, take your time and enjoy the trip. Don’t make it into a stressful, rushed experienced because that’s not only less fun, but could result in dangerous mistakes.

Then he slags on helmets as being nerdgear.

He has been assimilated and he doesn’t even know it.

Second order of business: Ride your bike on city streets on your own time, just for fun, before you start riding to work. That’s right, I’m giving you permission to keep driving to work for a little while. You’re welcome! The idea is to make urban bike riding a fun thing that you’re good at, rather than a scary chore that you do while under pressure to beat the clock.

Third order of business: Did I mention holding your line? I did? OK, now I’ll tell you why. You’ve probably noticed how some cyclists hug the curb when they ride in an urban area. If you really watch one of them, you’ll also notice that when he comes up to a parked car, he now has to get around that car while traffic whizzes by him in the outside moving traffic lane. Had he held a consistent line, outside the zone where cars park, even when there are no parked cars, the moving cars in that outside lane would already be adjusting their own lane position to account for his being there. And just as importantly, they would already have seen him, which is often not the case when a cyclist is being a gutter bunny (because he can be hidden from traffic by parked and moving cars). Also, riders who can hold their line are sexy.

Fourth order of business: don’t become the kind of ninnypants who won’t stop complaining on the Internet about the "Bike Kulture" because some girl with a messenger bag didn’t get out of the way of his car fast enough three months ago.

Fifth order of business: get a messenger bag and come over to the dark side. Mwahahahaha.

I’d suggest some of those plastic tire liners to stop flats, they work pretty great and you don’t have to worry too much about road side fixes and all the equipment and time that entails. At worst, you might have to walk back home, or call a friend. Metal bottle cages can be bent to accommodate cheapo 16oz. water bottles, and the less you worry about stuff to lug, the easier it is to get back on the bike.

Oh yeah, helmets are for nerds.

I’ve found leaving stuff at work to change into is a good option when not riding on casual Friday.

Confidence takes a while and I’m not sure I have it completely. Feel free to yell at people. I have a bell, which seems to help when in stop & go traffic when I’m between the cars & the curb (or parked cars).

I’m not saving much money by biking, but it certainly takes care of the exercise.

Try it out. You have nothing to lose but your (key)chains.