_An Introduction to Riding in NYC

 
Because it’s supposed to be raining today and we’re supposed to have a hurricane tomorrow, I thought it’d be a good day to write about cycling in New York. And, I know that people that don’t live here might find this interesting…

 
Being new to cycling and (as I’ve said in previous posts) having not ridden in a long time, cycling can be a bit daunting. Especially riding in New York City.

 
Growing up, I used to ride as much as possible. I would come home from school and ride until dark. That was of course in the little town of Niceville and Valparaiso, FL. There were tons of lightly traveled streets and really only one main, busy road running through (and, compared to where we live now, this road hardly seems that busy any more). I’m sure my parents worried, but, they also probably new that the majority of trouble I could get myself into would be self inflicted.

 
Having said that, New York is a whole different beast. Getting up the courage to ride here was one of my biggest initial obstacles. I did lots of research into bike routes and less traveled streets, etc…

 
My initial ride from the bike shop home was the worst. I hadn’t ridden in so long that I was shaky on the bike itself. Add that to my already looming fear of riding in NYC and it was a pretty slow, timid, nerve racking ride home.

 
Since then, I’ve gotten a bit more comfortable, but, if there’s one thing I’ve learned so far riding here, you can’t ever let your guard down.

 
In just the short time I’ve been riding I’ve already had a few close calls. One was definitely me and my learning curve for riding, the others have been motorists just not paying attention.

 
The streets i generally ride on are designated bike lane roads. I found these streets that I use through both the 2011 NYC Bike Map and also through google maps ‘newish’ feature where you can get biking directions. When it comes to these bike lane streets/roads there are several different kinds of bike lanes. There are protected bike lanes where you’re riding next to the curb, but, with cars parked on the other side of you. So, you’ve got a barrier in between you and actual moving vehicle traffic. These are nice, but, you can also get stuck behind slower moving cyclists and people who think that it’s just ok to walk in these areas since there are no cars here (annoying by the way. I’ve also of course never done this myself [note the sarcasm]).

 
Then there are the designated Bicycle lanes. These are my favorites. It’s a designated lane with lines and everything. There’s some security in the thin white line on the road that separates me and traffic. People still drive into it, but, it seems less rare. It’s also easier to pass in these areas as well which is nice.

 
Then, there are the bike routes. These are roads that don’t have designated bike lanes on them, but, have bike emblems on the roads with signs that tell motorists and cyclists that they’re sharing the road. Definitely better than non-bike roads, but, cars still notice that there is no line on the road separating you and them and they do get closer to you as they’re passing.

 
Lastly, there are the roads that have no designation at all. These are my least favorite and I still haven’t mustered up the courage to ride heavily on any of these roads, but, people do it. These are the roads that you definitely feel the cars presence as it comes up on you and passes.

 
Even riding on the designated roads, though, you find quickly that cars ride in the bike lanes, trucks park here to load and unload daily deliveries, people walk right out in front of you and stop in these lanes, and the list goes on and on. Like I said, you’ve always got to be on the offensive when riding.

 
So, there’s my brief (and not so brief) introduction to riding a bike in New York City. I’m also planning at some point to take a riding in NYC class that one of the bike shops does around there. So, I’ll post more then as I learn…

 
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