New York City | Evolving Consumer

New York’s Finest Use the Bike Lanes

New York’s finest – as in the NYPD – are apparently putting the city’s robust bike lane infrastructure to good use. However, the police aren’t riding on the bike lanes. They are using the bike lanes for parking. We previously witnessed this first hand for a few years, but the problem has grown so big that someone has launched a Thumblr blog that tracks it.

The website Cops in the Bike Lanes, noted: Rules of the City of New York, § 4-08 (e)(9): “It is against the law to park, stand or stop within or otherwise obstruct bike lanes.”

To serve and protect indeed!

Cops in the Bike Lanes Official Website

Made in America: Pedal Pushers’ Jersey Speaks the Truth

With the words “Know Your Enemy NYC” this cycling jersey from Pedal Pushers is one we’d say has a hardcore look to it. Anyone who has ridden the mean streets of Sixth Avenue pre-bike lanes can understand this one. While New York City may be far more bike friendly, it still isn’t for the faint of heart. And while this one was made in California we still see it has that Big Apple attitude.

This jersey is for those who can handle a bit of traffic.

Pedal Pushers: Know Your Enemy NYC Jersey

Made in America: Upcycled Tent To Shorts

Earlier today we noted that Chrome was using old Cold War era Communist Bloc/Warsaw Pact tents and making waterproof bags. We also heard that J.Crew was marketing a line of Military Tent Shorts. These cargo shorts are made of 1940s era military tents and each was made by hand in the New York City design studios, where one tent only produced one pair of shorts.

Apparently these were so popular that J.Crew has sold out even at $220 per pair. We’ll have to watch and see if anymore should show up.

J.Crew Military Tent Shorts Official Website

City Bike Helmet

New York’s Citi Bike Share is off and running – or should we say riding – and while the grid pattern of Mid Town makes it easy for people to find their way, even New Yorkers can find anything below 14th Street to be confusing, while Lower Manhattan can be like a maze. The folks at FLORA have come up with a novel solution with the Citi Bike “Smart” Helmet, which can help riders navigate to the nearest station.

The LED lights will offer blinking directions on when to turn so riders will be directed where to go. In addition the lights on the helmets help ensure that riders will be seen after dark. Continue reading City Bike Helmet

Citi Bikes Ready to Roll

New York City is looking to roll out a new bike sharing plan, which could see 6,000 bicycles ready for rent from 330 racks in Manhattan below Central Park and in neighborhoods in and around downtown Brooklyn. According to reports more than 5,000 enthusiasts have signed up for the bike-share program, which costs $95 a year and entitles riders to an unlimited number of 45-minute rides.

The Citi Bike program is being operated by NYC Bike Share.

Citi Bike Official Website

Rack It Up

New York City’s Department of Transportation has adopted a plan that will transform more than 12,000 former parking meter poles into bike racks. This started as a test project in 2011 with just 200 former parking meter posts. Originally the city planned to remove the poles as it switched to electronic multi-meters, but this reduced the place for cyclists to chain the bikes.

The city had looked to install about 8,500 new bike racks, but this could be a win-win for the city, for riders and for the local economy as Louis Barbato Landscaping is going to create the new racks that will be affixed to the existing poles.

[Via StreetsBlog: NYC DOT Prepares for 12,000 Parking Meter-to-Bike Rack Conversions]

Weekend Reading List (11.03.2012): Run Won’t Go On, Fit to Rule, Surfing Sandy, Redneck Runs in Armor

The Run Won’t Go On

From CNN: Sunday’s New York City Marathon canceled due to Sandy
The New York City Marathon – scheduled for Sunday – was canceled Friday due to lingering effects from Superstorm Sandy, the city’s mayor said. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.03.2012): Run Won’t Go On, Fit to Rule, Surfing Sandy, Redneck Runs in Armor

NYC Taxi Video Raises Door Prize Awareness

httpv://youtu.be/LcprI3xFf24

As a former New York city resident and cyclist, I’m very familiar with the door prize. That’s what happens when you’re riding and the driver or passenger opens the car door in front of you at a point when running into it is unavoidable. NYC DOT (Department of Transportation) produced a 30-second video that airs in taxis around the city to raise awareness and advises passengers to exit the taxi on the right side – by the curb – and to look before opening the door.

[via Cyclelicious Bicycle Blog: LOOK! For cyclists]

TD New York Bike Tour Sells Out

This year marks the 35^th Anniversary of the TD New York Five Boro Bike Tour, the largest bicycle event in the United States. Held the first Sunday in May, this is a 42 mile ride with more than 30,000 cyclists through the five boros of New York City. However, while this year’s event has already sold out, there are still ways to take part reports the organizers from Bike New York, as either a VIP or with one of the 41 “Ride for a Reason” charity partners. Additionally, anyone who volunteers for the Tour or Bike Expo New York this year gets a guaranteed Tour entry for 2013.

TD Five Boro Bike Tour Official Website

New York Cyclist Responds to Ticket for “Not Riding in Bike Lane”

As a former resident of New York City for 18 years I relate to filmmaker Casey Neistat, 29, who was ticketed for not riding his bicycle in the bike lane. We feel his pain.

I for one can add that in Harlem, the Police actually parked their cars in the bike lane by the local precinct, claiming there was no other nearby parking. So thank you Casey for making your film that shows how almost useless the NYC bike lanes can be.

Photos of the Harlem bike lanes after the jump.

Continue reading New York Cyclist Responds to Ticket for “Not Riding in Bike Lane”

Will State Law in New York Kill Cycling?

off_road_enid — KineticShift's Enid Burns rides along the Hudson River

The Big Apple can be rotten to the core when it comes to cycling. While Central Park is a gem, and is one of the things this reporter misses from his time in New York City, little else can be said about biking there. The city had in recent years attempted to put the best wheel forward – but then last month City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens) suggested that all cyclists in NYC get license and register their bikes.

Now not to be outdone, State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Queens) had introduced legislation in the state assembly that would require every bicycle in the state to have a license plate reports Gothamist. A license plate! Yes, a license plate, which would no doubt look great on those $3000+ bikes regularly ridden in Central Park and across the George Washington Bridge. DenDekker has since backpedaled and withdrawn the bill, but could future bills be in the works?

This also begs the question what would it mean for those from New Jersey who ride into New York City, as well as anyone who brings their bikes to the Big Apple to ride.

While this is a dead issue now, let’s recap what DenDekker actually suggested, which included two bills. The first would have required “annual registration of personal bicycles and provides for a license plate fee of $25 for the first year and $5 for every year thereafter,” and to get the plate, riders would need to have their bikes inspected! By whom we don’t know of course. The second bill sounded just as Draconian. It would required every commercial cyclist in the state to carry identification and have insurance, with an initial fee of $50. Continue reading Will State Law in New York Kill Cycling?