The Right Bike for NYC (and Dreaming of My Next Set of Wheels)

New York is a truly vast city.  The distance from Coney Island, at the southeastern tip of Brooklyn, to the northernmost point of Manhattan at Inwood is more than 25 miles. In between there are 8 million residents and literally thousands of congested roads in all states of repair.

For bicyclists, New York at its best is a welcoming place to ride and, at its worst, life endangering. The city welcomes riders more fully every year as new bike lanes are established, many of which are fully separated from motor traffic and even have their own bicycle traffic lights.  As a result, and due to the pro-cycling advocacy of non-profits such as Transportation Alternatives, the number of New Yorkers who commute by bicycle to and from work has, per my observation, risen dramatically over the decade I’ve lived here.  Where I was once one of a few lonely cycling pioneers on the city’s roads, today I often find myself caught in heavy bicycle traffic during rush hour, frequently becoming part of an ad hoc bicycle convoy as I ride southward on 2^nd Avenue toward the Manhattan Bridge and my apartment in Brooklyn.

Commutes in New York can be long, the traffic can be frightening and fierce, and the potholes jarring. For bicyclists, all of this means that the choice of bicycle is very important to making a commute manageable and enjoyable (yes, even in NYC it can be fun to ride a bike – there’s no better way to quickly and intimately take in the city’s diverse neighborhoods, sights and smells than on two wheels).

My ride to work is 8.5 miles each way, or about 45 minutes in the saddle once traffic lights, congestion and detours are factored in. A classic road bike would be best under most circumstances for such a long ride, but not in New York. Here I need to have my environment in clear and easy view, and only an upright bicycle such as a mountain bike or hybrid allows for that.  I ride a 6 year old Kona Dew Deluxe, which has a relaxed road geometry and flat handle bar along with skinny road tires, 24 speeds and disc brakes.  The bike is the best compromise I’ve found for longer urban distances. The road geometry and skinny tires keep weight down, making it easy to maintain speed and keep up with traffic. The short wheelbase allows the bike to turn quickly while the disc brakes help me to stop very quickly and securely when an emergency looms. The brakes are a particular wonder, they have amazing power and are extremely durable. I’m still on my first pair of brake shoes even though I use the brakes heavily, and often.

The tradeoff for quickness and speed is a jarring ride. The skinny tires roll smoothly on the best pavement, but their high pressure tubes transmit jolts from every expansion joint, crack and undulation in the pavement. On certain days, when I’m tired or maybe haven’t spent much time on the bike of late and am a bit out of shape, I feel abused by the bike’s ride harshness. When I’m in my groove, strong and agile, the jolts that are transmitted through handlebar, seat and pedals feel, more positively, like just one more way that New York city is reaching up to challenge me to be faster, tougher and more resilient. On those days I get a rush out of dodging in and out of traffic, and appreciate the easy speed I can maintain while riding along the city’s smoother protected bike lanes. These are the times when I know that I’d never want to navigate the city by mountain bike. Too much work for too little velocity. The classic road racing bike would be too dangerous, I wouldn’t be able to easily look up and around to see what’s coming, at what I have to avoid, and I’d miss many of the sights that make riding through the city such a unique and exciting experience.

Lately, I’ve been contemplating buying a second bike for longer rides. The Kona is great for daily jaunts of up to 10 or 12 miles. But if the ride gets longer, the hybrid setup starts to become more of a burden than an enabler.  It isn’t a bike that I’d be comfortable taking on the New York Century bike ride every September. After 25 miles, the shortest ride available that day, I’d have had enough.

Yesterday I happened by a local bike shop and stopped in for a look around. On the wall there was a Specialized Allez road racing bike, bottom-of-the-line model, for a price that I could conceivably afford. The shop hand said he’d make me a deal (no better time to buy a bike in New York than winter). I’m weighing the purchase. On one hand, with the new bike I’d be able to go for longer rides around Prospect Park and really get a chance to get my legs in shape.  I also imagine taking the bike up to Westchester, or out to Pennsylvania from time to time for a true long distance country ride. Hey, I have a significant birthday coming up, why not live it up.

On the other hand, rational logic tells me that I’m the father of two young boys. When would I have time for said long rides?  I live cramped in a single floor apartment where the entry hall is already clogged by two strollers, a tricycle, multiple mops, buckets, boxes of toys and, yes, the Kona.  Where would I put a second bike?  How would I get that past my wife?  And, hey, shouldn’t I be putting aside my money for a mortgage down payment..... Ahh, oy, aargh.

One thing I do know.  When the slush outside dries up, I’m going to stop by that bike shop for a test ride.

Remember that...Oh yeah! Bike Commuting!

This is my first post in well over a year, and it follows my first couple of bike commutes this spring, and my first bike commute at all in many, many months.  

The winter wasn’t particularly long, but I was occupied with a new child (our second) which largely kept me off my bike. Mornings that I got up early (and there were oh so many during these past months!) and conceivably could have ridden to work…well, I was just too tired.  

But spring has come to New York, bringing along sunlight and a boost of energy that I hadn’t felt much all winter.  The kids are sleeping…better (fingers crossed!), and I’ve realized that getting on the bike in the morning to ride to work may be the ONLY chance I’ll get to ride over the next few years, at least until Juniors are able to ride along. 

I’ve recalled all the good stuff about biking to work. Getting to the office fully awake, alert, with a nice burn in the legs (I’m a little of out of shape), and with the ability to sit calmly in front of my office computer, with heightened concentration.  All that just from getting some energy out.  Beats feeling like a slug...Nice to be back on two wheels.

Keep Riding in the Coldest Weather? No Sweat!

Winter Wardrobe: High visibility wind proof jacket, wind-proof glasses, helmet cover, thin and thick versions of skullcap, gloves.

Winter has descended upon Gotham with an early cold snap.  It's been icy here for the last week - temperatures have been stuck in the 30s - and it's only December.  As a result, many an otherwise rugged New York bike commuter is likely packing his/her bike off to Manhattan Mini Storage, resigned to a long winter of subway confinement and dreaded darkness, culminating in a bad case of sloth and the blahs.

Wait!  Don't give up so fast!  Surviving winter cold and keeping on the bike is easy.  Honest.  Imagine riding a bike throughout the winter, enjoying the same fine neighborhood views, the exhilaration of two-wheeled freedom and overall sense of well being that you get while riding in warmer months.

