Did you see a flash of tweed while walking around Brooklyn yesterday? Well don't worry, it wasn't deja vu from last night at The Trendy Anachronistic Speakeasy: it was the second annual Big Apple Tweed Fall Ride, a day to appreciate biking and fashion, in a 19th century sort of way. The ride began at the Grand Army Plaza entrance of Prospect Park, made a stop in Boerum Hill and ended in Park Slope. Riders donned different elegant tweed designs, a la old English cycling attire, along with bowler hats, pipes and other accessories. Take a look at some of the posh clothes of yesterday's participants.
The Big Apple Tweed Fall Bike Ride In Brooklyn!
Video: "Naked" Bike Ride In Motion
For those of you wondering what it feels like to ride among other naked and near-naked bicyclists in Sunday's NYC World Naked Bike Ride, Flickr user Dogseat offers this video of the experience—and we've added some other pictures above:
"Naked" Bike Riders Take To City Streets
If you saw a flock of naked or near-naked bicyclists, it wasn't your eyes, it was simply the Second Annual New York City World Naked Bike Ride. According to its website: "Naked on a bike is about as free as you can be! This ride is majorly fun! This year's WNBR is supported by a generous contribution of outrage from British Petroleum. BP is unleashing incalculable devastation upon the environment..."
Your Tardy Valentine: Last Minute V-Day Options in NYC
Oh brother, this Valentine's thing is just not going to go away, at least not until Sunday. If you're single, mazel tov! But if you're a Gentleman in a Relationship with a Lady and you haven't yet made plans, it's about time to man up. Now, maybe you've got one of those "laid back" special ladies who's all down on the man and swears she doesn't want you to throw money away just because of some corporate bourgeois scam. Obviously this does not mean you're off the hook; it means there had better be something special in the works, just not a harried, overpriced prix-fixe in some crowded restaurant.
Pencil This In
In case you missed it, here's our list of ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo around town; if you aren't in the mood for margs tonight, here are some alternatives:
Bicyclist's Death Questioned and Mourned
Last night, a memorial bike ride was held in memory of Craig Murphey. Murphey, a 26-year-old who worked at the West Harlem Action Network Against Poverty, was biking when he was hit by an oil truck at Union Avenue and Ten Eyck Street in Williamsburg.
Quick Hits: A-Rod's Book; More Frank; NYC Triathalon
Pencil This In
EVENT: What do Bob Dylan and the Brooklyn Bridge have in common? They both get a year older today! Bob turns 66 and the Bridge turns 124. To help celebrate the latter, there's a bike ride across the structure. There will also be cake and historical stories to keep you physically and mentally satiated.
Memorial Events For Eric Ng Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Visual Resistance and Time's Up have organized memorial events to honor Eric Ng, the bicyclist who was killed by a drunk driver while biking on the Hudson River bike path last Friday evening. Here are the details from Visual Resistance:
1PM: Memorial bike ride. Meet up in Washington Square Park at 1pm. We will ride together to the site of Eric’s death at 1:30 SHARP. Non-bikers can go directly to the West Side Greenway, near Clarkson St. By train: take the 1 to Houston St.more ›
The Hungry Cabbie Eats The Outer Boroughs: The Irish Circle
A lot of yellow cabbies are driving around blind with rage. The stresses of driving in the city and dealing with New Yorkers are clearly too much to handle. Occasionally, I find myself slipping down into that vortex of sin and degradation. So I go to my happy place.
Critical Mass Ride Tonight
As June draws to a close with three bicyclist fatalities and one bicyclist injury, there will also be a Critical Mass ride tonight. The ride will start at 7PM at Union Square tonight, and Times Up points out that at last month's ride, two police vehicles swerved in front of a group of riders and an officer 'doored' a cyclist who was riding in the bike lane along Broadway, breaking her collarbone." And then the police went to the hospital to give the victim multiple tickets. We wonder how the police will handle tonight's ride, after with questionable driving and street conditions at the heart of the accidents.
West Side Bicyclist Doctor Dies From Injuries
Dr. Carl Nacht, who was hit by an NYPD tow truck last week while riding on the West Side bike path, died on Sunday. Today, there is a service for Nacht at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Amsterdam Avenue and 110th Street). Nacht had not been wearing a helmet during his Thursday evening bike ride, and when the truck hit him, he was thrown towards another tow truck, his head hitting the hood. The tow truck's driver was not charged, but his wife told the NY Times that the tow truck did not yield to them, as it should have. She also said that her husband, who biked everywhere, "knew what he was doing. We thought because we were on a bike path, we were safe." The unfortunate thing, as many recent biking accidents have shown us, there is no such thing as safe. Let's hope the city will embark on campaigns to improve driver education about bikers' rights in the city - as well as reminding bikers of tactics they need to take.
