All about bikes and biking — in Brooklyn! Who am I? Tyler. PR guy by day, obsessed cyclist by night (and weekend). Contact: brooklyncyclist (at) gmail (dot) com var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17406172-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Tumblr (3.0; @brooklyncyclist)http://brooklyncyclist.com/<p>Did anyone else read these two articles — one from a week ago, and one from just yesterday — about kids being shot in the leg by stray bullets while riding their bikes outside their homes?</p> <p><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/boy_shot_riding_bike_vXFllXbs2BK4fCSPwMhuZN" target="_blank">Boy, 9, shot riding his bike</a> (NY Post)</p> <p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/07/26/2010-07-26_gunplay_hits_2yrold.html" target="_blank">2-year-old girl struck in leg by stray bullet while riding bike</a> (Daily News)</p> <p>Scary stuff.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/868130853http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/868130853Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:52:57 -0400newslinksNY PostDaily Newsshooting<a href="http://kck.st/bOXWvL">The Hungry Pedaler</a>: <p>A new show planned from Dan Delaney, creator of <a href="http://vendr.tv/" target="_blank">VendrTV</a>. This will obviously be cool. He needs funding!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/867747621http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/867747621Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:09:31 -0400<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5zmqyJg1k1qa5y8zo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Who’s going to the #bikenyc tweetup tomorrow in TriBeCa? <—- I am!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/847543503http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/847543503Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:56:58 -0400photosbikenyctweetup<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5s8l7RdmN1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is a mockup of a proposed greenway that would encircle Jamaica Bay, and the National Park Service would help create. I don’t think this map is actually available online anywhere yet…</p> <p>We caught a glimpse today during the <a href="http://www.brooklyngreenway.org/s2main.htm" target="_blank">Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride</a>.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/830055410http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/830055410Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:07:00 -0400brooklynwaterfrontgreenwayjamaica bayrides<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5rb1xn13Q1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>In Greenpoint at the start of the Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride. Northern tip of Brooklyn.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/827879336http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/827879336Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:02:59 -0400greenpointbrooklynwaterfrontridesphotos<p>I biked to work for the first time ever today. Beat my normal subway commute time by 10 mins!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/816013478http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/816013478Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:12:36 -0400<a href="http://www.brooklyngreenway.org/news/register-today-for-2nd-annual-brooklyn-waterfront-epic-ride/">2nd Annual Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride! July 18, 2010</a>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/800139691http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/800139691Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:21:37 -0400linksbike ridesgreenwaybrooklyn greenway initiativewaterfront<p>The rain held off tonight, and it turned into a perfect evening for one of <a href="http://times-up.org/index.php" target="_blank">Time’s Up</a>’s monthly <a href="http://times-up.org/index.php?page=moonlight-ride-prospect-park" target="_blank">“Moonlight Rides” through Prospect Park</a>.</p> <p>If you’ve never done one of these (they have one in <a href="http://times-up.org/index.php?page=moonlight-ride-manhattan" target="_blank">Central Park</a> each month too!), you MUST try it out. The Prospect Park ride is always the second Saturday of every month — even in the winter!</p> <p>Our leader, Jonathan, took us through some of the park’s nooks and crannies, and on paths that led to a waterfall, a dog beach, and several great waterfront lookout spots — places I never knew existed from my usual spins around the loop.</p> <p>Fun fact that I learned: When workers first filled the big lake at the southern end of the park with water after they built it over a century ago, they neglected to seal the lake bed — so all the water drained out!</p> <p>Here are a few photos I took from tonight’s ride:</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5dn0lJM4v1qa15cn.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5dn2befpG1qa15cn.jpg"/></p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5dn3aUX371qa15cn.jpg"/></p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/796486732http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/796486732Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:05:00 -0400time's upmoonlight rideprospect parkbike ridesphotos<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l51geoUcl71qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is ME bike riding through the Sonoma wine country in California.</p> <p>Thanks to the uber-helpful folks at <a href="http://www.winecountrybikes.com/index.html" target="_blank">Wine Country Bikes</a> for renting me a nice Trek hybrid!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/769407247http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/769407247Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:01:36 -0400sonomavineyardscaliforniaphotos<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l50bl7gmwS1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Just got back from an epic vacation in Sonoma (hence my lack of posts). While there though, I happened to drive past Google’s headquarters in Mountain View — and spotted these awesome shared Google bikes!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/767109862http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/767109862Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:19:54 -0400bike sharegooglephotos<p>We all know there have been a lot of improvements to the bike infrastructure in New York in recent years — and Brooklyn has been at the epicenter of that. So what, I have challenged myself to determine, are the most blissful places to bike in Brooklyn right now? Here’s what I picked (at least as of today):</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l48lzmFEfn1qa15cn.jpg"/></p> <p>5) Clinton and Henry Sts — No protected paths and lots of traffic lights, but still a couple of great streets to explore through the heart of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. Also connects very well to East River bridges and Red Hook. DRAWBACKS: Lots of traffic lights, so you can’t TOTALLY sit back and relax.