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NYC.gov News April 27, 2009
HeadlineThis is the NYC.gov News You Requested for: "Bicycle Updates"

NYCycles - The Official Newsletter of NYC DOT's Bike Program

Quick Bit:
"But can New York revert to New Amsterdam? Can the bicycle, the urban answer to the wild mustang, slow down and put fenders on? Can the urban cyclist, he of the ragtag renegade clothes or shiny spandex, grow up and put on a tie?"
"Riding the IT Factor"
New York Times, April 15, 2009
In this April edition of NYCycles, you'll find:
May is Bike Month
Bike Month celebrates the fun, convenience and ease of cycling in NYC. Cycling is good for you, good for the environment and good for New York City.

Take Me to the River
Bicycle traffic on the East River Bridges is at an all time high. But for newbie cyclists, it's wasn't always easy to find them.

A New Route Blooms along the Brooklyn-Queens Shoreline
Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Long Island City and Astoria, so close on a map, and now linked by a bike route.

 

In Every Issue:
New Bike Routes
Get A NYC Cycling Map

And tools to make your ride safer and easier:
Road and Bridge Closures
Free Helmets
 Suggest Bike Rack Locations
Report a Problem


Here are just a few of the great events coming your way in Bike Month NYC:

DOT Staff Lead Commuter Bike Rides
Interested in bike commuting? Join DOT staff for morning and evening commuter rides Ride marshals from DOT will escort you from via on-street bike lanes, off-street greenways, and on the street through different neighborhoods and traffic conditions. Along the route, there will be various pick-up points for commuters in other neighborhoods. All skill levels welcome. Your bicycle should be in good working order. Helmet is required. The 2009 NYC Cycling Map and other fun giveaways will be provided to participants. For more information and to RSVP visit DOT's website (starting April 29).

Monday May 4, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to EAST Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Monday May 4, 5:30 pm
EAST Midtown Manhattan to Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th Street and 5th Avenue - northwest corner

Tuesday May 5, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Tuesday May 5, 5:30 pm
CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th Street and 7th Avenue - northwest corner

Wednesday May 6, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to WEST Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Wednesday May 6, 5:30 pm
WEST Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn Meet at: West 59th St and Broadway-northeast corner

Monday May 11, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to EAST Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Monday May 11, 5:30 pm
EAST Midtown Manhattan to Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th Street and 5th Avenue - northwest corner

Tuesday May 12, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Tuesday May 12, 5:30 pm
CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th Street and 7th Avenue - northwest corner

Wednesday May 13, 7:15 am
Brooklyn to WEST Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Wednesday May 13, 5:30 pm
WEST Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th St and Broadway - northeast corner

Friday May 15 (Bike to Work Day), 7:15 am
Brooklyn to CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan
Meet at: Grand Army Plaza (Plaza Street West and Union Street - northwest corner)

Friday May 15 (Bike to Work Day), 5:30 pm
CENTRAL Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn
Meet at: West 59th Street and 7th Avenue - northwest corner

Borough Presidents Celebrate Bike Month
Grab a snack with your Borough President. You can take this opportunity to meet your Borough President, give him or her an earful about biking, walking and transit, and chat with other bicycle commuters from your borough.

Tuesday, May 5
7:30-8:30 am Brooklyn
Wednesday, May 13
7:00-8:30 am Staten Island
Friday, May 15
7:00-9:30 am Bronx
Thursday, May 21
5:15-6:15 pm Manhattan

For more great events or a printed schedule visit www.BikeMonthNYC.org.
May is Bike Month
Bike Month NYC: May 2009 Bike Month celebrates the fun, convenience and ease of cycling in NYC. Cycling is good for you, good for the environment and good for New York City. Bike Month NYC is presented by the New York City Department of Transportation, Transportation Alternatives, Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Health.

Bike Month kicks off on May 3 with the (sold out) TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, the largest big-city cycling event in the country. 30,000 cyclists will ride 42 miles, including across the Verrazano Bridge, seeing New York in a completely unique way.

But that's just the start. There are over 200 events throughout the month of May for cyclists of all ages and ability levels. Many of these events are free and many are family-friendly. It's a great time for New Yorkers to try biking for the first time, or for the first time here in New York. Group rides help newcomers ease into cycling.

