It's spring, the weather has been perfect and May (which starts Thursday) is Bike Month. [1] Middle-aged folk like me (and Room 8's Larry Littlefield [2]) are looking for exercise, cheap transport and global warming solutions. Bike messengers, Critical Mass riders (like my Council Member Rosie Mendez), edgy fixed-gear fanatics [3] and teens are already out there. Join us. (For a full list of Bike Month events, click here [4] (For Jennifer 8 Lee's NYT Bike Month Round-up, including NYC DOT plans, click here [5]).
It's already too late to sign up for the biggest NYC pleasure ride the Five Boro Bike Tour on Sunday May 4 [6] which filled up at the beginning of April. The 42-mile car-free ride through NYC's streets parks and highways is an odd mob scene with a cast of tens of thousands, lots of snacks, flat tires and sweat. Because the whole ride is done with no cars, you get a little of the feeling about what a car-free-NYC might be like. Pedaling on auto-free highways is a revelation. It is definitely not for those who want to be alone. If you're going, look for me there.
Three still-open May bike rides:
The 6th Annual Brooklyn Greenway Bike Tour on Saturday May 3, 2008 [7] Join the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative for a 10-mile ride at a family pace (slow for grown-ups, fast for kids), starting in Greenpoint and ending at Red Hook's spectacular waterfront. Includes a restroom/water stop and updates about the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Bring a helmet, water, spare tube, sunscreen and a camera! Tour is free but donations are welcome. Where/When: Meet at the foot of Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, at Newton Creek. Ride starts at 10am sharp! Directions: G to Greenpoint Ave; 7 to Vernon Blvd/ Jackson Ave. To register: Send name and contact ride2008(at)brooklyngreenway.org .
The Tour De Brooklyn on Sunday, May 25 [8] a low-key, free 18-mile mass ride which starts and ends in Prospect Park, is sponsored by Transportation Alternatives [9] and last year featured the fright-sight of Marty Markowitz in spandex (although not on bike). Free registration is required Click here to register [10]. Look for me, I will be riding.
United For Peace & Justice [11], the anti-Iraq-War coalition, announces its second Pedal For Peace fund raising ride for Sunday, May 31, 2008. It starts at 11 AM at 110th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. in Central Park. Since it's a fund raiser, there's an entry fee (waived for those under 18). I went last year and liked it a lot. I'll be there this year too. Come say "Hi!" For more info Click here (pdf, sorry) [12]
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