{"id":2559,"date":"2019-09-23T01:54:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T01:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/?p=2559"},"modified":"2019-09-24T16:25:32","modified_gmt":"2019-09-24T16:25:32","slug":"a-nervous-bikers-guide-to-cycling-in-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/2019\/09\/23\/a-nervous-bikers-guide-to-cycling-in-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"A Nervous Biker\u2019s Guide to Cycling in New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>by Tom Wright-Piersanti, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-the-new-york-times\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/04\/25\/nyregion\/a-nervous-bikers-guide-to-cycling-in-new-york-city.html\n<\/div><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/04\/25\/nyregion\/a-nervous-bikers-guide-to-cycling-in-new-york-city.html\">https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/04\/25\/nyregion\/a-nervous-bikers-guide-to-cycling-in-new-york-city.html<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you are visiting New York City, and that rack of Citi Bikes looks fun yet daunting. Or perhaps there is a bicycle leaning against a wall in your apartment, waiting, but the idea of joining those fixed-gear daredevils on city streets makes your stomach drop. And besides, the honking vehicles, jaywalking pedestrians and idling trucks are enough to drive anyone to call a cab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever your trepidation, you can get comfortable on two wheels in this city. We talked to some experienced urban bikers to get advice on how you, the nervous cyclist, can hit the streets.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-4848fab3\">Protect Yourself and Your Bike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no law requiring adults to wear helmets in New York, and it is common to see experienced riders pedaling with their heads unprotected. But you, the wary cyclist, should&nbsp;<strong>wear a helmet every time you ride<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kristen Phillips, an experienced cyclist, has always worn a helmet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have a theory that people who don\u2019t wear helmets haven\u2019t hit their head hard,\u201d said Ms. Phillips, a sales associate and the women\u2019s program manager at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/bicyclehabitat.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bicycle Habitat<\/a>, a bike shop and cycling center with four locations in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s soft brains in there,\u201d Ms. Phillips said, \u201cand concussions are terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what makes for a good helmet? According to a&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.helmets.org\/guide.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">buyer\u2019s guide on Helmets.org<\/a>, the most important factor is making sure a helmet fits. That means it sits level on your head, making contact all over, and feels snug but not tight. Adjust the straps so that the helmet does not move more than an inch if you tug on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bikes \u2014 compared with cars \u2014 require little maintenance. There are no fluid levels to check, and nothing that can catch fire. Still, when taking your Schwinn out of storage,&nbsp;<strong>make sure everything works<\/strong>. The tires should be full, the brakes should slow you down, and the bell should make a little \u201cding ding!\u201d sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t trust yourself with a wrench, the professionals at your local bicycle shop can get everything in working order. At&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/bicyclehabitat.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bicycle Habitat<\/a>, a tuneup costs $75, and will cover everything a casual rider needs to hit the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-2aa78a69\">Find a Peaceful Place to Ride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The cyclists weaving through Midtown Manhattan, narrowly missing taxis and pedestrians, seem to have some superhuman ability to slow time. You are not one of those people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start off by&nbsp;<strong>riding in an area you are comfortable with<\/strong>. The first rides that Casey Ashenhurst, the director of the group&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/webikenyc.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WE Bike NYC<\/a>, which holds group rides for women of all skill levels, took in New York were confined to the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Prospect Heights and Park Slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t go anywhere I hadn\u2019t walked by myself, so I knew what the traffic would be like,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you long to see something other than concrete and metal,&nbsp;<strong>plan a route to your nearest park<\/strong>. The city offers a&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/html\/dot\/html\/bicyclists\/bikemaps.shtml\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">robust bike map<\/a>, and Google Maps also provides bike-specific directions. Your planned path should follow designated bike lanes to Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, or any number of other city parks that feature safer, car-free spaces to ride. There are also lovely views along the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/html\/edc\/pdf\/greenway_mapside.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Manhattan Waterfront Greenway<\/a>, which has bike and jogging paths that practically surround the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a worst-case situation, if you make a wrong turn and find yourself amid rushing traffic, ride over to a curb and get off the bike. No one will judge you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2016\/04\/12\/nyregion\/12BIKELISTY3\/12BIKELISTY3-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" alt=\"Parks are great places for nervous cyclists, because they can get used to riding around others, Kristen Phillips of Bicycle Habitat said. But, she warned, \u201cJust don\u2019t run any red lights in Central Park.\u201d\" \/><figcaption>Parks are great places for nervous cyclists, because they can get used to riding around others, Kristen Phillips of Bicycle Habitat said. But, she warned, \u201cJust don\u2019t run any red lights in Central Park.\u201dCreditSuzanne DeChillo\/The New York Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-6bb43383\">Follow the Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Laws concerning cyclists in New York are few, which means there is little you need to learn, legally, before getting out there. Here are the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/html\/dot\/downloads\/pdf\/bicyclerules_english.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">most important ones<\/a>&nbsp;to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022&nbsp;<strong>Never ride on the sidewalk<\/strong>. If you get off your bike because of nerves, walk it until you find another bike lane to ride in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Riders can&nbsp;<strong>have only one earbud in<\/strong>. If you are new, it would be smart not to use headphones at all; stay aware of your surroundings. Sounds of the city are more interesting than a podcast, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Your bicycle<strong>&nbsp;must have a bell<\/strong>, and if you are riding after sunset,&nbsp;<strong>you must have a headlight and a taillight<\/strong>. (But new riders should consider getting home before dark.