One of the first images evoked of New York is the bumble bee yellow taxi cabs who not only defy all unwritten traffic laws (such as don’t go over 45mph when there’s a stop light 10 feet away, and don’t weave in and out of traffic without using a traffic signal) but also serve to highlight all the bicyclists in town who heroically transit the city without flinching. City bikers brave the crazed cabs by continuing to take their rides on the wild side — with a little help from fellow riders, bike lanes, and cross-town short cuts that keep their wheels a’ turnin’.
Want to custom design your route? There’s a map for that. Resources like NYC Bike Maps work as the biker’s guide to the city ride. Just type in your destination and the site maps your route from point A to point B including bike paths and lanes that help you dodge as much traffic as possible. You can even choose which borough you’re traveling from, or wish to travel through, as NYC Bike Maps covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island with a birds-eye-view and detailed directions on where you’ll need to go every step of the way. Bike Maps also shows its cycling pride by posting links to biking events all through New York, such as group rides, training clubs, and races. For more information, or to start planning your route, visit www.nycbikemaps.com.
If you’re jonesing for a ride but don’t have a bike with you, there are places all over Manhattan where you can rent one. Websites like Bike New York offer a list of shops all over the city that offer varied rental plans, some short term, some long term — and the site includes rates and shop times. If you like the idea of taking a ride but don’t care to be the one weaving through traffic, there are also rides that feature a professional city cyclist who will ride you around and take you on a grand tour of some of Manhattan’s most famous destinations. Visit www.bikenewyork.org/resources/shops_rentals and rent your bike today.
OK, so instead you’re a Lance Armstrong fanatic and have been riding for years, the city streets don’t intimidate you, and you’re looking for a race or biking organization that can ride as well as you. There’s hundreds of online clubs and organizations you can join and meet your pedaling partners. The New York Cycle Club links you to riders just like you who you can train with you for races or just exercise with you. The Cycle Club accepts all riding levels and welcomes newcomers daily. Visit www.nycc.org ride with some of New York’s best.
If intimidation has still got the best of you and your wheels are starting to rust, find some motivation from Manhattan’s biking bloggers. New York Bike Blog discusses topics such as bike routes, construction that may interfere with a popular biking lane, and bikers’ etiquette that will help you as a beginner learn the rules of the road before you ride. The blog includes personal opinion posts that give you something to talk about, and addresses larger issues such as how to avoid aggressive drivers. Get your inner wheels warmed up and visit Bike Blog NYC at www.bikeblognyc.com.
Don’t let the only wind blowing in your hair be the breeze from zipping taxi cabs or subway cars. Cycling in the city really is just like riding a bike: if you can do it once, you can do it forever.
Biking Resources
- Tours:
- • For a tour through Central Park, one of the most famous parks in the world, visit: www.centralparkbiketours.com
- • Book your New York City tour at: www.bikethebigapple.com
- Events:
- • Join or watch a marathon at: www.bikethebigapple.com
- • Bicycle Film Festival: www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/
- There’s a Map for That:
- • Map your route at: www.nycbikemaps.com
- • Plan your trip before you leave at: www.nyc.gov
- • If you’re unsure of where you need to go, visit www.transalt.org/resources/maps and get directions.
- Clubs and Organizations:
- • Visit www.bikenewyork.org to find fellow bikers and biking events.
- • For organizations, clubs, events, and races visit: www.nycc.org.
- • NYC Mountain Bike Association: www.nycmtb.com/?p=847
- Blogs:
- • Bike Snob NYC: bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/
- • Bike Blog NYC: www.bikeblognyc.com/
- • Ride the City: www.ridethecity.com/
- • Bike NYC: www.bikenycthebook.com/the-blog/
- • I Bike NY: ibikenyc.com/
- • Brooklyn by Bike: www.brooklynbybike.com/
- • Astoria Bike: www.astoriabike.com/
- • Brooklyn Bike and Board: brooklynbikeandboard.com/
- • NY Bike Jumble: nybikejumble.com/
- Mountain Biking Blogs:
- • NYC Mountain Bike Blog: nyc-outdoors.blogspot.com/