</p> <p>4) Jamaica Bay Greenway — Probably the longest stretch of separated bike path in the entire borough, from Gerritsen Beach to the Queens border near JFK Airport. DRAWBACKS: Parts of it, including many of the bridges, are crumbling or overgrown with branches. Traffic from the highway is also quite loud.</p> <p>3) Kent Avenue — The new two-way bike lane from Flushing Avenue all the way to Greenpoint is fantastic, and a great place for people (bike) watching through Williamsburg! It’s also a fantastic new connection between North and South Brooklyn. DRAWBACKS: Some traffic lights and hidden driveways near the new Williamsburg condo towers.</p> <p>2) Belt Parkway Bike Path — If you haven’t pedaled down this path along the waterfront in Bay Ridge, you’re missing out. It’s smooth, several miles long and has a spectacular view of Staten Island, the Verrazano Bridge and New York harbor. DRAWBACKS: It’s annoying to get to from the north, with Sunset Park not very friendly to bikes.</p> <p>1) Prospect Park Loop (of course) — Three and a third miles of (mostly) car free cycling through one of the country’s premier parks. Not as crowded as Central Park. Just enough ups and downs to make it a great work out if you want. Accessible from all directions. DRAWBACKS: Wish it were even bigger!</p> <p>Bonus:</p> <p>Place I wish I could bike: Greenwood Cemetery — Lots of hills, well paved, great views. Wish someday I could ride my bike through it!</p> <p>Place that will probably on the list next year: Brooklyn Bridge Park — The bike lane through the new park is sure to be AWESOME!</p> <p>What am I missing? Did I get it all wrong?</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/713247990http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/713247990Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:19:33 -0400brooklynbike lanesbike pathsprospect parkbay ridgejamaica baycarroll gardenscobble hillwilliamsburgkent avenue<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l41623uJ4G1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A piece of the <a href="http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/680158995/in-more-bike-lane-related-news-the-smith-street" target="_blank">Smith Street bike lane</a> stuck to my tire. White paint and tar!</p> <p>They were putting markings down on the bike lane about an hour ago near President Street and I rolled right over it. It took a sharp knife to carve most of it off. Hope it didn’t damage the tire!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/699194133http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/699194133Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:44:26 -0400smith streetpresident streetcarroll gardensbike lanesphotostires<p>Took a couple photos on my ride over two East River bridges this morning.</p> <p>Someone has painted red hearts on each of the stenciled bike lane symbols on the Manhattan Bridge:</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3yyr5pNWx1qa15cn.jpg"/></p> <p>And speaking of paint, the resurfaced Williamsburg Bridge path has new paint on the north side!</p> <p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3yyt3T6Gt1qa15cn.jpg"/></p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/694849647http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/694849647Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:12:58 -0400williamsburg bridgemanhattan bridgebike lanesbike pathphotosbikes<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3r1wcddso1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>In more bike lane-related news… The Smith Street bike lane is open in Carroll Gardens!</p> <p>Spotted it this morning on my walk to the subway.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/680158995http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/680158995Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:38:13 -0400bike lanecarroll gardenssmith streetphotos<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3q8nytTgJ1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Prospect Park West bike lane is green!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/678731623http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/678731623Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:06:47 -0400prospect parkprospect park westbike lanephotospark slope<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2wkytv4Lb1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Brooklyn Bridge Park</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/626870614http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/626870614Sun, 23 May 2010 22:44:53 -0400brooklyn bridge parkphotosbikes<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2jj1adOr91qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Thank you <a href="http://www.5bbc.org/" target="_blank">5 Boro Bike Club</a> (<a href="http://twitter.com/5bbc" target="_blank">@5bbc</a>) and all your volunteers for a fantastic Montauk Century today!</p> <p>You can see <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25135875@N08/sets/72157623951287861/" target="_blank">all my photos from the ride</a> on Flickr.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/605442012http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/605442012Sun, 16 May 2010 21:34:22 -0400montauk centurybike ridesphotos<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2j1ygJnHU1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Why do I always crave a hamburger when I finish a bike ride? This one was waiting for me in Montauk after 65 miles.</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/604533899http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/604533899Sun, 16 May 2010 15:25:05 -0400bike ridesmontauk centuryfoodphotos<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2fqyoQQih1qa5y8zo1_250.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Montauk Century 2010. Day after tomorrow!</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/599359666http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/599359666Fri, 14 May 2010 20:35:12 -0400montauk centurybike ridephotos<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l24beba0FZ1qa5y8zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Red Hook Ball Fields Food Vendors. If you’ve never been, you MUST pedal down there this summer…</p>http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/582123169http://brooklyncyclist.com/post/582123169Sat, 08 May 2010 16:25:23 -0400red hookfood vendorsphotos