Okay, so I know you guys don’t necessarily care about biking in New York City. But here’s some big news!

We’re getting those awesome chartreuse (as they call it, I think they’re mint green) bike lanes through Times Square.

Here are a few pics:

I don’t actually use the bike lane on my commute, but I actually work right next to it. It is useful on some of the recreational rides I do, and I’m excited that they’re repaving and painting. The color makes the lane very visible to drivers and pedestrians, which I’ve noticed results in respect for cyclists.

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For any sarcastic young cranks in need of shopping guidance, BikeSnobNYC has kindly put together a gift idea list for cyclists of every stripe.  My pick, the 3 million candlepower hand-held light for commuter cyclists, share the road =)

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I love this time of year. There’s something about snow on the ground that gives all cyclists something in common… a reason to nod at each other again. Whether you are riding a cruiser, a mountain bike, a race bike or a penny-farthing - if there is snow on the ground and you pass by another cyclist - there is a silent understanding, a nod or a smile.

All “classes” or cliques of cycling go out the window. OR, maybe a new clique has formed… one that transcends what kind of bike you ride and how much spandex you own.

I guess what I love most about time of year - it that all cyclists that brave the weather have something in common. The similarities are seen and the minor differences (ie, derailleur vs. no derailer, Trek vs. Surly, track bars vs. risers, carbon vs. steel) can be put to rest. We all ride bikes, whether it be for transportation, fun, recreation, competition or to be cool — but in the winter, we all ride because we love our bikes.

Hope to see you on the trail (with a big smile on your face).

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Jessie Birks

The pieces are all coming together. Here in New York, I now have an apartment, a neighborhood, neighbors, a grocery store, a bodega, a mailman (who, when I’m home, I buzz into the building), and now, a job in my field.

So after having moved here two months ago, I now have somewhere to commute to by bicycle. Hurrah! But guess what… given New York’s wealth of transit options, the bicycle was not my first choice.

On Monday, I chose the subway. Union Square is .85 miles from my apartment: kind of a hike. But it’s the perfect place to board a 4 or 5 train (carefully avoiding the 6, because it makes local stops and I am traveling between two express stations) using my trusty MetroCard.

MetroCards can be purchased at almost any subway station using a credit card. They’re also available at certain bodegas, but I don’t know which ones.

After a short wait and a quick (and very cramped) train ride, I have traveled one mile to Grand Central Station, and walk another .18 miles (back in the direction of my apartment) to get to the office. At the time, I hadn’t done the math, but as it turns out, it’s only 2 miles to the office from my apartment, so if I’d been walking the whole thing, it would only have been twice as far.

On Tuesday, I got smart. I rode the bus. I had figured out that since I lived near 1st Avenue, and the train ran up 4th Avenue, and my office was between 2nd and 3rd Avenues (and because Avenues are about .15 miles apart), that it made a lot of sense to take something more direct. Namely, the M15, a bus running north on 1st Ave and south on 2nd Ave.

Riding the bus requires more planning than the subway. Above, I mentioned the MetroCard. You need it to ride the subway, and you also need it to ride the bus. Here’s where Denver has an upper hand, because—for some reason beyond my limited comprehension—you cannot pay for a bus ride in New York City using paper dollars. Only coins and MetroCards are accepted. You also cannot buy a MetroCard at a bus stop or on the bus.

Since I’d decided the bus was better for my needs than the subway, I put a lot of money ($40, which comes with an $8 bonus) on my MetroCard while in the subway station. This would later prove an expensive mistake. But it did allow me to ride the bus and get a good idea of what kind of time it would take.

From my apartment, it is a .44 mile walk to the nearest Limited M15 bus stop. I want the Limited, because the office is near a Limited stop. A little extra walking saves you a lot of riding time over the local bus. Once I get off the bus, it’s a .41 mile walk to the office.

On Wednesday, I attempted to ride the bus again. On the walk to the bus stop, I checked my wallet for my trusty (now $43) MetroCard. I had lost it! I ran home and looked for it, because I was running early anyway. Nowhere to be found.

After my extensive search, I was running late. I didn’t have time to get to the subway, didn’t have a MetroCard to ride the bus, didn’t think I had time to ride my bike, and was forced to hail a cab.

I’m pretty comfortable taking a cab, so I knew the two important things. First, have cash. They don’t all take credit cards. Second, be in the right place at the right time. At rush hour, it can be impossible to get a cab in certain neighborhoods and on certain blocks. In my neighborhood, it’s always easy to find a cab. Lucky me.

On Thursday, I was frustrated at having lost my MetroCard, because it was worth so much money. I was doubly frustrated, because the reason it was worth so much money, is because MTA fails to provide adequate MetroCard sales to bus riders.

My response to the frustration? Bicycling! On Thursday, I hopped on Michele, my trusty commuter bike. 10 minutes later, I was at my office.

I’m not going to lie to you. I ran a few red lights. I passed some stopped cars. I rode in the door zone. I broke laws. I was, by Denver standards, riding like a jerk. In NYC, I was the most conscientious, careful and courteous cyclist on the street.

