I used to be shocked to be told lately that the New York Town Division of Parks and Game is “anti-cycling:”
The rationale, it seems that, is they lately closed a bit of park trail to bicycles in Queens:
I occur to grasp this phase of motorbike trail rather well and feature ridden it continuously. The pathway that used to be simply closed is an attractive instance now not of Park’s alleged “anti-cycling” stance, however of the Division of Transportation’s bizarre Tornado-like contortions on the subject of putting in motorcycle lanes. Mainly, about 10 years in the past they installed a secure motorcycle lane alongside Vernon Side road, which runs alongside the East River waterfront and officially made Lengthy Island Town and Astoria part of the Nice Hipster Silk Course. Alternatively, they didn’t need to take some parking spots away, so at one level the motorcycle lane simply stops and sends you thru a park as a substitute:
[I paid $10,000 for this graphic, is that too much?]
It’s about as handy as telling a pedestrian that the sidewalk’s closed to them they usually’ll have to stroll thru a Prevent & Store to get to the opposite finish of the road.
This stretch additionally occurs to run along public housing, and whilst I don’t know the details of why the DOT made up our minds to keep this actual batch of parking areas it’s now not arduous to consider that they did to be able to accommodate the citizens of mentioned public housing–the similar individuals who advocates are at all times reminding us don’t personal automobiles. The Möbius strip of New York Town politics can in point of fact make your mind harm.
Anyway, it’s a daft detour that now not handiest takes you from your manner but additionally calls for you to tip-toe (or do the biking similar of tip-toeing) thru a park through which youngsters are working round and the usage of little kiddie scooters and are in most cases susceptible to soar out in entrance of you at any time–you realize, as it’s a park. So if you strive the detour you by no means use it once more and easily keep on the street. Alternatively, I haven’t any drawback believing that this is occurring since we now reside in a motor scooter and e-bike hellscape:
So if there’s any company responsible, it sort of feels to me it’s the DOT, who principally ran a bicycle freeway thru a small park, with predictable outcome.. And someday we will have to most probably additionally begin to blame whoever if truth be told does use that detour, as a result of holy shit other people don’t prevent for pedestrians. We’ve already failed-to-yield our manner out of a good portion of the West Facet motorcycle trail. Streetsblog after all spins the notorious Riverside Park detour as a flirtation with demise:
However as aggravating as it’s I utterly perceive why they needed to do it, and it’s particularly unhealthy now that almost all of the wheeled site visitors is motorized. Most often after I yield to pedestrians now one in every of two issues occur: both they thank me profusely, or if it’s a gaggle one in every of them says to the opposite(s) loudly sufficient for me to listen to, “Those bikers by no means prevent.” I don’t know why they appear to direct this at me, the rider who stopped, however I assume the considering is it’s like roach bait and I’ll take the insult again to the nest and infect the others.
Driving within the town isn’t all unhealthy regardless that–particularly on a wonderful day:
I will be able to admit regardless that that I’m getting very annoyed with motorcycles. Mainly I’ve given up on looking to perceive them. What makes a motorcycle really feel excellent? Is it the subject matter? The tires? The drivetrain? Simply whilst you suppose you’ve were given all of it discovered and that it’s some rarefied aggregate of tubular tire and Italian metal, that’s whilst you get on some 35 year-old glued-together Trek and also you’re like, “Goddamn it, this motorcycle feels nice too, perhaps all of them do.” I simply don’t know anymore. Certain, there are variations in really feel and dealing with and stuff, and also you understand them for in regards to the first 5 mins, however after awhile no matter motorcycle you occur to be driving that day has some way of changing into your favourite.
As for the pedals, I don’t in point of fact consider in toe clips and straps however I revel in them once in a while as an affectation:
They’re additionally a excellent excuse to put on my antique sneakers:
I’m tempted to offer the motorcycle a gratuitous fancy derailleur from the take a look at gadgets Paul despatched me, however I’m hesitant to undermine its mediocrity:
Or to direct my consideration clear of the surroundings the place it belongs:
When there’s now not a motor scooter coming at you it’s a horny delightful position to journey.