NYC Bikers

Life is meant to be lived on the back of a bike. At least the fun parts. This blog is an effort on my part to convert the world into bikers, starting with my friends living here in Fresh Meadows! Even if I have to do it single handedly, I will civilize the bikers of New York!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Bicycling to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn from Fresh Meadows, Queens.

On a breezy and sunny summer morning I set off to prove to myself that transportation on bicycle is a valid alternative to driving or public transport here in NYC. As you may or may not know I live in Fresh Meadows near St. John's University. I had business to attend to in Dyker Heights Brooklyn (which is near the Verazano Bridge).

If I drove and there was no traffic I could arrive there in 29 minutes. Anyone that has driven on the Brooklyn-Queens-Expressway or the Long Island Expressway can attest there is nothing express about them, ESPECIALLY during morning and evening peak commuter times. Time in traffic is one hour and 30 minutes. Hmm - doesn't seem very efficient, does it? The cost for 40 miles of driving, at 20 miles a gallon equals about $6 total gas cost to travel there, not counting wear and tear on my vehicle as well as the possibility for tickets (which is very high in this city).

Can the public transportation do better? Doubtfull but let's see what Lord Google says. The fastest way to my destination using buses and trains is one hour and 24 minutes but in involves the LIRR which brings the cost to about $10 each way, $20 total. For $5 I can take one hour and forty-one minutes but I have to take one bus and 3 trains. Fun stuff, NOT.

Finally on my trusty bike, according to Lord Google, it takes one hour and tweny-six minutes, costs me nothing, I get free exercise, and I get to do a little exploring of Brooklyn.Of course these times are assuming a brisk 10mph average. I hover more around 7mph on my English roadster (which is all I would trust to not get a flat) so my time to arrive is increased. Since I was going to a meeting and I didn't want to look totally disheveled I went even slower and arrived in about 2 hours but still, I spent no money and I hopefully lost a little weight. If traveling to Brooklyn is better by bike, then travel to the corner market has to be better by bike!

Bicycle riding in Brooklyn seems very different then bicycle riding near my house in Queens. Over here it seems like everyone is a Lycra monster counting their cadence. In Brooklyn a lot of people have roadsters and most people seem to be riding their bikes because they need to get somewhere, not because they are practicing for the Lance Armstrong team. In Brooklyn there are lots of beautiful girls riding beautiful bikes having a beautiful time.

I was also able to experience, for the first time, two great green-ways on Empire Blvd and on Ocean Parkway (which by the way happens to be the oldest bike path in the country or city, I don't remember). There are few feelings better then flying down a totally separate bike lane without worry that you are going to be flatten by an incoming NYC bus. On the 17th of July I am planning an excursion with some friends to further explore Brooklyn by bike and I welcome all of you to come along. I think this time I will hit Coney Island. Now that's awesome!

Cow Bike!

Cow Bike!
Maes kept getting attacked by the cows whenever she biked through the fields. She decided camouflage would be the only way to survive.

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