Northeast - QUEENS BLVD. Bike Pool ride this Friday at 6:30 PM

if you'd like to help raise awareness for the needs of us cyclists in Queens, there will be a bike pool ride (http://www.transalt.org/files/campaigns/bike/queens_flyer.pdf) on Friday - not a critical mass ride, but a mass group of riders riding along Queens Blvd. in a show of solidarity. This ride will be repeated on the second Friday of each month, so if you can't make it on the 12th, watch for January and beyond!

Essentially the ride will show how a large group of commuters can increase visibility and hence, safety. Ultimatley we are hoping for protected bike lanes along Queens Blvd. A tall order, but Queens plaza will soon be redesigned with bike lanes - so it's possible and within our reach!! Make your voice heard.

If you commute on Friday, you'll see us at the bridge (queens side) and are welcome to join our group as we head out along Queens Blvd. Or you can meet us at the start:

The ride starts at LaGuardia College (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31-10+Thomson+Ave,+Queens,+NY+11101&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.41771,60.820313&ie=UTF8&z=16&g=31-10+Thomson+Ave,+Queens,+NY+11101&iwloc=addr) at 6:30. Pls feel free to PM me for more details.

read here:

http://www.transalt.org/events/calendar/2837

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/nyregion/thecity/30deat.html?_r=1&ref=thecity

http://bikeblogs.org/sf/2008/12/01/lessons-for-san-francisco-from-new-yorks-queens-blvd/

One of these days I might join you guys, but normally I'm on a quick spin back up into Astoria to pick up the kid before 6. (well, apart from the washout this week where the subway has been treating me well for once)

Are they really going to redo Queens plaza soon? There was this neat re-design by some well-renowned environmental architect, but that was 4 or more years ago. Back in 2004 they were talking about working starting in 2006. I guess when I see it I'll believe it.

It's like waiting for Godot...

One of these days I might join you guys, but normally I'm on a quick spin back up into Astoria to pick up the kid before 6. (well, apart from the washout this week where the subway has been treating me well for once)

Are they really going to redo Queens plaza soon? There was this neat re-design by some well-renowned environmental architect, but that was 4 or more years ago. Back in 2004 they were talking about working starting in 2006. I guess when I see it I'll believe it.

It's like waiting for Godot...

yep - we had a Dept. Of City Planning presentation at the Queens TA committee monthly meeting the other night. It's gonna be protected lanes from the bridge to the clock tower building (where Queens Blvd. intersects), with bike stop lights and everything. Apparently they are waiting for bids to come in, but construction should start in the spring....lord knows how many years it'll take to finish tho.:lol:

a lot of these changes we have been waiting for are gonna start coming more readily now. the efforts of years past are paying off and more and more people are riding. This is very exciting stuff:thumb:

btw - COLD last night, so only six queens peeps and 2 TA staff did the ride. But it was very short and very quick and ended up at Pop's Diner in Elmhurst (Queens Blvd at 50th st.). They said more people were on the previous three monthly rides, so I have no doubt the numbers will build again in the spring. Hope to see you out there:)

pgoat I am a civil engineer that put together a bid for the Queen Plaza job. The bid was a month ago and the last minute my company decided not to bid the job despite what I said. Know one bid the job and now they regret not bidding it!! I was extremely piss off!!!!! Either way I was told they are not sure when the job will be up for bid again.

huh! Interesting....thanks for that info EDC

I'm sure these things always get held up at various points...fwiw the official word we were given is spring for a start (for now;))

UPDATE: Queen plaza reconstruction job was out to bid yesterday and we were the second bidder! The first bidder left 13 million on the table so it looks like he might be dropping out and we will be awarded the JOB! We will not know for a couple of weeks but the word is the job will be ours. Crossing fingers!

I am on a subcommittee for TA to watch over the redesign - good luck on the bid and looking forward to the new Plaza!:thumb:

JUST FYI:

Bike Pool ride this Friday, March 13. Leaves the queens side of the QBB at 6:30, will go along Queens Blvd. for a spell. Trying to think of a good destination, perhaps stop and wet our whistle or grab a bite when we're done.

this is a slow orderly ride, show of presence on a major road that needs a bike lane.

not a fast ride or a critical mass.

Pls PM me if you have any questions

I will be organizing a similar rally ride along Northern Blvd. soon; interested parties are more than welcome to join in!

we're looking to end at the Tower Diner (66th Road) or T-Bone Diner (70th Road) on the 13th.

Wish I could make it, hopefully next time!

Will try to show up.

Does anyone head back towards Astoria after the ride?

There should be a few people from Astoria/LIC there so I am sure you could hook up with someone for the ride back.

It feels like its warming up a bit this afternoon....chilly this morning!

