December 20, 2005
Riding a Bike to Work During the Transit Strike
This morning when we awoke to the transit strike, Gothamist knew that we were biking to work. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for us, we have a short commute and a bike. During our brief commute in Brooklyn, Gothamist didn't see many fellow cyclists, but those that we did see were bundled up. For good reason too, it's cold out there! We were so bundled (sweatpants under our jeans, lots of windstopper fleece), however, that we started to sweat. We're not looking forward to tonight though when there's no sun to help keep us warm.
The amount of traffic we saw this morning in Brooklyn actually seemed to be more than normal - including backups on the BQE. While watching the news this morning, it didn't look like there were many cars south of the NYPD checkpoints at 96th St, which might make commuting via bicycle a breeze. In SoHo, above, there were cones dividing the bike lanes and regular traffic.
And there's plenty of information for cyclists from Transportation Alternatives. So for those of you who rode your bicycle to work, how was it? And are your office buildings letting you in with your bikes?
|
I biked to work from the Village to Times Square, up 6th Ave. It was cold but not too bad. Unfortunately, in many areas, the coned-off bike lane was useless because hordes of pedestrians were either walking or standing in the way. Having to veer back and forth into traffic isn't pleasant. It's incredible how many people cross against the light without even looking. Plus, delivery trucks and taxis were just parking in the bike lane and the police weren't doing anything to keep it clear.
it was a great ride today. i ride everyday, but todays ride was especially relaxing as the rodes were considerably less congested. it was like i actually had a bike lane.
i was huffing and puffing more than normal since it's been a while since i used the bike (too cold). now my feet are all sweaty because i wore ski socks to fight the cold.
a bunch of lazy ass union bums,go back to work..don't let the mafi>>i mean the union brain wash your mind ..get a real job one that has cost of living raises not a raise every 3 years..enjoy you union strike paycheck..what 250 a week..merry x-ms
I had to bike 50 blocks south from 92nd Street (more than three miles for this out-of-shape guy). I am also on the verge of bronchitis, but staying hmoe today was not an option for me. And no, the dickwads at the front desk didn't relax the "no bikes in the building rule," and the bike I rode was borrowed to begin with!
Yeah, I know... we pedestrians are SUCH a pain in the ass. You know what, though? We're the majority today, so you'll deal with it.
And for the cyclists on the Williamsburg Bridge this morning who DIDN'T speed through the crowd, or scream at people for walking in the right hand lane, thank you. With the number of pedestrians, it would be impossible to stick to this, especially if you have other bikers riding towards you. Perhaps they should have designated each side (as opposed to lane) to one or the other today.
yay for transit strikes! lets see...it started off bad when i bundled up and decided that i could find a cab to dumbo. right, go me. after wandering around for half an hour, i gave up and walked back to my apartment (alphabet city) to get my bike. i was kind of too lazy to change, so i hop on my bike wearing jeans, a heavy sweater, peacoat, and scarf. brilliant. then im huffing it down to the manhattan bridge on my sluggish mountain bike. i make a pitstop at the williamsburg bridge hot cocoa station (yum) before hitting the manhattan and realizing that 4 months of not biking, not working out, and eating bad bad things means im getting dizzy and ready to uke. good times. i walk a third of the way up the bridge, huff it over the middle thirds, and coast down the last thirds a wheezing wreck. now im at work and already planning my escape back to the village...yar.
Biked from Bklyn to Manhattan over the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge at 8:40 this AM. Marty Markowitz, mid-span, cheering us on and doing his usual Brooklyn-PR. Gotta love than man.
Hey, pedestrians, keep to the right and let us get by.
I rode from Brooklyn to Times Square over the Manhattan Bridge. It ruled. My face took an hour to defrost once I got to work!
i rode my bike to work for a year and a half, and this is the first time i've seen the williamsburg bridge footpath more crowded than delancey street. after the free red cross coffee at the base of the bridge, i had an awesome ride up first avenue to 35th, then over to madison. if it weren't so cold, i'd say this was the best ride to work i've ever had.
Rode from Mott Haven, Bx, over the Willis Ave. which actually had walkers today, across 125th, passing the traffic jam that looked like midtown at rush hour, down the gorgeous Hudson River path to 34th, then in to 8th Ave.
When I rode in yesterday I passed two guys. Today the crowd was typical of a late-fall morning, a semi-steady stream as I got farther south. Felt bad for a couple people clearly not used to riding, walking their bikes up a hill, etc. West Side Highway and W. 34th were stunningly empty.
Was about to lock up at my usual spot on 34th when I realized there were no other bikes parked on the block, and if my old beat-up bike could ever tempt someone, it would be now, so I brought it up the freight, courtesy of the one guy working back there today, who was very nice about it but has to leave early, so I will be schlepping it down 3 flights of stairs and through the front lobby, where I anticipate getting yelled at by a lobby guy. Oh, well.
Rode to work like I always do... there were even more clueless pedestrians than normal standing in the bike lane on 1st Avenue looking for cabs that weren't coming, but other than that it was the same as always.
