Cycling story from my neighborhood newspaper

[PamNY]

Not a cheery article, but interesting:

http://downtownexpress.com/de_292/bikesandthecity.html

I am struggling to get used to biking in NYC traffic, and figure out where I will and won't cycle. I read this piece just before striking out for the farmer's market today. Despite it all, I had a nice ride.

Pam

[Mr. Bloom]

Actually an interesting article.

Just out of curiousity Pam:
- in the big city, do you stay in the lane with the traffic or do you weave through the cars like messengers?
- in the big city, are the sewer grates cycling friendly or cycling hazards?

[Biciclista]

Geez, Pam, sounds a lot worse than Seattle! what a story, and thanks for sharing it.

[Eden]

I feel pretty bad for her, getting her bike stolen and all, pretty callous to kick a girl while she's down like that, but she sure seems to have a lot of accidents... She's only been riding a year and it sounds like she's been on the ground 4 or 5 times... In the 25 or so years I've been riding on the road, before I started to race at least, I crashed my bike 3 maybe 4 times and I was a kid for several of them (slipped on gravel once and on wet leaves another time as a kid). Only one time have I ever been involved with a car - and I actually rear ended him.... he did slam his brakes on in front of me just after passing....

I don't know about NYC, but in this big city a smart cyclist does not weave in and out through parked cars, but rather gets out far enough in the lane that drivers have to move over the center line to pass - then they don't try squeeze by and accidentally hook you with a mirror..... sewer grates are generally designed so that they won't eat your wheel, but many are sunken low enough into the ground that I do not suggest trying to run them over.... in any case if you are running them over you're too close to the curb...

[PamNY]

Mr Silver: I've seen both types of sewer grates. At least where I live, there are more unsafe than safe ones.

Most NYC cyclists weave through cars, not just messengers. I stay in the lane and don't weave, though I'm usually over to the side. I "take the lane" very rarely.

Eden, I agree this writer has had a lot of accidents. (I also think she should and could have gotten the EMT to lock up her bike). I also agree that weaving in and out of traffic increases risk, but that is simply the way things are done in much of Manhattan.

There isn't room for the riding style you describe. Most streets are one way, and very narrow, with cars parked and double-parked on both sides. Also, most people travel by cab, and cabs have to pull over to let passengers in and out. Cars are going to squeeze by you because it's so crowded. As far as riding close to the curb, there's no way to avoid that.

I live in a very old part of the city -- my building was built in 1910, and the streets were in place long before that. Nowadays those streets have to accommodate tractor trailer trucks, tour buses, and gazillions of construction vehicles. I mostly stick to the bike path.

Pam

[Eden]

Mr Silver: I've seen both types of sewer grates. At least where I live, there are more unsafe than safe ones.

Most NYC cyclists weave through cars, not just messengers. I stay in the lane and don't weave, though I'm usually over to the side. I "take the lane" very rarely.

Eden, I agree this writer has had a lot of accidents. (I also think she should and could have gotten the EMT to lock up her bike). I also agree that weaving in and out of traffic increases risk, but that is simply the way things are done in much of Manhattan.

I'd agree that the layout of the cities is quite different- though our streets were in place before cars as well (my house was built in 1912) we have a system of residential streets and arterials and because of the geography of the city we don't have any large flatter expanses like Manhattan, so we have more of a single family residence layout than an urban apartment block style one. I grew up in Pittsburgh which is similar and I do think it is because of the steepness of the terrain. Most of the traffic can stay on 3 to 4 lane arterial roads, many of which have no on street parking, so taking a lane on your bike is reasonable and preferable. On residential streets with on street parking usually only one vehicle at a time can fit though... we have to take turns and you really shouldn't be going too fast (less than 20mph) or even be driving on them unless you have a reason to be on the street anyway (so technically through traffic is supposed to stay off those streets).

[OakLeaf]

Manhattan traffic is a thing unto itself. I've never driven in it and I never care to. LA at rush hour didn't bother me. DC with its insane roundabouts doesn't bother me. In Italy, DH did all the driving, and honestly it would've scared me to drive, but the rules are understandable and pretty much universally followed - just very different from USA rules.

In Manhattan, too, the rules are just DIFFERENT. Not Italy rules, but not the same as anywhere else I've ever seen. Since almost everyone who drives in the city is a professional driver (whether a cabbie, private car driver, delivery driver or bike messenger), it works. But the rules are differerent. There's no "lane" to "take," for instance - not for cars, not for trucks or buses, and CERTAINLY not for bikes.

So while I'm usually willing to analyze another rider's mistakes, whether or not they're here :rolleyes:, I'll refrain in this case. I have no real concept of what it must take to ride a bike in Manhattan, but I've seen enough to know that it bears no resemblance to what it takes to ride a bike in a place like, say, South Florida (where you equally take your life in your hands any time you go out the door, but at least the rules are essentially the same).

[Eden]

In Italy, DH did all the driving, and honestly it would've scared me to drive, but the rules are understandable and pretty much universally followed - just very different from USA rules.


Craziest traffic I ever saw was in Napoli.... no street lights, no stop signs, but somehow everyone made it work. My husband spent a good hour or two sitting on our hotel balcony just watching the 4 way intersection. We even saw a police car with no lights or sirens - just a guy hanging out of the window waving a big red dot on a stick! We did not do any driving there, but it was the wildest cab ride I've ever experienced.

Someone once told me that in Napoli you shouldn't look before you cross the street, because if you look and still cross the street its your fault if you get hit..... (I do not know if this is true and suspect its an urban legend)

[PamNY]

I have no real concept of what it must take to ride a bike in Manhattan, but I've seen enough to know that it bears no resemblance to what it takes to ride a bike in a place like, say, South Florida (where you equally take your life in your hands any time you go out the door, but at least the rules are essentially the same).

LOL I lived in Miami for two years in the early 1980s and geez, it was always something -- all too often something life-threatening. I felt like I was living in a Carl Hiassen novel (not sure he'd written any at that point).

I would honestly rather drive in Manhattan than Miami. I didn't bike there and can't imagine doing it. There surely is a lot of natural beauty, though.

Pam