Riding a Bike on Shabbat

Is it permissible to ride a bike on Shabbos (there is an Eruv)?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

It is forbidden to ride a bicycle on Shabbat even in a place that has an Eruv and there are a number of reasons for this.

One reason is the concern that the bicycle might break while riding it including something small and easy to repair like the chain falling off. One would surely be tempted to return the chain to place in order to be able to return home. A repair of even this nature is a severe Shabbat violation.

There is also the issue of uvdin d’chol – activities that are inconsistent with the spirit of Shabbat, of which riding a bicycle is included. We are to spend Shabbat engaged in more spiritual pursuits and riding a bike, with the clothes that are worn and the sweating that accompanies the activity, is certainly not in the spirit of Shabbat.

Even if there is an Eruv, there is the concern that one might accidentally leave the eruv boundary, or even the techum Shabbat, the maximum distance that one is permitted to travel on Shabbat.

It is also noted that the tires of a bicycle often cause ditches and grooves to be created in the ground when riding which could possibly be a violation of the melacha of choresh, plowing.

Young children are permitted to ride tricycles, and the like, which are clearly more of a toy then a method of transportation but all horns and bells should be removed before Shabbat. A child's scooter (“ korkinet ” in Hebrew) may be used on Shabbat.

Shimisha Ve'limudah page 240