...ooops, I didn't mean "bike lane" above. For some reason 1st Avenue doesn't have one. I meant the bus lane, which is what bikers have to resort to in order to stay out of harm's way (and to adhere to NYC Cycling Laws).
Folks, when there is a transit strike, I fail to see the point of trying to enforce dedicated bike lane rules on the bridges. Have some compassion for the people who have to walk to work. It takes you a little longer to cross the bridge, to go 3/4 of a mile, because people get in your way? Big effin' deal. Normally I'd be happy to be out of your way because I'd be on the subway.
I know it's frustrating to deal with stupid pedestrians every day on your commute, but today is not a normal day. Walk your bike across the bridge and be patient, just like the rest of us.
Once you get into the city, you'll make up for the slow trek across the bridge because the traffic in Manhattan is more or less nada compared to a normal day.
The level of compasison that peds have for bikers who try to get by on the bridge is only marginally higher than the level of compassion we have for TWU workers who - gasp! - are lucky enough to get to retire at 55 with a pension.
G - agree with you on all fronts. Are all cyclists so tedious? Seriously. I remember some cyclist yelling at people on the bridge during the blackout - ass. I want to support Critical Mass, but your sanctimonious "Oh, I rode to work today...like I ALWAYS do, unlike those deluded public transportation junkies" is getting old.
If the city didn't want bikers using the bike lanes, then why have they set up cones all the way up 6th avenue? The sidewalks aren't so crowded that people have to stand in the bike lane. And following your argument, why shouldn't people just walk through traffic? Golly, maybe the drivers should push their cars along with the people.
I'm not talking about the sidewalks or the streets, Anon. Just the bridges. So you can respond to my comments or you can respond to make-believe.
I'm specifically talking about the narrow walkways on the bridge which even on non-strike days are a little crowded. All I'm suggesting is that for the short distance over the bridge - short being relative to the rest of people's walks or bikes to work - that everyone chill out and recognize that today isn't a day to get angry about people getting in your way in the bike lane. It's crowded and there's nothing anyone can do except smile and keep moving.
No joke, I saw three cyclist yell at a guy in his 60s walking with a cane near the railing on the Brooklyn Bridge. Don't you think this guy would have preferred to be on the subway or bus and not hauling his ass across the bridge? I'm sure he really appreciated the kind words of one of the cyclists, who yelled "Out of the way, old man."
I bike all the time but decided not to do it today because I knew that the Brooklyn Bridge would be too crowded.
As both a pedestrian and cyclist, I see it from both sides, and quite frankly, there are jerkwads in both camps. There are so many people on the Brooklyn Bridge who refuse to stay in the pedestrian lane, even when it's uncrowded. But I've also seen lycra-clad "serious" riders zooming down the Manhattan Bridge walkway even through the bikepath on the north side is open. Try to tell them that and they get all pissy. I swear the next time I see one zooming by, I'm going to put a stick in his front wheel or hit him with a body block as he passes.
I'm wasn't being sanctimonious when I say I rode today like I always, do, "Samanthat." I recognize that not everybody can (or wants to) ride their bikes to work every day.
Anyway, I guess that if you chose to read more into my comment than I meant, that really says something right there.
Ride in today was sweet, half the streets were empty, roved all over them, didn't want to go to work. BKLYN Bridge was a mess, to be expected. Got thrown out of 2 PATH stations trying to get to the Boken; had to take the ferry in the end. The Peds and the bikers gotta stick together, where's the love? CARS are the enemy. And those f'n strikers/MTA, work it out!!
Rode from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn to midtown Manhattan (east side). Williamsburg was a lil crowded, and riding up Park Ave got a little insane (I usually ride up 1st, but I needed some variety today). Riding over the WB Bridge wasn't so bad. It was crowded, for sure, but hey, we're all in this together.
Rode from Tribeca to the east 50s, arriving at 8:15. Almost NO traffic, just lots of people looking for cabs. My favorite was the lady at 34th and Park asking a cabbie if he'd take her to Grand Central. And she didn't look disabled either. It was such fun to be moving along under my own power, I might keep it up, once my 30-day metrocard expires (assuming there are trains to take before that happens)
my company has been great about bikes- last week they sent around an email telling everyone that in the case of a strike, a portion of unused storage space on the 16th floor would be designated as a bike area. locked and indoors! i wish they would keep it that way in normal times, but it was great of them to encourage bike riding.
also- i rode the rest of the way on the bklyn and manh sides, but while going over the manhattan bridge i got off and walked the bike, because of the number of people. i still got to work faster than if i'd walked the whole way, but saved myself and the pedestrians some grief by not trying to ride through them. plus, you get to really check out how glorious the view is on a stunning (if COLD) day like today.
i'm angry with the transit workers, but proud of all the new yorkers who just got on with it and did what they had to do today. pat yourselves on the back and keep it up.
How to bike to work if you don't normally.
As someone who walks and bikes about equally, I don't see what the big deal is with pedestrians vs. bikers. Aren't most bikers pedestrians too? Aren't careless drivers the real issue?
Thanks for the link, Jim. (The only useful comment here, and it's at the end.)