It can be done as long as you defend yourself from the bitter elements, namely wind, which more than cold itself is the main offender in winter riding.  Dress accordingly and you'll find that you're actually warmer while riding the bike than while walking.  That's because you're doing a lot of work while riding and generating heat that keeps you warm inside your clothing.

(In the ultimate test of this theory, I once rode in 3 degree weather to the local swimming pool for an early morning dip.  I was plenty warm.  And, on many occasions I've commuted from Manhattan to my current Brooklyn home via the Brooklyn Bridge, where the big "Watchtower" thermometer showed temperatures in the mid-20s).

Here's a guide to the clothing you'll need to keep warm in the coldest weather, from head to toe.

HEAD: Helmets suck at keeping a head warm since they're designed to provide airflow on a hot summer ride.  My jaw drops when I see otherwise well-bundled cyclists riding on a winter day with their heads fully exposed under a Bell.  And we all learned in junior-high science class that some 80% of body heat is lost through the head (debunked here, but hey), so cover it up.

On moderately cold days a thin skullcap worn under the helmet serves to keep the wind at bay and all the thermal energy generated by intense thought in.  I use a $20 Pearl Izumi cap, which is good down to the mid-40s.  When it gets colder, I cover up with this thicker polyester cap, which is very warm.

Fleece skullcap fits under helmet

You'll have to adjust your helmet a little to comfortably fit over the thicker skullcap.  If it's freakin' cold a helmet cover will totally eliminate airflow to the head.  If you can leave fashion sense aside choose a bright, optic yellow cover.  It'll give drivers another clue that you're in the neighborhood, increasing visibility and safety which, next to the cold, are the biggest concerns during dark winter commutes home.

Cold weather helmet covers

EYES: On very cold rides my eyes start tearing up and I can't see a thing.  To solve the problem, get a pair of skiing glasses (rather than goggles, which don't work with a helmet) with foam eye cups to keep the wind out.  My Panoptics/7 Eye Diablo glasses have groovy rose-colored prescription lenses that make even New York look peaceful.  The rose lenses aren't dark so they're great for riding on gloomy days.

Glasses with foam eye cups keep wind out

EXTREMITIES: NOSE, FINGERS, TOES: In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll admit that I haven't found the perfect solution to keeping these body parts reliably toasty on brutally cold days, although cyclists are ultimately dealing with the same limitations that skiers have worked around for millenia.

Here are some strategies.  When it gets into the 30s I put a thin coat of Vaseline on my nose and sometimes on my cheeks as well.  Nothing too thick and slimy, but enough to keep the wind off of my skin.  By the time I arrive at my destination the Vaseline has been absorbed leaving my Rudolph-red nose super soft.  If it gets really cold I use a balaclava (without Vaseline).  It can make it a bit tougher to breathe, though I have ridden up the Brooklyn Bridge without too much trouble with a balaclava on.

BODY: Keeping one's body warm is pretty straightforward.  If the temperature drops below freezing I find that a T-shirt, covered by a thermal cotton long sleeve shirt and a then a sweatshirt, and topped by any wind breaking shell does the job.  Another commuter recently told me that she actually puts the windproof shell under a soft outer shirt to keep from overheating.

Wind protected

I used to wear an old rain jacket for the top layer, but a couple of years ago invested in a bright, optic yellow Descente cycling jacket.  It's thin but blocks the wind, and it increases the chance I'll be seen by drivers, who don't expect to see cyclists out after dark on a frigid evening.

On the bottom half, I wear summer cycling shorts covered by old Reebok long nylon sweat pants.  They 100% block the wind (I wore them the first time I went skiing) and that's all that matters.  My legs simply don't get cold.  I also own a pair of fancy winter cycling tights, which are really warm, but find that they're tight over my kneecaps, which were ravaged by years of BMX racing on bikes with cranks that were too long (I've had multiple operations to fix chondromalacia, or wearing out of the padding behind the kneecap - the tights put pressure on them and make 'em ache).   I used to own a pair of Bellwether tights that had accordion knees that relieved the pressure.  They were great, but I haven't been able to find a similar pair since.

GLOVE and SOCKS: When it gets colder I slip on a pair of winter cycling gloves that I found at PerformanceBike for $10 on sale.  They work well to about the high 30s, below that my fingertips can get pretty chilly on a longer ride (i.e. the 45 minute or so commute home from the City).  Miraculously, some days my fingers do fine. I don't know why.  My toes are generally good until the freezing point.


Big-buck ski gloves would probably work better when cold, though it might get tough working the brakes and gears.  If someone has wisdom on fingers and toes please share (there are high end winter cycling gloves such as these, though I haven't tried them).

To be honest, sometimes it's just too damned cold to ride. Or, at least too cold to ride for very long. Everyone has their own threshold.  And, of course, deep snow makes it hard to travel safely or far.  But most of the stuff you need to ride in the winter is likely already in your closet.  The frigid streets of Gotham await.

Rally to save New York bike lane draws huge crowd

This morning Prospect Park Neighbors ran a super rally in support of the Prospect Park Bike West bike lane in Brooklyn.  Three hundred people RSVP'd for the event, but many more cyclists and pedestrians turned out to blanket the farmer's market grounds on Grand Army Plaza and chant "We love our safe street!" 

PP Neighbors elicited the help of Transportation Alternatives to organize the rally, which coincided with a small protest against the lane by a group of local residents.  The resident group has been emboldened by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's opposition to the lane, which was built in June, on the grounds that it makes PPW more dangerous for pedestrians.  Yet initial data compiled separately by Park Slope Neighbors and the Department of Transportation contradict that assertion.  Ultimately, opponents want to see the bike lane erased and the street returned to 100% motor vehicle traffic, and some appear to be distorting the safety issue to further their cause.

As I've written in earlier posts, the PPW bike lane is an essential improvement in bike safety.  Prior to the lane's construction there was no way for cyclists to safely travel from Grand Army Plaza to 15th Street, particularly during rush hours when the prime thoroughfares in the area, PPW, 7th and 8th Avenues turn into virtual NHRA drag strips with drivers speeding to work.  Riding those streets in the morning was suicidal.

