Boosting Mass Transit

This article is an enlightening view on the distribution of federal money for transportation projects. The ratio of federal money supporting highways compared to mass transit projects is completely out of proportion and gives us the ensuing environmental issues, foreign oil dependence, rampant obesity, and ugly strip malls that results from a car dominated society.

Great Happenings!!

About time some streets in manhattan become pedestrian thoroughfares. Basically the only thing that I have been happy with mayor mike are his transportation initiatives. Closing down BWAY to cars has been a long time coming. Wack jobs like this NY post writer have halted advances in innovative streetscapes. My only wonder is whether this new street design is going to have a lane for bikes, which it most certainly should.

In other news, the construction of the protected bike lane north of 14st on 8th ave has finally begun!

bikers in san fran

Here is an article about the bay area bicyclists fight for equal rights as cars. It is a never ending battle as bikers are pushed aside again for "safety reasons". Although it is great about the trains upgrading to accommodate more bikes, it's surprising to read about bikers using mass transit with their bikes. After all, how often do you see a biker in nyc riding the train or the bus?

letter to the villager

Here is a letter that I wrote to the Villager awhile back....

Introduction

This is a blog for nyc bicycle riders. I'll be bringing you updates on traffic patterns, bike shops, bike happenings, bikes, and bicycles.
As a full-time bicycle user that lives in downtown manhattan, I strictly use my bike for all trips. The few times a month I don't (due to heavy rain, icy/sleet, drunken laziness), I always regret it. I ride a steel frame Peugeot. It's a black single speed track bike. I've had it for over 5 years and the bike must be at least 20 years old. I recently minimized the bike from a 12 speed to the single speed. The transition has been great. I was resistant, because I'm not a fucking hipster, and well, we all know how hipsters look on the single speed and fixed gear bikes, fucking stupid, but hip.
NYC is definitely a city that is single speed friendly. No hills, lots of bike carrying to get up and down stairs, the need to lock your bike to non-bike friendly street furniture, all good reasons for a single speed in the city.
I didn't do the job myself. My crank fell apart about a month ago near MSG as I was on my to a rehearsal. Thinking about how much it would cost to get it fixed in the city, and knowing that I was going to be spending the night in Queens, I figured, might as well haul it out on the train and take it to a shop out there. So I brought my bike to Astoria bikes on 28th ave and 36st. For 110 dollars, I got a new chain ring, a freewheel cog, new chain, new crank set, and the labor. It took them one day to do the job. I'm not sure there is a shop south of Inwood that would beat that price. My bike lost about 5 pounds of weight without the derailleur, gear shifters, and cables. The ride is so much smoother now, and I now fully sold on the pros of a track bike.