Riding in New York City is dangerous. People turn without signaling. Taxis angle for the curb at the sight of a raised arm. Trucks back up. Vehicles blow through red lights. Fire engines pull out of firehouses. Pedestrians cross against the light, in the middle of the block. Doors are flung open. The vehicle you’re tailing screeches to a halt. Everywhere, from every angle, things try to kill you.

Still, cycling wins. It has turned out to be faster, cheaper and more exciting than all other forms of transit. To be fair, I have calculated the actual cost per mile of riding my commuter bike (initial investment and maintenance costs considered, divided by estimated 10,000 miles of use to date), which is about a dime a mile.

I’m sure bike commuting in New York City will get easier and less stressful as time goes on. I can remember when riding on 18th Street in Denver seemed dangerous. When it snows or rains, I might go back to the bus. If transit shuts down, or my bike has a flat, I could even walk.

This column was researched using the Gmap Pedometer, a Google Maps hack that allows you to measure your walking and biking distance.

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Will Hansfield

As a refugee of the golden state, I look back at my former home with wistful thoughts of what could have been. Like Denver, Southern California is a sunny, flat place, with the advantage of temperate winters. Despite fervent road, track, and mountain biking followings, bike commuting remains a pursuit for the stout of heart and fearless in the Southland. I personally gave it a genuine attempt, but after three weeks and two very near misses caused by reckless and careless drivers, I gave it up.

These two articles may explain why:

Beverly Hills SUV Driver Attacks Bicyclist, Only Bicyclist Gets A Ticket

Malibu: Sunshine, movie stars, and senseless deaths on PCH

While I stayed out of Beverly Hills for just these types of reasons (angry Hummer Drivers using their cell phones and running you down), PCH in Malibu is one of my favorite rides, and very popular among cyclists. It’s got great scenery, and if you don’t mind the harrowing traffic and inexplicable narrowing, illegal parking, and other safety features, you’ll have fun. I’m sure Stan and Scott were having fun up until they were run down and killed by a thoughtless driver on a particularly bad stretch made worse by poor decisions from CalTrans and the City of Malibu.  (The entire stretch of Highway 1 through Malibu is the official Bike Route along the Pacific Coast).

I’m happy to say, Denver is a much better place to commute, and I can count on one hand the number of days I’ve driven to the office this year. Until Southern California embraces cyclists and what they contribute towards traffic alleviation, they will be cursed with awful traffic, and more cyclists will be killed for no reason.

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I’m sipping coffee and browsing the Internet when a young man wearing a BMX helmet enters the coffee shop. He walks to the counter, his messenger bag slung across his back and starts chatting with the barista.

Tom Birks

I don’t hear the beginning of the conversation but my ears prick up when I hear the guy say, “I don’t care if it alienates me from the biking community, I want a car.” Glancing out the window toward the snow and ice and abnormally cold weather I empathize with his frustration. It’s hasn’t been easy riding a bike this winter. My curiosity is stronger than this empathy though. I can’t help but wonder if buying a car really would estrange him from his bike-riding friends. Most of the cyclists I know own cars, but this guy appears to be a least ten years my junior.

Maybe his friends, those hip kids with their fixed-gear bikes don’t own cars. Perhaps buying a car would be considered un-cool amongst his group. It’s something to think about.

Another thought enters and soon occupies my mind. Would a car be any better than a bike for dealing with the conditions that this winter has dealt Denver? It doesn’t seem that motorists are having an easy time with the roads. Sure, all the snow and ice makes it difficult to ride a bike, but it doesn’t appear to be a picnic for drivers either. I’ve watched my neighbors as they shovel out their cars after each snowfall. They get up early and start the engine so the interior will be warm and the windows will thaw. They scrape ice off the windows and brush snow off the rest of the car. After finally getting out of the parking spot they can begin the treacherous trip to work. On the other hand, I simply grab my bike from its resting place and guide it out the front door.

When the tires hit the ice and snow staying in control can be difficult. It’s not easy but riding a bike in these conditions does have its advantages. For one it’s not really possible to get stuck. When your two-ton four-wheeled vehicle loses traction its tires spin and grapple for grip and chances are there’s none to be had. Before you know it you’re stranded in the middle of the road praying for someone to rescue you. On a bike if it’s too slippery for your tires to move you forward you just get off and walk the bike. If it’s impossible for your bike to continue the trip you can put it on the rack of the nearest RTD bus or if your destination is nearby you can finish the trip on foot.

Slippery road conditions encourage accidents. That’s as true for riding a bike as it is for driving a car. This winter has given many of Denver’s automobiles smashed headlights, dented sheet metal and other unwanted gifts. On my bike I’ve had several incidents due to icy streets. If you lose your balance on the ice you can go down quickly but I’ve encountered no insurance claims or notable damage to my bike or body. Maybe I’m just lucky. Or could it be that losing control of a 25-pound bicycle is less dangerous for everyone involved than losing control of a vehicle that weighs hundreds of times more? Might it be than a bicycle can’t go much faster than the conditions will allow while a car needs to be constantly restrained to maintain safety in bad weather?

So while I understand the young man’s frustration I also can also predict that buying a car won’t eliminate it. This winter has made it hard to get around. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been biking or driving or walking or taking public transit. Everyone has had to deal with the challenges that this winter’s weather has presented.