The bike lane now provides a safe and dare I say enjoyable way to commute on two wheels.  Extreme speeding, once a regular phenomenon, has noticeably fallen since the road was narrowed to two lanes.

And, per my own informal observation, this morning's safe-cycling turnout dwarfed that of the opponents.  Following 30 minutes of enthusiastic rallying on the plaza cyclists rode calmly along the bike lane, passing the nay-sayers and local news camera crews.

On my way to the event, however, I was yelled at by one opponent of the lane as I rode across a pedestrian crossing - said lady let me know at full voice, while she was apparently being interviewed by a newsman, that I should stop at the crossing.  But the flashing light at the crossing is yellow, not red, and the lady was not crossing but standing fast in the parking median, eyes to the camera.

Urban Bike Commuter Tools Part 2 - Bags

The last post of New York Bike Commuter overviewed racks, an essential tool for commuters who want to haul important stuff like a clean change of clothes, a lock, books, etc with little effort.  Bike racks don't reach their hauling potential, however, without a bag draped over them.  This post gives a quick overview of bags that work best for commuting and running errands.

Bags come in three general categories relevant to urban riders: serious commuting bags for people who've got to bring a nice change of clothes to work, cheapo bags that will wrinkle your stuff but are light and easy to use day-to-day, and big grocery bags.  All hook onto a rear rack.  There are also some detachable baskets on the market, and a milk crate strapped to your rack is a great way to carry a basketball...but I digress.

Serious Commuting Bags: Pricey commuting bags earn their keep by getting fancy clothes to the workplace in fine shape.  Top end models have compartments that keep a suit smoothly folded and are waterproof in everything short of a Brooklyn tornado.  With this sort of bag the excuse "riding a bike means I'll look crappy at work" no longer applies.

6th Ave Brooklyn after last week's tornado

Jaand, Ortlieb and 2WG, among others, make panniers that run from about $100 up.  Many of these bags have compartments for books, a carrying handle and look reasonably briefcase-esque.  Thus, no one will suspect your green inclinations when walking into the office at the oil company.  Usually one bag is enough to carry work stuff: the bags are generally sold individually.  But these bags aren't much for general cargo duty - they tend to be tall and narrow so bulky stuff won't fit (top-of-rack bags are another good option for carrying clothes).

Ortlieb Downtown commuter bike bag

Cheapo Bags: If you don't mind wrinkled clothes, want to use your panniers for multiple purposes (which means keeping them hooked to the rack all the time) or simply don't want to spend much money, there are a zillion inexpensive (under $50) bags on the market.  Check the local bike shop, should have many of these, or online.

I use a $25 (on sale), two-sided Nashbar Daytrekker pannier that allows me to stuff a heavy chain lock and shoes in one side and put work clothes in the other.  The bag also works great for quick trips to the supermarket, a picnic and was even enough, tightly stuffed, for a weekend ride up the Hudson River (sleeping at a B&B).

Nashbar Daytrekker bag

Cheapo bags are likely to rip apart after 2-3 year but that's why they're cheap.  If they get stolen, no biggie.

Grocery Bags: These are big, square, wide open bags that allow serious grocery hauling (see top blog pic).  A pair will easily swallow a gallon of milk, cereal boxes and a six pack with room to spare.  Good grocery panniers should have rugged mounting hardware to ensure they won't fall off the rack, spilling Brooklyn IPA all over the road.  Seams should be rugged and the bag should have a flat plastic bottom to hold things level.

For many years I used a pair of bags from L.L. Bean.  They withstood a lot of abuse (they got sliced up but never ripped apart) although the mounting system could have been a bit more trustworthy.  REI sells Novara's 'Round Town grocery pannier, which looks like a more fashionable version of my old Bean bag.

Finally, a safety warning:  Really heavy loads can affect bike handling, making it harder to turn, or making it easy to fall over when at a stop, particularly if one side of the bike is much more loaded than the other.   Pack evenly (note that clothes bags are often used on one side of the bike only but, since clothes generally don't weigh much, the effect on handling is negligible). Also, use caution when moving from a stop - heavy loads are particularly treacherous at slow speeds: the faster you go, the less you notice the weight, until you have to make a quick turn.

Also, I've completely avoided front fork mounted racks and bags, which weigh down your front wheel and make it harrowing to swerve on a milisecond's notice, an important skill on the streets of NYC.

Urban Bike Commuter Tools - Racks

While riding to the Red Hook swimming pool a few weeks ago I managed to catch the attention of a woman driving by, who stretched her head out of her car window and gazed in my direction.

"Where'd you get that bag?!" she yelled out the window, pointing, unexpectedly, at the black nylon pannier draped over my bike rack.

I answered that I'd gotten it from BikeNashbar, for about 25 bucks on sale.

Her awe of my equipment made me realize that many folks who are new to bike commuting may not be aware of some of the tools that can, in fact, turn a bicycle into a practical tool of transportation.  So, in today's post I'm going to focus on the most essential of those tools: the bike rack (I'll get around to mountable bags, aka panniers, in my next post).

RACKS:
A bike without a rack is like a semi truck without a trailer or the Space Shuttle without its cargo bay, i.e. pretty much worthless. Seriously, while a bike will get you around, a bike with a rack lets you get around with your stuff, be it heavy books and laptop, groceries or whatever.

Rear bike rack

A decent rack costs around $40, with some popular manufacturers including Blackburn, Topeak and Trek.  A good aluminum rack is strong, capable of carrying 40+ pounds and surprisingly light itself so it won't weigh down a bike when unloaded.  Also, a solidly attached rear rack won't noticeably affect bike handling, which can be a problem when wearing a heavy backpack that raises a rider's center of gravity and causes backaches.  Racks save your back.

Racks are pretty straightforward, but there are a few mega important considerations to take into account when choosing one:

Size: racks are often sized to fit bikes based upon wheel size, i.e. a rack that works on a 26" wheeled mountain bike won't necessarily work on a hybrid or road bike with 700c wheels.  I've seen lots of incorrectly sized bike racks, the result being that the top of the rack isn't horizontal, which looks pretty goofy.  Stuff hauled on a sloping rack wants to slide off, defeating the purpose.

Some manufacturers offer adjustable-height racks (the "legs" of the rack are threaded allowing height to be adjusted up and down).  My personal prejudice based on absolutely no scientific data is that these racks add unnecessary complexity and moving parts to something that's supposed to be simple and reliable.  And, adjustable racks definitely weigh more.  So, shop around and find a solid rack that works for a particular bike.

