@BBawlight try to avoid living your life in fear of “all the things that might be against the [unwritten] rules.” (And a lot of the written ones, too.) It’s a bicycle, for gosh sakes. If there hasn’t been a rule published that you should know about, then just assume that it’s okay. It’s a bicycle!
Really, if you think you need to ask permission to do everything, then you’ll never get anywhere, never get anything done, and never live your own life.
Ride the bike. Don’t ask a soul if you may, as long as you’re capable of riding, navigating the traffic, putting the bike out of the way and secure when you get there. You know, as long as you can be safe, confident and orderly about things.
If someone has a real heartache with it, then I’m sure they’ll tell you – and I doubt very much that they’ll punish you. For riding a bicycle? Really? How absurd! especially if the rule hasn’t been published clearly and broadly.
The reason that people “throw their authority around like confetti” is… you’re going to love this… because you’re always asking permission. (That’s “you”, plural. I assume that others are probably as cowed by this bunch of “what if and maybe” rules and the idea that you need to ask permission for simple transportation, which you can provide yourself.)
Just do it.
If you start to “just do it” in more and more areas of your life then you’ll find that people are less apt to “throw their authority around” because it will be obvious that you can already take care of yourself. It’s part of the process of maturing.
Just do it. There’s a reason why that’s such a great motto. It’s a way to live.