Look Who’s Cycling Now
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I love to ride my bike. Unfortunately, the last two times I did so in NYC, I had rather unfortunate experiences — including one which Julianne Welby witnessed — and for which I have an inch-long scar on my right forearm.
But. I had a chat with David Byrne the other day (!) about cycling in the city– not just for fun (?) but for transport. He’s hosting an event Saturday night at the Town Hall called “How New Yorkers Ride Bikes” and it sounds like a blast. You can hear my chat with David about cycling on City Folk Morning Friday at about 6:45 am and 8:45 am. I thought you might also like to know that David’s daily cycling commute takes him along the Hudson River — a bike path he heartily recommends; he says he takes in some awesome sunsets. He also spoke very highly about a Brooklyn bike ride that takes you under the Verrazano bridge all the way to Coney Island.
<>http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/nyc-bike-map.php?lat=40.612389&lng=-73.987427&zoom=13&type=m
(You can start at Fort Hamilton Park or, for a longer ride, up at Owl’s Head Park. And as David puts it, you can take your bike home via the subway to just about anywhere in town.)
DB also recommends riding in Staten Island — again, under the Verrazano and along the Atlantic.
http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/staten-island-bike-map.php
Do you cycle in NYC? And who do you think is worse — rude riders (on two wheels) who don’t stop for red lights, etc … or road ragers (on four wheels) who don’t think twice about scaring the spandex off cyclists ??
I saw David Byrne with Lucinda Williams last night, and she mentioned that he rode his bike to the show. By the way, it was an incredible show, David Johansen also was a guest, did a duet with Lucinda and an old Dolls tune. Byrne and Lucinda encored together with Take me to River.
I was lucky enough to go to the event last night and it was a whole lot of fun. Details on my blog.
I really enjoy riding around Manhattan – tho it was a recent as a week ago that a lady opened a taxi door right in front of me. I was lucky enough not to go over my handlebars, tho the rear end of my bike did fly up and hit the car to my left. I was wearing my helmet – tho I didn’t always. I can tell you I will now.
I was inspired enough by Claudia and David’s bike chat to give an East Side Manhattan ride another try. My husband and I live in Northern Manhattan, not far from the gorgeous — and relatively new — bike trail along Harlem River Drive. We discovered many valuable things on our Sunday ride:
1. There’s still a huge detour away from the river at about 155th Street into central Harlem. The ride back to the river along 120th Street takes a good 20 minutes (certainly at my out-of-shape pace). When will the city finish connecting that 30 blocks or so of riverfront bike trail that’s still missing?
2. Once you get back to the Harlem River, you get a beautiful view of Randall’s Island, and more importantly, the concert stage setup where we’d seen The Arcade Fire the night before. Plenty of park benches line the waterfront trail here… definitely in good ear and eyeshot of the stage. Next time a Randalls is sold out, we know exactly where to catch the show.
3. What a delightful ride along the water… until 59th Street. Then you’re in for a good 25 blocks of competition with agressive First or Second Avenue traffic. No bike lanes. Just occasional signs hinting that you’ll soon be pedaling along the riverfront again. Again I ask — when will the city link up this stretch of hiker/biker trail?
4. The Williamsburg Bridge makes for a very cool bike ride and view. You’re higher than the Brooklyn Bridge so you see the East River, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens from different vantage points. It almost looks like a new city! And few people are biking and walking the Williamsburg compared to the Brooklyn Bridge, so on that long incline up from Delancey Street you have plenty of room to huff and puff.
5. It’s worth it! Despite the broken trail, the detours and the city traffic, it was nice to reacqaint myself with the “other side” of Manhattan. Of course, getting “doored” as Robert S. did is always on my mind. I hope it’s *not* just a matter of time for us cyclists in the city.
Based on the photos I’ve seen on wfuv.com…that’s Corny O’Connell riding his bike…not David Byrne! Maybe Corny’s started riding his bike because the suits shut down his Jiffy Lube for not paying their ASCAP royalties?
Cheers!
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http://tinyurl.com/5bxl7f
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