Disc Brakes: Disc brakes have become popular on mountain bikes and, increasingly, on hybrid-style bikes that many urban commuters/Gothamites ride.  But disc brakes presented a problem for riders who wanted racks, since the bulky disc caliper tended to get in the way of the rack mounting point next to the wheel axle.  Rack manufacturers have figured out how to get around this problem (see the picture of a disc-specific rack below - see how the rack supports bend outward around the disc caliper) so take this into consideration when buying.

Disc brake-specific rack with child seat mounting hole to boot

Hauling kids: Rear-mounted child seats require a bike rack, and most child seats are specifically designed to work with a certain rack, i.e. seat and rack are sold together.  Check to see that the child seat can be easily unmounted leaving just the rack, which can be used for general hauling.

If you already have a rack on your bike and you decide you want to bring a little kid along beware that the rack you have probably won't work with a child seat.  Take a look at the picture above - this Topeak rack has a hole in the top platform. The hole is needed to mount the Topeak child seat. Other Topeak racks, with essentially similar designs, lack the hole...

Fame mounting: This important point relates to the bike itself, not the rack.  Most modern bikes come with rack mounting holes drilled directly into the seat stays (the tubes that run from just below the saddle to the rear wheel) but a few manufacturers still neglect to add them.  For example, a friend of mine recently bought an ultra hip Surly single speed.  After forking out $700 for what was to become his main urban ride my friend discovered that the bike lacked mounting holes in the seat stays. 

The bike shop rigged up a mount using steel and rubber straps wrapped around the frame, but the rack is kind of wobbly, is likely to scratch the bejeezus out of my friend's precious paint job and simply looks lame.  What's worse, due to the overall shakiness of the setup he can't haul much.

If you're on the market for a new bike, make sure the rack mounts are built in.

Removable racks: These racks, which mount directly to the seat post via a hefty clamp, are fairly popular among mountain bikers or anyone who might want to completely remove their rack when it's not needed.  They're generally a good option if you don't plan on carrying heavy loads.  Also try to find a removable rack that has railings that drop from both sides - this will allow you to hang a bag over the rack without having the bag sway back and forth, banging into the wheel.

Seat post mounted removable rack

And beware in the city - anything that's easily removed is easily stolen.

Beating the weather and staying on the bike: commuting tips

Yes, it's early August here in Gotham and we've all been sweating it out more than usual. Temperatures climb daily into the 90s, while a single measly window A/C unit fails to rise to the challenge of cooling my railroad apartment. An undulating layer of superheated air hovers just above the floor and sweat drips from my brow into my bowl of Grape Nuts.

All this reminds me that it's time to address one of the most common excuses people give for NOT riding their bikes: the weather. Be it too hot, too cold or too wet. Let's look at each excuse individually. I'll proceed to blow each excuse out of the water in this and coming posts. Starting with:

Too Hot
Given the insane cost of living in Gotham, it's likely that the vast majority of residents under the age of 25ish can't afford to live in 'fancy' air-conditioned apartments, and must rely on a legion of floor fans to circulate oven-hot air throughout the home.

What the heck, you can get the same current of hot air while riding your bike! Should you happen to ride on the West Side bike path, you'll also get a view of the Hudson, scantily clad members of the opposite sex and, if you're really lucky, a cool breeze wafting down from Canada now and then. So get out and ride!

But, what about bike commuters, the very focus of this blog? People with jobs can't arrive all sweaty and stinky to their cubicles. And  there's always the alternative of subway cars, taxis and private helicopters, where A/Cs work great.

Here are a few ideas to help make biking to work on a hot day more plausible:
1. Ride to the gym near your office, take a shower, go to work. New York Sports Clubs and YMCAs blanket the city. New York Recreation Centers have basically the same amenities as fancy health clubs, but without the glitz, while a year membership costs just $75. You read that right, and one membership gets you into all of the Rec Centers, many of which have pools to help cool off.

Hitting the gym before work sounds like a hassle? Well, you were going to go to the gym anyway, right? How about getting up a little earlier and riding to get warmed up for a good weight workout, and skipping a boring half-hour on the treadmill. Overall weekly time at the gym remains unchanged, even reduced.

2. If you can't swing the cost of a gym membership or the closest location is really inconvenient, take a change of clothes to work in a rack-mounted clothing bag, along with baby wipes to clean up. Yes, baby wipes are pre-moistened, clean, compact and leave you smelling pretty darn fresh (but cyclists who don't want to smell heavily of nursery and baby oil will avoid Pampers standard wipes: they reek. Pampers sensitive skin are a better bet, while Costco's Kirkland brand comes in easy to use, resealable pouches and are cheap - get a relative in Stamford to pick them up.)

 Um, yes. This is a cycling blog.

Wipes are designed to handle the mess on a baby's bottom and, as yet, riding through NY traffic hasn't gotten anyone that dirty.

3. Advocate for showers in your office building. Sure, this is a process and success isn't guaranteed, but someone has to do it.

Shower stall. 

Image courtesy of jonbrak

Finally, remember that it's insanely hot a relatively small portion of the year, even in NYC. So, if none of the above work, slack is cut from mid-June to early September, at most.

I'll tackle rainy days, and super cold (which is easy to deal with. Really) in my next posts.

Many of NYC's best destinations accessible only by bike

Bicycling can be an alternative form of transportation, i.e. an alternative to traveling by car, bus or subway.  In New York, however, bikes provide practical freedom of movement and are an essential form of transport.  And, without a bike, many of the city' most interesting and off-the-beaten-path destinations remain practically out of reach.

Take, for example, the hole-in-the-wall Mexican bakery I happened upon on a 1 a.m. ride home, where I got the next morning's fresh bread straight out of the oven (subject of a future post).  I'd have never found the place, sniffed that luscious bread, had I taken the train.

New York's subway system is famous for its spiderweb of lines that seem to reach into every corner of the city.  The reality, however, is that the web is a loose and sloppy one with big gaps, particularly in sprawling boros like Brooklyn and Queens.  Sites (stores, cafés, bars, museums, whatever) that are close to the lines get lots of attention.  But most destinations fall in the vast space in between and remain lost opportunity, like flies that got away.

