The art of biking in New York

My article on The art of biking in New York is available online (p 16). So far only in Swedish. Bits and pieces from my biking tag though.

A Three Way Crossing

3-Way Street from ronconcocacola on Vimeo.

Yet another amazing video from the New York biking field. More reading and follow up by the film maker Ron Gabriel.

Dear New York City, Ticket the people blocking the bike lanes. Not the bikers.

A highly valid point made by Casey Neistat.

Bikie for sale

Golden threespeed unisex cruiser. Great to bike. Bell. New chain. Lock for the saddle. Lock for the basket. Impossible to steal due to Kryptonite lock. A little bit of rust on the handlebar and the pedals - otherwise great condition. Bike and locks for half price - tot. $250. SVENSKA

Midnight train passing

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WILLIAMSBURG Williamsburg Bridge

Back biking in New York

Strolling New York since a few weeks it is high time for me to post again. Eightish tonight me and my golden cruiser came down south from Midtown to Lower East in the evening rain. The tiny drops on my face while quietly rolling down the street was plain beauty.
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LOWER EAST SIDE Chrystie Street

Hudson River to my right

Hudson River to my left

Dipping my toes in Hudson

Sometimes I find it frustrating - constantly so close to the water without being able to jump into it. But on my bikeride up along the west side I found the perfect spot for dipping my toes. Just a step further into the water there is sand. The Hudson is probably quite dirty - but so is the city - and for my toes I don't mind. View coming.
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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS 170th Street by Hudson

Bikers in the making

In my early days of biking New York I was amazed by the security measures. Even the street biker symbol had a helmet. And now I have seen them being made. From the very bikers template. Amazed.
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SOMEWHERE SOHO

The NYC Cycling Map

Sunday I found the bike map. The one I have only seen on the internet so far. Oh my. I was in heaven the whole evening. Still am. It is all so clear. Where to buy a bike, rent a bike, fix a bike, take a bike. How to cross the bridges. Of course I know that deep down I didn't want the map cause I wanted to figure it out all on my own. But the New York cycling map is a huge recommandation for anyone biking or wannabe biking. Can be found in any bike shop.

Bike repair at Lorimer

My favourite bike repair is in Williamsburg. No businesscard no accessories no fancy schmancy. A tad quiet to begin with - but getting more and more talkative. Always very professional and efficient. They fix the bike on the street while you are waiting. Go for a coffe or hang out with the funky crowd. There are also bikes for sale.
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WILLIAMSBURG 636 Lorimer Street
Open all days of the week. Usually close 7pm weekdays.

Parking lot

Lifesavers

All my apologies for letting go of this site for three weeks. Monday the 13th I experienced my first bike accident and it turned out pretty bad. A cab driver suddenly and absolutely unexpectedly opened his door when I passed by on my bike. It was all his fault and I had no chance whatsoever predicting the situation. The edge of the door cut into my foot and suddenly I had a wound to broad to even stitch.

The process of being injured in another country taught me a lot of things. First of all I realised that the American health care isn't as bad or expensive as the rumours say. Quite the contrary. I went to Beth Israel at 34th street and was x-rayed and taken care of so well it exceeded all my experiences in Sweden. I also realised the worst part was neither the accident nor the cut - but the fact I got handicapped in New York and couldn't walk - at all - for ten days. My experiences of being different in Alphabet City got a whole new aspect.

Last but not least - I once again fell in love with my bike - that has taken me everywhere I couldn't walk. Slowly I have recovered and now I can walk pretty much as before. It will probably take yet another week or two before I am fully recovered tho. Yesterday I had my first bike across the bridges and it was fine - part from muscles and foot being a bit sore today.
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LOWER MIDTOWN 55 East 34th Street between Park and Madison
monday-friday 9-5

Biking the streets of New York

No it's not the traffic. It's the streets. Seeing my bike people almost instantly ask me how I dare biking in this city. And then add - the cab drivers must be freaking you out. No not at all. Quite on the contrary cab drivers and bikers ride in symbiosis. No it's the streets. Filled with holes and bumps craving for attention. Part from that - biking is absolutely fab and in no way more dangerous than driving or walking. And the perfect way of commuting. Seeing so much more than a few subway stops and a couple of parks. All those streets and avenues connecting the main areas. And the small non-touristy homie parts.

The East River traffic

My feelings for the East River Walk are mixed. The idea of having a walk just by the water is brilliant. And the benches and rails and pavings are super. But the heavy traffic from the East River Drive is absolutely awful. And just as close as the water. So I highly recommend an ipod for this trip. Running from 32nd street down to just below the Williamsburg bridge and back is really nice. Lot of happenings to pass. Not to mention this beautiful sea traffic.
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EAST VILLAGE 36th to the Williamsburg Bridge

Estimate your New York moves

Use the Google Map Distance Calculator if you are curious on the distance of your walkings and bikings. This brief stop at the library and a dinner in Brooklyn was 18 km [12 miles] and took less than an hour biking. A decent evening stroll.

Biking Lower Manhattan

I do have to admit I love the excitement of biking in traffic. Zigzag through all those yellow cabs makes my day. But sometimes the fastest and easiest way is to avoid all the jam and red lights. When I am off to the Financial District I actually take the river cycle track. Try it. For the someone not commuting - it is all worth it for the beauty. Just look at this low angle of Manhattan Bridge.
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EAST RIVER & HUDSON E 18th St south and then north to W 50 St
safe to bike also in the evening or at night

Biking the bridges

Me and a friend decided to enjoy the spring and go biking all Saturday afternoon. The bridges over East River are easily crossed on the cycle and pedestrian tracks. Certainly giving some fine excercise. After the mandatory Shabbath stroll in Williamsburg, we stopped by the famous Polish butcher for some slavic chat and sausages.

Kept biking up north crossing the river to Queens, where we ended up in the shooting of Wanted. After some small talk we took the Queensboro bridge over to 59th street and Ave 2 downtown. Including two vintage shops a Polish butcher a coffe a gallery a film shoot and a water&banana stop - this amazing trip took us four hours.

About biking in New York

Biking is easily the fastest and healthiest way of commuting in New York. It is not - I repeat - not dangerous to bike here. It only takes some focus. And it is FUN. This is my blue Huffy with no gears. It cost me 100 dollars - only 20 dollars more than a 30-day Metrocard. Distances within Manhattan Williamsburg Brooklyn and Queens are definitely bikeable. Under the tag biking I will continuously give updates on how to bike New York. So stay tuned.