This sounds like a job for BIKES!

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  • November 1, 2012 at 12:13 pm #912346
    creadinger
    Participant

    So NYC’s transit system got thrashed and flooded by Sandy. From what I have read the Subway is still basically not functional and the bus system is limited and extremely overloaded. Not even the billion yellow taxis can pick up all the slack of New Yorkers trying to get around and when they do $50+ to commute one-way isn’t even worth it.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/without-subway-new-york-is-desperate-for-a-ride/2012/10/31/e12bb480-2398-11e2-8448-81b1ce7d6978_story.html

    Big question: how were bikes not even mentioned in this story? It seems like a bike is the only logical way to get around up there right now unless you’re a super walker. This is the perfect opportunity for bike advocates to be out there showing people that there are other options. Especially when the distance is too far to comfortably walk, but short enough that even a person in moderate health could do without too much effort.

    The only reason I can see someone not choosing a bike right now is if they live in a highrise without power and lugging it up/down the steps is too much. But from what I’ve always heard, most NYC apartments are too small to store bikes in anyway, and would more likely be kept in a basement storage area (ok maybe that flooded).

    Let’s hope that some people see the light and realize that relying on the transit system 100% of the time isn’t smart, and maybe they should look into adding some excitement into their commute while getting healthier at the same time.

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Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • November 1, 2012 at 12:28 pm #954593
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    I saw one article lamenting that their Bikeshare program had been delayed. It would be very useful now.

    November 1, 2012 at 12:40 pm #954595
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    @Greenbelt 34807 wrote:

    I saw one article lamenting that their Bikeshare program had been delayed. It would be very useful now.

    Exactly…one good example of how it could help is the 2011 earthquake, although NYC obviously is in much worse condition post-Sandy:

    Capital Bikeshare’s statistics show a notable spike in usage yesterday. There were 5,847 rides on Tuesday in total, according to DDOT, nearly 1,100 more than the day before. The real spike occurred right after the earthquake as people rushed home. These stats reflect the empty bikeshare stations I observed yesterday, which the Wash Cycle spotlighted in a screenshot today. People walked around. They took advantage of quake happy hours.

    And why? Feet and bikes won the day yesterday for the simple reason that our major transit systems were overwhelmed.

    November 1, 2012 at 1:01 pm #954596
    baiskeli
    Participant

    I saw a TV report that talked about bikes. The reporter asked a pedestrian if bikes were a good option, and he said they were, except for the fact that so many pedestrians were clogging up the bridges, making it hard for bikes to maneuver.

    November 1, 2012 at 1:22 pm #954597
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    I just read an article (maybe on streetsblog?) that said that NYC would have bike ambassadors in several locations this morning and tonight offering routing and technical help and possibly coffee too. They also had a link to a list of open bike shops.

    November 1, 2012 at 1:57 pm #954608
    Justin Antos
    Participant

    Also great biking/New York/Sandy news happening over on #BikeNYC and @BrooklynSpoke on twitter.

    November 1, 2012 at 2:19 pm #954616
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @creadinger 34801 wrote:

    The only reason I can see someone not choosing a bike right now is if they live in a highrise without power and lugging it up/down the steps is too much. But from what I’ve always heard, most NYC apartments are too small to store bikes in anyway, and would more likely be kept in a basement storage area (ok maybe that flooded).

    As a former Manhattanite, I had to laugh when I saw “basement storage area”. Apartments in Manhattan don’t come with storage, especially storage outside of the apartment itself. You rent a few square feet of heaven. That said, most apartments could fit a bike, if you’re willing to give up space for something else/find a smart storage solution. We lived for 2 years in Manhattan with 2 bikes and 2 people in one place. They were art. I imagine people south of 34th are stuck lugging their bikes down the stairs, but probably locking up downstairs after one trip. At least, that’s what I would do.

    I have heard that bikes on the bridges have been good, but not much faster than walking. I haven’t seen stories about whether the cars stuck in traffic are leaving the bike lanes for bikes, but I imagine that once in Manhattan, bikes can get through the gridlock pretty well. Can you imagine what bikeshare would be like had it been open? Craziness.

    November 1, 2012 at 2:49 pm #954622
    consularrider
    Participant

    @dasgeh 34830 wrote:

    As a former Manhattanite, I had to laugh when I saw “basement storage area”. Apartments in Manhattan don’t come with storage, especially storage outside of the apartment itself. You rent a few square feet of heaven. That said, most apartments could fit a bike, if you’re willing to give up space for something else/find a smart storage solution. We lived for 2 years in Manhattan with 2 bikes and 2 people in one place. They were art. I imagine people south of 34th are stuck lugging their bikes down the stairs, but probably locking up downstairs after one trip. At least, that’s what I would do.

    …

    Remember Seinfeld had his bike hanging in his living room.

    November 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm #954623
    vtben
    Participant

    @dasgeh 34830 wrote:

    That said, most apartments could fit a bike, if you’re willing to give up space for something else/find a smart storage solution.

    I bet Brompton could sell bikes by the truckload in Manhattan after Sandy!

    November 1, 2012 at 2:53 pm #954625
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    @dasgeh 34830 wrote:

    You rent a few square feet of heaven.

    Wait…so not all Manhattan apartments look like this???

    Friends-TV_Show-Monica_Apartment_Set-01.jpeg

    November 1, 2012 at 8:19 pm #954655
    crysb
    Participant

    This company Liquid (formerly Spinlister) is marketing their bike rental service by providing free bike rentals up to $25. https://www.doliquid.com/free-sandy-bike-rental

    I believe it’s more like private bikesharing – you can list your bike for rental, similar to Airbnb.

    November 1, 2012 at 9:13 pm #954660
    5555624
    Participant

    @TwoWheelsDC 34839 wrote:

    Wait…so not all Manhattan apartments look like this???

    No, most have less lights and are messier.

    November 2, 2012 at 10:26 am #954673
    dbb
    Participant

    Bike article from the NYT yesterday

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/nyregion/with-transportation-snarled-in-brooklyn-bicycles-roam-free.html?smid=pl-share

    November 2, 2012 at 4:34 pm #954726
    Justin Antos
    Participant

    The New York situation continues to amaze. @BrooklynSpoke clocked 35 bikes/minute over the Manhattan bridge this morning, claiming anecdotally it was way more than previously experienced. Back of the envelope – this works out to something like 2,000 plus bikes per hour, which kind of blows my mind. Anyone know how much higher is this than normal? 2000 bikes/hr is like ten times the volume on the Custis at the top of the Rosslyn hill, and about the maximum vehicle throughput on a lane of interstate highway.

    As a data and bike nerd, I find this kind of thing fascinating :)

    November 2, 2012 at 5:01 pm #954727
    DaveK
    Participant

    @Justin Antos 34947 wrote:

    …about the maximum vehicle throughput on a lane of interstate highway…

    That’s the kind of talk that can get non-bike people to understand why it’s so important to promote cycling.

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