For me, those otherwise lost destinations include swimming pools.  During two precious months in the summer I swim outside at the Red Hook Recreation Center, which has what must be the biggest pool in NYC, in my guesstimation 100 yards long and 40 yards wide (the width being confirmed fact).  There are two daily lap swims, from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. and p.m., in addition to open swimming during the day.  In the morning, when the air is still relatively cool and a breeze sways the trees surrounding the pool I almost feel like I'm on vacation someplace relaxed.

 Red Hook Pool

The pool really is that nice, but it's in an otherwise industrial neighborhood, Red Hook, that's served by a skimpy few bus lines and no subway.  It would probably take 40 minutes to walk to the pool, but it's less than 10 minutes away by bike (at last night's evening swim EVERYONE appeared to have ridden in, telling from the number bikes locked to the fence outside)

(BTW– Red Hook also has what may be Brooklyn's best supermarket, Fairway, which is on the waterfront overlooking New York Harbor. It's a great place to grab lunch and sit on a bench to watch ships pass by.)

 Old streetcar in front of Red Hook Fairway supermarket

Photo courtesy of bayridgephantom

The pool I frequent the rest of the year is at the St. John's Recreation Center in Crown Heights.  Without convenient subway service the options for getting to St. Johns are limited to car (where to park?), taxi ($15 each way for a 45 minute swim?) and of course bicycle.

My route includes a ride along the new Prospect Park West bike path to grand Army Plaza.  From there I proceed on a dicey one-half mile ride along Eastern Parkway before picking up its protected, tree-lined bike path, which runs through one of New York's famed Hassidic neighborhoods.

 Eastern Parkway bike path in winter

Photo courtesy of unchienandalusia

After a couple of miles I take a left at Troy Avenue and ride a few blocks to Prospect.  The rec center is on the corner. Note that a year membership costs $75 and gets you into all the city's rec centers, all of which have gyms, some of which have indoor pools.  The Red Hook pool is free in the summer, but you have to show the guards your swimsuit and a lock to get in.

Without my bike, all these places would be out of reach.  Enough said.

Wow! The city puts bikes ahead of cars (again)

Air pollution and traffic safety are the two big threats to the wellbeing (i.e. life) of the urban cyclist, and the main deterrent to people who'd otherwise to take to the streets.  Thus, I'm excited to report that the city is making impressive headway on at least one of these fronts with its aggressive campaign to build protected bicycle greeways, the latest of which is under construction along Prospect Park West, a heavily trafficked thoroughfare in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood.

A couple of weeks ago the city began building the greenway along the avenue, which has always been a magnet for drivers who get a kick out of drag racing from one stoplight to the next. Anyone who lives in the neighborhood, and saw the movie "Speed", probably has had nightmares of those drivers flattening one of the thousands of baby strollers that prowl local sidewalks. The furious traffic made the road a hazard for any rider trying to make his or her way south from Grand Army Plaza.

The city has now downsized Prospect Park West into a two lane driving road, with the third lane re-purposed in three parts: the relatively wide greenway that runs along the curb, a barrier zone and a “floating” parking lane that creates a wall of parked cars to separate traffic and bicyclists. There’s a feeling of great, self-righteous satisfaction that comes from the knowledge that cars are now lending their own metallic hides to protect the fleshy ones of cyclists. The whole project is, in essence, one big thumbs up to bike commuters and a big middle finger to motorized traffic and the city’s drivers.

 

Prospect Park West bike greenway under construction, June 2010. 

The bike lane will also be lined for two way traffic (car traffic is only one-way), which means that cyclists who previously had to rely on 7th or 8th Avenues to go northbound on their morning commutes toward the bridges (or towards the pool in Crown Heights were I swim a couple of mornings each week) can now completely bypass those harrowing routes via the greenway.

Big credit is due to Mayor Bloomberg, who’s lent an open ear to transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, an advocate of bikes as serious transportation, and to Transportation Alternatives, NYC’s pedestrian lobby that’s put in tons of effort to make the city noticeably less hostile to cyclists. (A city source close to the project revealed to NYBC that certain drivers loudly bitched and moaned when they heard about the city's plans. The city moved ahead anyway.)  Previously, the city made my jaw drop with surprise when it created similar protected bike lanes along 8th and 9th Avenues in Manhattan, complete with their own traffic lights. NYC seems to be returning to it's roots as New Amsterdam.

8th Avenue bike lane, Manhattan. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Lin.

Most “bike lanes”, however, remain nothing more than painted street paths that drivers encroach upon at will. And, of course, bicycling will never truly be healthy in this city until air pollution comes way down. I was reminded of this fact when I rode into the City a couple of weeks ago on a very windy day. Crap from the street whipped into the air and landed in my eyes and lungs, which felt like they were full of gravel by the time I got home. True, most days aren’t this bad, but I wonder what might be the cumulative effect on the lungs of so much aerial muck.

Looking up, if the city continues to make life easier for pedestrians and cyclist, I might at some point begin to consider New York a nice place to live. Not just exciting and frenetic, but a place where a person might achieve a bit of spiritual peace by being able to enjoy a leisurely ride through the city without fearing so much for his/her life. Lots of work remains as safety is still a big problem. But credit the city, it's made solid progress and deserves a big THANKS!

Brooklyn Bridge vs. Manhattan Bridge: Which route into the City?

Anyone ever notice that the Brooklyn Bridge is a rustbucket? It’s true. Corrosion oozes from every bolt, girder and cable on the 127-year-old Gotham landmark. I’ve watched the bridge’s slow deterioration on countless rides into and out of the city, and a fold deep in my brain prays that the whole thing won’t come tumbling down, Minnesota Highway I-35 style, forcing me and hundreds of other bikers, pedestrians and drivers to swim for our lives in the East River.

My neurotic caveat about the Brooklyn Bridge aside, I’ll add that it’s THE commuting route for beautiful cityscapes, including a view of imposing lower Manhattan, and for people-watching. Bikers get to use the narrow upper level above most of the traffic noise, leaving us free to enjoy the view and dodge the tourists that invariably stand in the bike lane to take photos.

While the Brooklyn Bridge oozes 19th century romance, its neighbor a few hundred yards to the North, the Manhattan Bridge, is best described as industrial. The Manhattan Bridge was completed in 1909, when America’s steel industry was running full steam. The bridge is almost all metal and it has an Erector Set look. (The Brooklyn Bridge, by contrast, has stone towers, and the bike path is made of suspended wooden planks).

