Bicycles on shabbat | Rabbi David Sperling | Ask the Rabbi

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Question

I grew up told that you can’t ride a bicycle on Shabbos because it used a chain. Today there are chaineless bicycles on the market. I live far away from a shul but that certainly wouldn’t be a rationale to use a bike. I have seen rabbis who permit foot propelled scooters(not electric) for use on Shabbos. Can those principles be applied to chaineless bikes?

Answer

Shalom, Thank you for your question. You are correct that the consensus of rabbinic opinion forbids riding a bicycle on Shabbat (- except perhaps a bicycle that is obviously a child's toy, such as a three wheeler). Though the reason for this prohibition is not necessarily only because of the chain. In an answer on this site Rabbi Lewis writes :- "Rav Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 7; 30) brings three reasons to prohibit bicycle riding on Shabbat: 1. One might ride out of the Eruv 2. One might come to repair or fix if broken 3. It's a daily activity not in the spirit of Shabbat" Even with a chainless bicycle these problems exist, as I assume the problem of a puncture still exists, as well as the other issues. So, even with a chainless bicycle one should refrain from riding on Shabbat. May you be blessed with Shabbats of rest and holiness.

This question was asked in as a follow-up to the question Bicycle to shul or elso where

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2 Repliesin 1 Discussions

M Michael Stein |9 Elul 5783

bike on Shabbat

If you want to walk to shul but cannot because of physical pain, is it better to ride a bike than to ride in a car? Isn't it more important to be with the community than to daven at home?

D D. Sperling |10 Elul 5783

Bicycle on Shabbat

Shalom, Thank you for your question. It really is two questions - firstly, what is better, to ride a bicycle or to drive? Secondly, is it better to ride a bicycle or to pray at home? The answer to first question is that a bicycle is better than a car for many reasons - the main one being that a driving a car breaks Torah law, but a bicycle is not a Torah prohabition, The answer to the second question is not so simple. The normative practice in Orthodox Judaism is not to ride a bicycle, even within an eruv. However, one could imagine a situation where a Rabbi might rule that it is a better option than being removed from a Shabbat atmosphere and community, This will depend on many factors - such as if it is for one Shabbat or long term; the religious standing and knowledge of the person involved; what type of Shabbat will they have at home; what will the community think about a bike being ridden on Shabbat and such issues. Because of this, it should be totally clear that riding a bike on Shabbat is not normative religous practice, and one should refrain from it. In times of great need, a person should contact a Rabbi who can evaluate the situation and give a particular ruling for each situation. Blessings.