Take Me to the River
Williamsburg Bridge Sign. Photo by Sheryl Imperati
Sheryl Imperati

Bicycle traffic on the East River Bridges is at an all time high. But for newbie cyclists, it's not always easy to find them. Most New Yorkers are far more accustomed to seeing the bridges from subway windows instead of bike seats. That is why over the past two years DOT has installed 619 signs guiding people to the four East River bridges. These signs also help cyclists make links between popular cycling facilities such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River Greenway.

The areas around the bridges often tend to have high volumes of motorized traffic, so creating clearer, accessible routes to and front the bridges is vital to keeping cyclists safe. And demystifying the routes to the bridge paths also encourages new cyclists to make the move from using their bike to get around their neighborhood to using their bike to commute or take trips to other boroughs for school, shopping or recreation.

Making the bridge paths easier to find is also an important part of our City's emergency preparedness. In the blackout of 2003 and the more recent transit strike many New Yorkers had to scramble to figure out how to access these paths to continue to get around. These new signs will help to educate the general public as well.

If you want to plan your route in advance you can also check out the bridge insets in the NYC Cycling Map, which you can pick up at your local bike shop or find links to below.

A New Route Blooms along the Brooklyn-Queens Shoreline
Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Long Island City and Astoria, so close on a map, and yet, for many New Yorkers traveling between these neighborhoods is a huge schlep. Relying on buses or the beleaguered G train, the trip is often slow and unpredictable. But, with a bike and the nearly 12 miles of newly installed bike lanes on Kent Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, your journey between these waterfront neighborhoods can be a breeze.

Last year DOT installed new bicycle lanes on Vernon Boulevard in Queens and Kent Avenue in Brooklyn; these two routes are linked by the Pulaski Bridge.

The Kent Avenue lane is part of the planned Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway and the Vernon Boulevard lane is part of the Queens East River & North Shore Greenway Master Plan (Download the pdf map and brochure (12.2 MB)).

 

New Bicycle Routes
See upcoming bicycle projects here. Want to learn more? Check the DOT calendar to find out when we give public presentations about these projects.

Get Your 2009 NYC Cycling Map
NYC Cycling Map 2009Get your copy of the Departments of Transportation, City Planning and Parks' NYC Cycling Map. The map includes bike lanes, routes, greenways, parks, bike shops and subway stations in all five boroughs. The map also shows bike rental locations. Download a copy online, pick up one at a local bike shop or order one for FREE by calling 311.

Safety Tip: Bike Helmet Safety Tip
Helmet hair is sexy hair. Protect your brain with a helmet that fits properly, is worn level on the head (not tilted like a jaunty cap) and with the strap snuggly against your chin (you should be able to wiggle a finger in, but not more). Check DOT's events calendar to find an upcoming helmet fitting where our staff will teach you how to adjust your helmet or give you one for free if you need it.

 

Quick Tip:
Warm weather brings crowds to the Brooklyn Bridge path. If you're in a hurry (or just a bit agoraphobic) take the Manhattan Bridge instead, the north side is specifically for cyclists. Not sure how to get there? Check out the NYC Cycling Map, it contains insets with more details about the approaches to most major bridge crossings.
 
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Road and Bridge Closures

For information about street closures, sign up for weekly traffic advisories. 		Free Helmets


The DOT has distributed over 12,000 official NYC Bicycle Helmets for free to New York City residents. You can schedule a time to get fitted for an NYC helmet at one of the DOT's Safety Cities by calling 311. Check our events calendar for upcoming fittings. 		Suggest Bike Rack Locations

Do you live or work somewhere that could benefit from bike parking? NYCDOT is working with Community Boards to identify strategic areas to install clusters of new bike parking, including at transit stations, along commercial corridors and at other major destinations. If you'd like to suggest an area that needs bike parking contact your Community Board. 		Report a Problem or Send Kudos

Potholes
Street Construction Hazards
Missing or Broken Street Signs
Report a faded or damaged bike lane: Call 311
Other Complaints and Compliments

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