West Side Bicyclist in Critical Condition
The bicyclist hit by a police tow truck yesterday on the West Side is in critical condition. Dr. Carl Nacht, a physician at St. Luke's-Roosevelt, had been taking a late night bike ride with his wife on the West Side bike path when a tow truck hit him as it was making a right turn at West 38th (the truck was headed for the impound lot at Pier 76). Nacht was not wearing a helmet during the collision. According to the Daily News, he "was thrown from his bike and propelled a dozen feet into the air. He smashed into a parked tow truck, striking his head against its hood." He suffered serious head trauma. The tow truck driver, a civilian member of the NYPD, was not charged or given a summons. As many of our commenters noted yesterday, there are lights to warn drivers and bicyclists, but the sad truth is that many drivers do not pay attention.
Five Boro Bike Tour Today!
The awesome The Five Boro Bike Tour is going on today. Riders started in Manhattan this morning, they'll briefly head into the Bronx (and then back into Manhattan), ride through Queens and Brooklyn, and end in Staten Island, for a ride back to Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry. Cheer the riders on when you see them!
Queen Mary Arrives in Red Hook
Amy from Newyorkology woke up at 5am to get the money-shot of the Queen Mary 2 arriving at the Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal. She reports:
Opinionist: Safety and the Cyclist
This week, the city failed to require Critical Mass, a monthly group bike ride through the streets of Manhattan, to obtain a parade permit beforehand. This shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone, as the city was at best on shaky legal ground in its attempt at banning critical mass. However, the judge in the case made a very clear statement that unfortunately the vast majority of cyclists seem to ignore: "Riding a bicycle on city streets is lawful conduct, as long as one observes the applicable traffic laws and rules".
High Line on the Hudson
Oh, super-cool! We've been hugely excited for a couple of years over the forthcoming High-Line redesign, but we totally missed covering a similar project up in Poughkeepsie. The Walkway Over the Hudson Project is poised to convert the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge to a pedestrian park-- can you imagine how cool it would be to have a picnic in the summer high above the river? From their site:
Foxy Brown, No Friend of Bikers
Just in time for tonight's Critical Mass bike ride, it turns out that rapper Foxy Brown may have hit two bicyclists during the pre-Republican National Convention August ride last year. Her former friend, Ayesha Quattara, says that Brown blamed her for driving a Land Rover on West Houston Street, while it was really Foxy behind the wheel. Apparently the women were trying to get from one Louis Vuitton store to another before it closed since Brown wanted to buy something. Please! We know the Takashi Murakami bags are really cute, but you don't go hitting bikers to get to them. Matthew Campau and Robert Herschenfeld were hit by the Rover, as Brown allegedly yelled at them. While Newsday wouldn't publish what she allegedly said, the Post did:
"Get out of my way, you dumb white faggots!" Herschenfeld said she screamed.more ›
The Iceman Leaveth
As some of you have pointed out, one of our favorite summer spots, NYC Icy, is no more. Like you, we had the same reaction -- severe depression. Where are we supposed to go now to get our cool summer treats on, especially on a day like today?!? We've come up with a few suggestions on our own, and the Daily News added a bunch to our list.
Upcoming
Gothamist was supposed to spend the evening on a rooftop with friends and free drinks. Thank you rain for ruining the start to our weekend! We usually don't take a negative tone around here, but it needs to be said: Gothamist hates weather. It's also going to ruin at least one of the below events, see if you can pick which one. When you're done with that, grab your umbrella and rain boots and find fun indoors - after all the sun will come out tomorrow, or like, in August.
Happy New Year's
Gothamist hopes you ring in the New Year in you favorite way, whether it's with a crowd or in a more intimate environment. And for the serious partiers, here's How Stuff Works on how hangovers work and what can be done to prevent them (drink water, take an aspirin, and drink Gatorade before sleep...).
Critical Mass Bike Riders Don't Need Permits
More about bicycle advocacy from Transportation Alternatives and NY Magazine's end-of-the-year piece on Critical Mass rides.
Critical Mass Vs. The Police
Less Arrests But Many Bikes Seized At Friday's Critical Mass Ride
Amidst this current use of the Critical Mass ride to test one's civil liberties against the city, the real question is how does the Mayor feel about a NYC with less cars and more bike riding. Newsday asks this, and the Greenway project is mentioned. And during transit negotiations 2 years ago, the Mayor bought a bike, aka a "Strike Bike," which he gave to a 16 year-old.


