I just got a bicycle

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My parents have kept my bicycle in their shed for a while, and I just got it back so I could get back into cycling for leisure, except, I didn't know there were so many rules for it on and off the road!

I've just learned that in Ontario, you can't casually cycle on the sidewalk on an adult-sized bicycle, as it's considered a vehicle. You can get fined for this.

I've lived in a suburban/rural type of neighborhood for most of my life, where people wouldn't blink at you for riding on the sidewalk slowly with your kid, or on your own if the sidewalk is mostly clear of pedestrians.

I currently live in a high-rise apartment on my own, and it's close to a busy road that I'm way too scared (for my safety) to ride on.

Does anyone have safety tips or warnings to give to a newbie cyclist?

I used to have a bike when I lived in Budapest, it's a bigger city than the one I currently live but I felt way safer cycling there than here.

If there is stabilized laws about cyclists, I think at least the others vehicles will respect you more – in my area, it's awful because bigger vehicles just have the feeling that you shouldn't be on the road, so they can even be a bit aggressive.

Did you checked the laws about what kind of equipment should your bike have? Like number/position of lights and reflectors, kind of brakes, etc.

There isn't any option to avoid the main/bigger road and go by smaller streets? I did this until I got used.

Try to see how the other cyclists behave and follow them, like if they go by the side of the road or they just occupy the space as they were a regular vehicle.

Wear a reflective vest and helmet.
Cycle early mornings when there's no traffic with the appropriate lights fitted.
Here, you can take your bike on the bus - don't know if that's an option where you live, but it means you can bus to another, less busy area and back.
Research where the cycle lanes/bike paths are in your city.

I use it to warn pedestrians when I approach from behind because we have shared bike/walking paths here.
I think they like to be warned.
Sometimes when I don't use it and just go past, they get a fright, especially older people.
If you don't have a bell, you call out, "coming through on the right." Or whatever.
I belong to a cycling group and they're big on the communication/etiquette aspect of cycling.

I live in the city which has rules about bicycles but most cyclist don't follow them. They're not supposed to be in the sidewalk but lots are & when they actually are in the road they are not following the traffic rules. They decide to go rite when I start walking cuz the crosswalk says go & they nearly hit me like they're playing a game of chicken. I wish the rules would be better advertised & actually enforced.

^ You can follow the rules to the letter and still receive hate.
When I used to do proper road cycling, we would often get abused or have things thrown at us because we were riding two abreast, even though it is permissible by law.

Technically where I live (va), people are not allowed to cycle on the sidewalk, but it isn't enforced and no one cares. For my safety I cycle on the sidewalk and slow down or pull over for pedestrians.