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Obey all traffic laws. That means stop at red lights, follow turn signals and&nbsp;<strong>never ride the wrong way<\/strong>&nbsp;on a one-way street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serious cyclists have a term for new riders who go the wrong way on a one-way street: salmon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t be a salmon,\u201d Ms. Phillips said. \u201cSalmon are not known for being smart animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are struck by a car or are in an accident, do not move if you are injured. Call 911 and wait for the paramedics. Have the police fill out an accident report when they arrive at the scene, and gather as much information as you can. Take pictures of the damages from different angles, and write down the vehicle\u2019s license plate, the driver\u2019s name, address, insurance company and policy number, and the police accident report number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2016\/04\/12\/nyregion\/12BIKELISTY4\/12BIKELISTY4-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" alt=\"Designated bike lanes are marked by green pavement and offer a buffer area (which is often parked cars) between cyclists and traffic.\" \/><figcaption>Designated bike lanes are marked by green pavement and offer a buffer area (which is often parked cars) between cyclists and traffic.CreditYana Paskova for The New York Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-4e2ef33d\">Learn to Coexist With Cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to be predictable in traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The official hand signals for bike riders \u2014 a straight arm to indicate a turn one way, a right-angled arm to signal the other way \u2014 can be confusing and hard to remember in the moment. An alternative would be to&nbsp;<strong>point in the direction you intend to turn<\/strong>, so there is no question as to what you are doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m in the bike lane, and I don\u2019t know if the car behind me can see me, I\u2019ll put my hand above my head when I\u2019m pointing,\u201d Ms. Ashenhurst said. She also recommended holding up a fist when you are going to hit the brakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd if you\u2019re not comfortable taking your hand off the wheel,\u201d she said, \u201cuse your voice. Ring your bell.&nbsp;<strong>Make your presence known.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cars are going to honk, and it\u2019s going to be jarring at first. But, after you get over the initial shock, consider this: Getting honked at is a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA friend said to me, \u2018I don\u2019t really mind when they honk, because it means they can see me,\u2019\u201d Ms. Ashenhurst said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The toughest thing for beginning riders, the experts said, is the natural inclination to stay close to parked cars and away from the moving ones. In fact, those parked cars can feature swinging doors, sudden movement or pedestrians darting out from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fight your instincts and&nbsp;<strong>ride as far from parked cars as you safely can<\/strong>. Trust that, if you are following the rules, drivers will give you your space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople can be erratic, but they\u2019re erratic in predictable ways,\u201d Ms. Phillips said. \u201cDrivers in New York are more present. There\u2019s more happening, so they\u2019re more aware of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2016\/04\/12\/nyregion\/12BIKELISTY5\/12BIKELISTY5-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-46dc5992\">Get Help From the Experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the reason for your nerves is that you never learned how to ride a bike, you are in luck. New York City is loaded with friendly cyclists who want to help you fall in love with their favorite pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bike New York, the nonprofit group that runs the annual&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bike.nyc\/events\/td-five-boro-bike-tour\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Five Boro Bike Tour<\/a>&nbsp;in May, offers many&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bike.nyc\/education\/classes\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">free classes<\/a>&nbsp;that include learning to ride as an adult, a street skills course and a how-to on bicycle commuting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those whose hesitation to ride comes from not wanting to navigate the city alone,&nbsp;<strong>consider joining a biking group&nbsp;<\/strong>for an organized ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Biking groups can keep you from getting lost, and they are a surefire way to be certain that cars are aware of you. In addition, the experts in the group can answer your questions, and the beginners can connect with one another. As a bonus, many groups plan their rides around getting ice cream or some other treat you will not have to feel too guilty about, since you are burning those calories on the ride home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re nervous to be on a bike, but you\u2019re with people who are confident, you\u2019ll absorb their confidence,\u201d said Ms. Phillips, who runs&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/womenscyclingnyc.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bicycle Habitat Women\u2019s Cycling<\/a>, a riding group that caters to women of all skill levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few more options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/nycc.org\/about\" target=\"_blank\">New York Cycle Club<\/a>, the city\u2019s largest bike club.<br>\u2022<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.5bbc.org\/who-we-are\" target=\"_blank\">Five Borough Bicycle Club<\/a>, which calls itself \u201cNew York\u2019s friendliest bike club.\u201d<br>\u2022<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/webikenyc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">WE Bike NYC<\/a>, a group for riders who identify as female or non-gender conforming.<br>\u2022<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/fastnfab.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fast and Fabulous<\/a>, a group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender cyclists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This is a great article concerning the rights you possess as a cyclist and what you can do to protect yourself. Many cyclists do not know the rules, which can aggravate other users of the road. As such, education can help us all share the roads better when we know what our rights are.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Tom Wright-Piersanti, 2016 Maybe you are visiting New York City, and that rack of Citi Bikes looks fun yet daunting. Or perhaps there is a bicycle leaning against a wall in your apartment, waiting, but the idea of joining those fixed-gear daredevils on city streets makes your stomach drop. And besides, the honking vehicles, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":3355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2559","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-focus"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2559"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2826,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559\/revisions\/2826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}