Getting Around on Work and Travel USA: Bikes, Buses, Trains, Rides

This page covers getting to work and around town without a car: on foot, by bike, by bus or train, and in a ride-hail car. The living hub has the rest of daily life, and the driving page covers licenses and car insurance.

The short version

1. Wear a well-fitted helmet whenever you ride a bike.
2. Follow the same traffic rules on a bike as a car driver.
3. Lock your bike by both wheels and the frame.
4. Walk on sidewalks and cross at marked crosswalks.
5. Check that the car and license plate match your app before you get in.

Biking: the same rules as a car

A bicycle is a vehicle. In every state, bicyclists on the roadway follow the same rules and responsibilities as motorists, as NHTSA’s bicycle safety advisory puts it. Ride on the right, in the same direction as other vehicles. In Virginia, bicyclists and motorists basically have the same rights and duties. In Florida, the person riding is considered a driver.

Before every ride, run this list:

• Wear a properly fitted helmet that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.
• Check tires, brakes, handlebars and seat before you leave.
• Obey traffic signs, signals and lane markings, and signal all turns.
• Ride a bike that fits you and has working parts.
• Skip headphones and phone calls while you ride.
• Never ride impaired by alcohol or drugs, which affects your judgment and skill. About 22% of the bicyclists who died in 2023 had been drinking.
• Lock the bike, securing both wheels and the frame to a stationary object.

Drivers are asked to allow at least three feet when they pass you. Florida law sets a 3-foot minimum passing distance.

Bike laws by state

States set their own helmet ages and lighting rules, as the New Jersey DOT bike page shows. This table shows four examples. Local towns can add rules, so look for signs.

More detail on each state:

• New Jersey requires a rider under 17 to wear a helmet, and a rental shop must supply one for a fee if needed. Helmets must meet the federal CPSC standard.
• In Florida, you may not text or wear headphones or ear buds while riding. Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• In Virginia, a bicyclist on a sidewalk must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.

Rent a bike only after you check the helmet law for that state. If you ride an e-bike, read the state class rules first.

Walking, day and night

In 2023, 77% of pedestrian deaths happened when it was dark. About 46% of crashes with a pedestrian fatality that year involved a driver or pedestrian with a BAC of .01 or higher. Avoid walking home after drinking.

Habits that lower the risk:

• Walk on sidewalks. If there is none, walk as far to the left as possible, facing traffic.
• Cross in marked crosswalks, at corners or at intersections, and obey pedestrian signals.
• Do not step into the road until a driver has stopped or acknowledged you with eye contact, a wave or a nod.
• Use lights at night or in poor visibility, white in front and red in the rear, and use reflective wear if you walk at night.
• Skip texting and music while you walk.
• Give drivers extra time to slow or stop at dusk, dawn, in fog or at night. Just because you can see others does not mean they can see you.

Heat on the way to work

Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. It is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards. Humidity increases the feeling of heat.

• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• If you are outside, find shade and wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Avoid high-energy activities or outdoor work during midday heat if possible.

Know the signs. Heat exhaustion can bring heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, dizziness and headache. Seek immediate medical attention if cramps last longer than 1 hour. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency, and delay can be fatal. Signs include a body temperature above 103°F, confusion and slurred speech. Call 9-1-1 or take the person to a hospital immediately. Read the health and safety page for the full list of emergency contacts.

Trains and buses

Ocean City, Maryland, runs municipal buses along Coastal Highway, and its $4 pass lets you transfer to a Park & Ride bus at no extra cost. The town requires exact cash fare or a pre-paid photo ID General Bus Pass from City Hall. All its buses are ADA accessible. That is one town’s own policy, from a 2026 capture.

Amtrak’s own bike policy (2025 capture):

• Bikes on carry-on service go in designated racks inside coach cars.
• When the racks are full, no more bikes are accepted.
• Standard full-size bikes can go in the baggage car only at select stations.
• Fees vary by route and show in the price summary when you reserve.
• You may not store bikes in overhead racks, and gas-powered motorized bicycles are prohibited.
• A boxed bike needs a box, sold at most staffed locations for $15.
• Check a bike at the station at least an hour before departure.

On any bus or train, choose a seat near the driver or operator and do not sleep. Stay back from the platform edge. Look for an emergency call button, because a phone might not always work.

Ride-hailing and rides home

Uber and Lyft set 18 as the minimum age for an account. An Uber rider must be at least 18, and anyone younger must be accompanied by someone 18 or older on any ride. Lyft requires passengers to be at least 18 to sign up. These are each company’s own policies: Uber’s page is a 2025 capture, and Lyft’s was seen on 2026-10-20.

Safe-ride habits from NHTSA’s ride-home guidance:

• Confirm the car and license plate match what you booked in the app.
• Do not step into the road to flag down a ride.
• Always buckle up, even in the back seat, and make sure your driver does too.
• Uber’s app shows the driver’s plate, car, photo and name, plus an Emergency Button and a way to share ride details.
• A standard Lyft ride seats up to 4 riders. Lyft’s safety team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• If a stop will take longer than 5 minutes, ask a Lyft driver to end the ride.

If you are in immediate physical danger, call 911. The J-1 Visa Emergency Hotline is 1-866-283-9090, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For where the money goes, see the budget page.