Weeks go by. The sun comes out and temperatures warm. The ice recedes from the streets. I’m eating a vegetarian burrito and talking with my brother when the same young man wearing the same BMX helmet enters the burrito shop. Maybe he’s purchased a car. Maybe he hasn’t. Today he’s riding his bike.

by Tom Birks, BikeDenver Volunteer

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“It’s too cold to ride a bike.”

This was the response of a woman who’d seen my brother’s bike parked outside a local cafe. It was snowing, windy, well-below freezing… for most people, conditions that prohibit the operation of a bicycle.

Jessie Birks

Too cold to ride? Well, if you’ve just seen a bike locked up outside, you’re clearly overstating the situation. Somebody was tough enough to get there on two wheels. But who are these people?

Well, some of us just like a challenge. Myself, I’ve taken the winter riding conditions as an opportunity to try out a few new toys.

My current rig is a fixie with a disc brake on the front, fenders and studded snow tires. With the studded tires, it doesn’t exactly roll down an icy slope like it’s a dry sunny day, but in my experience, it’s the best way to stay upright with the current conditions.

Several of the parts I used to build this bike were chosen just for inclement weather. The fenders are a must have. Winter and spring tend to get a little wet here in Denver, and having the snow melt a few times a week has resulted in some wet alleyways and intersections.

The disc brake was equipped for the same reason. Ride through an icy puddle in 20° weather, and you’re in for some very slippery rim brakes. The disc tends to stay dry and continues to work even when the roads are wet and icy.

Then there’s the fixed gear. I’ve heard people argue up and down about fixed gears versus coasting. I certainly don’t want to start that argument here. But I’ve found that on ice, the fixed rear wheel gives me better grip… especially with the studded tires.

Studded tires, from Finland. I’m currently using the Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires. Last year, I only used one on the front. This year, they’re front and back. Let me tell you, these things hook up nicely on ice and snow.

Take it from me, there’s always a way to get there by bike. And if you don’t have the budget, you don’t have to go crazy like I did. If you’re inventive, you know how to dress and you want nothing more than to get there on your bike… then you can always find a way.

Get out there and ride!

by Jessie Birks, BikeDenver Webmaster

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Denver as a Slow City?

Cell phone, email, Internet, fast food, PDA, text messaging, Blackberry, drive-through, iPod, pager, TiVo, instant messenger, email, voice mail…

Tracy Halasinski

Whew, do you ever want to leave it all behind? Well, maybe it’s possible. Riding a bicycle forces a person to slow down in several ways. It can take longer to reach a destination (but not always), but the average speed on a bicycle is generally slower than when traveling in a car. Riding a bicycle can also take a little bit of advance preparation—packing your bag, checking the bike to make sure it’s ready to ride, adding air to the tires if necessary, etc., and this takes time. However, there are definitely rewards to riding a bicycle, such as feeling refreshed and invigorated when reaching a destination, enjoying the fresh air, the sights, the sounds, and smelling what other people are having for dinner in the evening (that last point can be a reward or a detriment, depending on your dietary preferences). Bicycling forces you to observe the world at a more human pace, rather than speeding by while enclosed in a steel cage.

Speaking of slowing down, the Slow Food movement began in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. The concept of Slow Food began in Europe (where else?) and has taken root, so to speak, here in the United States. In fact, there are Slow Food groups here in Colorado, including Denver. If you think the idea of slow food is appealing, then how about a Slow City?

I had a thought that the idea of eating Slow Food in a Slow City would be a nice idea and a good place to be. What do you know, there is such a thing. According to an article on the website Planetizen, “The Slow City movement was started in 1999 in Italy, when the mayors of Greve-in-Chianti, Orvieto, Bra, and Positano met to define the attributes that might identify a Slow City. At their founding meeting in Orvieto, the four mayors committed themselves to a series of principles that included working toward calmer and less polluted physical environments, conserving local aesthetic traditions, and fostering local crafts, produce, and cuisine. They also pledged to use technology to create healthier environments, to make citizens aware of the value of more leisurely rhythms to life, and to share their experience in seeking administrative solutions for better living. The goal is to foster the development of places that enjoy a robust vitality based on good food, healthy environments, sustainable economies, and traditional rhythms of community life. Since its founding, the movement has grown and spread across the borders of Italy, and more than 65 cities have been certified so far.”

Further, “Slow Cities are dedicated to community economic development efforts that focus on the unique attributes of a place such as small businesses, locally owned restaurants, farmers markets, and socially responsible enterprises. Membership in the movement is often initiated and driven by the mayor, city council members, and the local business sector.” While the Slow Cities movement hasn’t yet made its way to the United States, I’m excited at the prospect of the idea taking hold here.

What better way to enjoy a Slow City than on a bicycle? So, step away from the computer, turn off the cell phone, take off that iPod, hop on your bike and pay a visit to a local, independent business of your choice. Sample a little of the uniqueness that Denver has to offer. Make Denver a Slow City, just for you, just for the day or just for an hour or two.

by Tracy Halasinski, BikeDenver

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