Monday Afternoon Biking Zen

All ages, all sizes, easily cruising through a city. Just pour a cup of tea and watch…

Livable Streets Look Like This: Grand Street

Grand Street, with its “parking-protected bike path” is what more and more bike lanes in NYC need to be like.

Heading home to the LES or one of the East River Bridges? Take the safest and most scenic route through Soho and Chinatown, stop for dinner to meet with friends. Experience what a truly Livable Street is.  (And don’t forget to always brake and politely ding for pedestrians, they’ll think you’re awesome. Even more than we do.)

Grand Street’s bike lane is also one of the safest ways to avoid dangerously non-Livable Delancy Street, here’s a map:

Ride safe & ride often, with friends!

Pimp My Ride Amsterdam Style

What can New Amsterdam learn from Amsterdam? This video from De Telegraaf shows us many things…

Right on. So, what did we learn from our fellow cosmopolitans in Amsterdam?

• Chain guards: cool ones exist, keeps your everyday clothes clean. no special clothing/accessories needed.
• Fenders: must have, keeps your everyday clothes clean. no special clothing/accessories needed.
• Bell: must have to keep your fellow humans aware. Being heard– one of the best ways to *avoid* trouble. (There’s a reason it’s legally required.)
• Front & rear lights: Being seen– one of the best ways to *avoid* trouble.
• Skirt Guard: for the ladies, for everyone, keeps all your longer jackets, rain ponchos, or skirts & dresses clean and avoids potentially getting them stuck and torn up into your rear wheel. no special clothing/accessories needed. (noneck’s note: my bike has a skirt guard and it’s great for when my partner, who does wear a skirt, sits sidesaddle on nights when she doesn’t have a bike.)
• Internally geared hub: low maintenance & reliable, all you need are a few gears for the low hills and bridges in this city. Yes, gears– keeps your ride easy and not a sweat fest… why ruin your awesome everyday clothes?
• Basket & rear rack: how else to simply bring food & drink to hang w/friends, carry your bag or purse, etc– say goodbye to the giant lame sweat spot on your back. no special clothing/accessories needed.
• Kickstand: protect your ride from dings & dents when you stop to hug to a friend.

Watch again and learn if you didn’t see all these points of bicycle wisdom… style over speed baby.