I always feel a bit caged in when I ride over the Manhattan Bridge bike path, which is located on the north side of the bridge. Maybe I feel that way because there actually is a cage over the path (to prevent folks from jumping off). The bridge is LOUD, especially when the Q train passes just feet away, and there’s no view to New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty to the South.

But the Manhattan Bridge is in much better shape than it’s neighbor (no obvious rust) and it’s a much quicker ride that’s smoothly paved and lightly traveled. If you’re into fitness, it also provides what may be the longest uphill ride in New York City as you come from the Brooklyn side. I can tell who’s in shape as I pass/ get passed on that incline. I get to work and my legs are pumped up. It’s kind of cool to know I got a real workout in the morning.

Aesthetics aside, there is a practical consideration when choosing which bridge to take into the City: where do you want to go? The Brooklyn Bridge ends at City Hall Park. From there it’s a short ride to the bottom tip of Manhattan and views of the Harbor.


View Larger Map
If you’re commuting uptown there are two basic ways to go. One, take an immediate right off of the bridge onto Centre Street. It’ll take you in front of the Justice Department and Court House where there’s a ton of traffic, but at least there’s a bike lane through the busiest bits. If you’re going to the West Side or just looking for a leisurely ride, take the first left off of Centre onto Chambers Street and ride clear across the island (which is narrow at this point) to the West Side bike path. It’s set apart from traffic and extends 15 miles to the top of Manhattan.

The Manhattan Bridge ends up on the edge of Chinatown (and passes over a good chunk of it). If you’re looking for a cultural experience, cruise through the neighborhood but realize that the narrow, heavily trafficked streets of Chinatown rival the Brooklyn Queens Expressway for bike unfriendliness. But the bridge does dump you into Manhattan a good deal farther north than the Brooklyn Bridge.

Two good ways to head uptown are to go straight off the bridge exit ramp onto Canal Street and head east. Go two blocks to Allen Street and turn left to follow the bike lane uptown (Allen turns into 1st Ave. when it crosses Houston Street). The second way north is to turn left uphill when you get to the end of the bridge ramp and continue straight across town on Canal Street, or turn right onto Chrystie Street, which has a bike lane and will direct you up into Little Italy, Soho and the Village.

Location is less of a deal in Brooklyn, since both bridges start in pretty much the same area (their entry ramps are maybe a three minute ride apart, at most). I choose which bridge to take based upon my mood (do I prefer a view or a less congested ride) and, depending on my destination in Manhattan, which bridge will get me there faster.

Fast vs. Clean Travel Routes Brooklyn > Manhattan

Okay, okay, I don't have a new job yet, which means I'm not technically a "bike commuter" since I don't have anywhere to commute to. But I do like to think of myself as a wellspring of practical information on riding the streets of Gotham, wisdom that I've gained on hundreds of round-trip commutes through the city in all seasons. I'm going to lay out my accumulated wisdom bit by bit in coming posts.

Today's topic: the quickest, safest and least air polluted routes from Brooklyn into the City (that's Manhattan for those who aren't intimate with NYC). First of all I'll say that riding in New York presents fundamental compromises for a bike commuter: in other words, a Gotham cyclist is not likely to find a single route that fulfills the criteria "quick", "safe" and "clean air".

Looking for a safe ride? That means you'll likely have to avoid the major Brooklyn thoroughfares and ride a more roundabout route through Brooklyn to either the Brooklyn or Manhattan bridge, the only links between the two boros. Looking for a fast ride? Then take the major roads, but realize you're putting your life in increasing danger. Your lungs won't appreciate the added pollution from multitudes of busses, semi-trucks and general traffic jamming on the big roads, either.

My pick for the FASTEST RIDE from the south Park Slope neighborhood to either of the bridges (which originate in pretty much the same place along the bank of the East River):

View Larger Map

1. Ride 9th Street (bike lane) west (downhill) to 3rd Avenue and turn right. Ride along 3rd Avenue until Bergen Street. 9th Street and 3rd Avenue are both wide open thoroughfares (by Brooklyn standards) with heavy traffic and well synchronized traffic lights that require relatively few stops. Drivers tend to drive so fast along these roads that you, as a bicyclist, will discover that you ride faster than you thought possible as you attempt to go with the flow and minimize yourself as a traffic target.

2. Turn left onto Bergen (it’s a one-way street, as are most non-major roads in this part of Brooklyn), which gets you back onto a designated bike lane. Take Bergen all the way to Smith Street, where you turn right. Smith isn’t the widest street, but it does have bike lanes that should provide a modicum of protection from frequent heavy traffic. Smith will change names as it crosses Fulton Street, becoming Jay Street. Jay will take you through the heart of “downtown” Brooklyn, a jungle of soot-spewing busses, rush hour drivers and pedestrians that venture onto the pot-holed road at will. Ride fast but keep a couple of fingers on the brake levers at all times.

3. Following three or four minutes along Jay you’ll come to Tillary St., where you’ll have to make a decision: ride straight ahead and take the Manhattan Bridge, or take a left and merge onto the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ll discuss the relative merits of travel along each bridge in a future post.

The total travel time getting out of Brooklyn is about 15 to 20 minutes. If you’ve made it without a scratch, your lungs will nevertheless be aching from all the crap you’ve breathed in, which brings me to my FIRST RULE OF COMMUTING IN GOTHAM: Get started early.

Rush hour traffic picks up significantly by about 7:45 AM as drivers rush to make it to their offices by 8. Plan to finish your commute before rush hour takes hold. A 40 minute ride into the Village dictates leaving home by 7:15 or so. Take this recommendation seriously.

SLOWER, CLEANER RIDES: If you’re not particularly competitive, type A or in a general hurry, you can avoid traffic by taking smaller roads and an enjoy a more leisurely commute through historic brownstone neighborhoods.


View Larger Map

1. Take 6th Avenue through Park Slope, rather than 3rd Ave. 6th Avenue is a residential street through the heart of picturesque Park Slope. Thus, there are relatively few trucks although you might find yourself stuck behind the odd school bus. The drawback to this road is that it’s relatively narrow so you’re more likely to get stuck if and when traffic piles up, slowing your commute. Ride along 6th until Prospect (the last place you can turn left before getting to Flatbush Ave, a major congested artery). Turn left on Prospect, ride one block to 5th Ave and turn right.

You’ll ride along 5th Avenue, a relatively narrow, heavily trafficked commercial street, for just a couple of minutes until you get to Bergen Street, where you’ll hang a left and join the bike lane. Ride Bergen all the way to Smith.

2. Remember, Smith is the main, polluted artery I discussed in the fast route. Smith is commercial and mega-urban, not a pretty site. It gets worse once it changes into Jay Street and enters downtown Brooklyn.

So, take this route (a painted bike lane the whole way - a Gotham city planner knew what he/she was doing): Once you get to Smith, turn right and ride 2 blocks to Pacific Street, where you’ll turn left (as I said, the bike lane will follow). You’ll ride two blocks to Clinton Street, where you’ll dog leg to the left to cross Clinton and pick up Pacific again on the other side of the street.

You’re now entering Brooklyn Heights, the chi-chi neighborhood of Brooklyn. It’s full of luxurious Brownstones that are furnished with the money of investment bankers.
Ride along Pacific two blocks ‘till Clinton Street and turn right. You’ll ride Clinton all the way through Brooklyn Heights, including its café-lined downtown, until the bike path dumps you onto Tillary Street. Ride Tillary downhill until you get to the bridges, where you’ll get to make the Brooklyn-or-Manhattan Bridge decision.

You’ll see that this ride is a bit longer and slower than the faster option, but it’s a whole lot prettier. If you’ve got the time, I recommend it.

No Job, No Commute

As of late October I'm out of my job as a journalist at a big time (but numbered days?) biz mag/web site in Manhattan. When I get a new job (hopefully one that I can bike to), I'll get on the blog.

Riding Brooklyn - A First Look

Brooklyn is a better place to bicycle than I had thought. Two weeks ago during a break from the cold weather I started out on what I'd planned to be a short ride from my apartment in Park Slope. I rode the half block to Prospect Park and the three mile road around the park’s perimeter. Then, I decided to explore Brooklyn. I rode out of the park at the southeast corner roundabout. From there I continued West along 15th street toward Red Hook. I wanted to see how long it would take me to get to Home Depot, where I had walked the weekend before in a half hour.

By bike the trip took just five minutes, but seemed much shorter. When I got to busy Third Avenue I bypassed the store, turned left and began to ride south deep into Brooklyn. Third Avenue is a wide, busy road lined with cement-colored factories and warehouses. I’d hoped to ride for just a short distance and and find a place where I could turn right, toward New York Harbor, and ride along the water. But a row of industrial buildings lining the waterfront continued for blocks, blocking access to the harbor.

I rode about a mile and finally saw an opening. I turned right on what was probably 45th Street and ended up at the parking lot of the New York Maritime Armory (or something similarly named). The gate to the parking lot was open, yet the presence of a manned guard station made the place look unwelcome. I continued instead down a narrow road between one of the armory buildings and a factory, and came upon a quarter mile long ferry pier.

There were no boats on the pier. There was a group of fisherman, however, at the far end. Mostly short Mexicans that seemed somehow out of place on the waters of New York, four or five of them stood around talking while their poles leaned motionless on the pier railing. Nothing bit at their lines. I sat down on a bench and looked out directly into New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. To my right, surprisingly far away, was Manhattan. The City barely rises out of the water. A wave could cover it. Straight ahead was Staten Island, with its hills that slope high out of the harbor. I started to get cold, and got back on my bike.

Back on Third Avenue I continued South. Around 60th Street the warehouses disappeared, replaced by three story residential buildings with storefronts. A main street of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

…to be continued…

An accomplishment, a crash, and a new neighborhood

It has been almost four months since my last post and a lot has happened. First, I reached my goal of riding at least 25 miles per week for a year. I exceeded the goal, reaching 1525 total miles for a real average of just over 29 miles a week. There was only one week during the year that I didn't ride the minimum without good reason (flu, away on vacation). I'm proud that I managed to stick to my plan. I finished the "year" on November 7, a year after I installed a computer onto my Trek 800.

Tragedy very nearly struck soon thereafter. In mid-November I was riding my bike down a hill on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when I had a head on collision with a car. I am fine, but I was EXTREMELY lucky. The Trek 800 was totaled, its rear triangle folded sideways. I was too close to oncoming traffic, my fault, and as I was riding down the hill, too fast, a car suddenly appeared around the curve in front of me, far to its left, blocking my way. Our combined closing speed was probably about 35 miles per hour, at least. I had just a split second to react, and slammed on my rear brake and skidded sideways into the car rather than hit it head on. My bike hit the left side front bumper of the car, I flew in the air over and beside the car, taking off the rear view mirror with some part of my body in the process. I landed somewhere near the rear left part of the car and bounced up immediately to my feet, searching out the woman who drove the car and telling her that I was allright. I was fine, but felt immediately ashamed of myself. I had been going too fast and had been over too far and it was stupid, and this poor woman who was driving her car was probably terrified to death. As it turned out, I think she was overwhelmingly relieved that I was OK.

The state of her car revealed the violence of our impact. Half of the front bumper was shattered and torn from the car, as well as the plastic lining that rides over the wheel inside the the front left wheel well. We spent a few minutes cleaning up bits of bumper from the road and tearing off the dangling pieces that remained attached. She continually asked me if I was okay and I was. Later on I found a medium bruise on my left thigh and a nasty bruise under my right groin, where I think I may have slammed into my seat while being thrown off the bike. I checked my bike and found that the rear triangle was bent and the rear wheel folded. We exchanged phone numbers and went on our way. I was very lucky. The woman, I hope, has been able to forget about the accident somewhat but I imagine she's a bit terrified while driving these days...

Somehow I wasn't completely surprised that I'd gotten into the accident. I've been riding in New York for the last four years, and with time I've become too comfortable in traffic (see my June 30 post). When I first took to the New York streets I was terrified, hyper alert and cautious. Riding in the city was overwhelming, but I needed to navigate the urban grid at least part of the ride to work (I rode on the West Side bike path most of the way, but would have about a mile and a half of unavoidable city street riding downtown near the office), on rides to Central Park and on rides north to the George Washington Bridge and into New Jersey.

I never had a harrowingly close call during those four years. There were a few occasions when a driver would deliberately cut me off, but somehow that didn't scare me because the strafings were intentional. It's the completely out of the blue stuff that gets you in New York City. And, telling from the number of bike accidents I hear about on the news and read about in the paper, there are ample opportunities for the unexpected in this City. But, for a long time I remained vigilant and I had no accidents.

Over the last few months, though, something began to change. I'd find myself riding down busy 14th street looking at storefronts, my own shoes or making sure that my commuter bag was securely fastened to the rack. At the same time, New York city traffic, including whale sized busses, aggressive taxis and skittish drivers from the suburbs lurched and flowed around me, often in evening darkness. I'd look up from whatever I was doing and find that I'd come dangerously close to the car in front of me. Or, that the traffic environment I'd been riding in had changed dramatically in the past five seconds that I wasn't paying attention, and I'd quickly have to readjust. I'd berate myself for not paying attention, regain focus for a few minutes, but then return to my newly formed bad habit of casually looking around instead of watching the road. I knew I was going to get myself into trouble, but I'd been lulled by four uneventful years of city street riding into a general state of dangerous casualness while on my bike.

I'm sure that for too many riders, this is the final sensation of their lives. I got comfortable, I got overconfident and I got in a bad wreck. I also got extremely lucky.

I have since moved to Brooklyn, which is a completely different riding environment. Fortunately I live near Prospect Park, which has a three mile, car free loop that is full of cyclists. However, away from this oasis Brooklyn is far from bicycle friendly, "bike paths" are nothing more than white-lined sections on major streets and a long ride is required to get to anyplace that is safe and open for riders. I have yet to ride to work because it means riding over the Manhattan Bridge directly into the sprawling, crawling streets of Chinatown, followed by a voyage across downtown Manhattan during rush hour. I may take the long route, riding the bike path around the southern tip of Manhattan and up the west side bike path, but this will only partially help. We'll see. I don't imagine that I can keep off the streets forever. But I'll have to rewire my brain. I also have a new bike, a Kona Dew Deluxe, that I'm eager (though not dying!) to work out.

New York City a great place to ride

For anyone who has never been to New York, I have a surprise. This city is actually an excellent place to bicycle. Wouldn’t seem to be possible, since every view of New York on television or in a photograph shows clogged streets full of maniac taxis ready to flatten the nearest cyclist. But New York has safe places for cyclists. Many of them. The west side bike path runs nearly the entire length of manhattan, along the Hudson river. The lined, two way path extends nearly 12 miles, is essentially free from car traffic. The only obstacles are people walking and roller bladders. I take the bike path on my ride to work. Without the path, I’d have to ride through the city and stop often since there are traffic lights at each block. And I’d have to dodge traffic, and breathe in smog directly from exhaust pipes. I wouldn’t commute by bike at all.

For fun, I ride around central park, which is a six mile loop. The park road is curvy and has some fairly substantial hills. It’s also lined by trees, ponds and meadows and feels a lot like a country road, especially on a quiet early morning ride. During the day, the park is full of cyclists and runners so its important to be careful not to run anyone over.

If you take the riverside bike path north you’ll eventually run into the Washington bridge, which has its own bike path. The bridge will take you across the Hudson and into New Jersey. There, you can take Route 9N along the New Jersey Palisades for fifty miles or more. 9N is fairly heavily trafficked, but the shoulders are wide. The road is also a favorite of local cyclists, so motorists are generally used to seeing bikes and drive cautiously.

There are many other rides possible. You can ride to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan and catch a ferry to Governor’s Island during the summer. I have yet to make the trip myself, but have heard that the island has an old new England, small town feel. Another ferry will take you to Staten Island. Admittedly, not my favorite place, but the borough is relatively less populated than Manhattan and may have more open roads suited to biking. Last year I even rode to Coney Island at the far end of Brooklyn. The 20 mile (each way) or so ride took two hours, a slow time due to the fact that the last few miles are along Atlantic (?) avenue in Brooklyn, which is a boulevard of seemingly never-ending intersections and traffic lights that are timed perfectly to slow a rider down.

New York is an excellent bicycling city. This does not mean that riding on city streets is pleasant. It isn’t, and it can be easily hazardous to your health. But the city has thankfully created paths for cyclists, and Central park is tuly biker heaven. Beats my home town of Cincinnati, even if the Midwest does have a much wider variety of wide open roads a relatively short distance from the major urban and suburan areas.

Looking up, not around

I’ve been involved in a number of near misses on my bike lately while riding to and from work. These have come when I’ve been distracted, suddenly look ahead at the road and find myself rapidly coming up on a slower rider, roller blader, or upon a pedestrian suddenly crossing the street that I almost run into. Many of these close encounters have come as I’ve ridden on the Hudson bike path. And, last week on 14th street I almost got whacked when a taxi door opened – luckily I had just passed the car.

I wondered if I’m getting old and my eyesight and reflexes are slowing, causing me to come upon potentially hazardous situations that I would normally well avoid. But, I don’t think this is really the problem (or, if it is, it isn’t the main problem).

I’ve been getting myself into near misses because I am so confident in my ability as a rider (I was a BMXer as a teen and have good bike handling skills, and have been riding city streets as an adult for years). I figure that I can react to the suddenly opening car door or the unexpected swerving bus. But, the reality is that I can only control these situations if I don’t allow myself to get into them in the first place. If I ride close to cars, no matter how capable a rider I think I am, I have no control over the person who suddenly swings a door open.

Because I’ve gotten so comfortable at weaving my way through the city, I don’t take the precautions that any other, justifiably terrified cyclist would take here. I watch the Hudson go by, read road signs, look down at my read derailleur to see what gear I’m in. But I don’t pay attention to the road. And the last few weeks I’ve had some scares.

So, I thought about one of the rules I learned in drivers education in high school: aim high. Meaning, always look up, and look well down the road instead of merely ten feet ahead. This gives a wide view of what is happening directly in my path, and off to either side, and plenty of time to react if something goes awry.

Rather than have another near miss, I’m going to try to aim high.

Hi

Hi,
this is New York Bike Commmuter, a place for every New Yorker who rides his/her bike to and from work, bars, or wherever to tell their daily story. Anything goes, the first posts will come soon....