*Bump*

Streetfilms did an awesome job filming (http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/queens-blvd-bike-pool/) this in May.


It features folks who commute by bike on Queens Blvd. that joined us on the bike pool and got some free DOT lights and bells, etc.

And of course, Asif Rahman, who was killed while riding there in Feb. 2008. His family has been very vocal about increasing safety on the boulevard.

the June ride is tomorrow night at 6:30, leaves at the queens side of the QB Bridge. Please join us if you.....we're thinking of getting dinner at the Five Guys burger joint in Glendale (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=11372&daddr=73-25%20Woodhaven%20Blvd.,%20Queens,%20NY,%2011385) (near the Queens Mall)

What are the details on the ride?

Basically:

meet up at Bridge to leave at 6:30PM

you'll get an orange vest to use for the ride.

we go down 21st st. to Qns Plz south, west along Queens Blvd. over the Sunnyside Yards, down Van Dam to 47th. Ave. We take 47th to the start of the Queens Blvd. Service Rd., and then ride on the service road eastward to a point tbd. This varies from month to month.

This month we were thinking of hitting Five Guys - right turn on Woodhaven Blvd. by the Queens Mall. But you can peel off anytime - just stop at a light and hand me back your vest and you're free to go!

It's a slow ride - we stay in a group and observe lights, etc. Just a regular monthly show of presence.

Ideally we'd get more regular commuters who use (or would like to use) the Blvd. joining us on their way home.....

where at the bridge manhattan or queens side? i think i may join u guys if it doesn't rain....

where at the bridge manhattan or queens side? i think i may join u guys if it doesn't rain....

Queens side - look left in the area where people switchback for 21st street.

If it rains we will reschedule this month for the 19th (usually it's just canceled till the following month); the 20th is Asif Rahman's birthday, so we'd pause at his ghost bike.

The number ONE reason I don't ride to Queens is because it's a death zone. I have friends who live in Elmhurst (by Queens Center Mall). Since I don't live in Queens, I get lost pretty often. The only way I know how to get to Queens Center is head onto the LIE or follow Queens Blvd. On bike, the LIE is out of the question. So.....that leaves me with Queens Blvd.

But I just don't feel comfortable riding (especially before the service road begins).

So.......you Queens residents. Any suggestions on the safest way to get to the Mall from the 59th Street Bridge?

PS - WTF is wrong with Queens? 22nd street, 22nd road, 22nd lane, 22nd Ave are right next to each other?

you can cut behind the Mall (make a right heading west on Queens Blvd.) but you will get the lost the first time or two - no biggie. Get a DOT map and check out various back roads routes...for a simpler plan, I would take a right onto Broadway up to 75th street (just past Elmhurst hospital) , rt turn, take to 34th ave, left turn and follow the bike lanes and signs to the bridge (It will take you to Skillman Ave.)

Supposedly the numbered mess is because Queens neighborhoods once had redundant numbering (each neighborhood had a 25th street, so there were several in queens)...so when they organized the unified borough a hundred yrs ago they create the new mess that exists today.

yes - just know that Broadway is pretty crowded with cars/peds, especially between the hospital and Queens Blvd.

There is probably a safer quieter way on back streets further north, but i have gotten 'lost' back there several times, with car and bike. I eventually find my way home, but it can get annoying - you lose all sense of direction:lol:

The easiest would be to make a u-turn off the bridge, under the bridge on 21st street, left on Quns Plz South, take the side walk over Sunnyside trainyards (bike lane) and then just stay on Quns Blvd.

Depending upon when you are doing it it may not be that bad. I rode with some people (for recreation & fun, believe it or not) on Quns Blvd from the bridge all the way to Hillside Ave. It was a lot of lights and traffic but I've seen worse! This was around 1 PM on a sat.

the latest (http://urbanomnibus.net/2009/06/queens-plaza-infrastructure-reframed/) on Queens Plaza

pgoat, thanks for that link! I think 2011 is a bit optimistic for a completion date though. Given the history of this project's delays I'd say 2111 might be more realistic... :)

yeah, always gotta pad it a bit:lol:

What I would do is take the bike lanes to Woodside, onto Woodside Ave to Broadway. Otherwise it's 69th St to Queens Blvd. Glad I don't live in Queens any more... craziest biking I've done. That Elmhurst area around Broadway is very congested. In a way it's good, as traffic is so slow, and at the moments when the cars fly by you, the road tends to be really wide.

oh man i thought it was the coming friday too...then i saw the date on the OP.

As some of you probably know by now, a young cyclist who happened to also be a beloved TA volunteer, James Langergaard, was struck and killed by a car at Queens Blvd. and 69th street on August 14th (if you are hearing of this sad story for the first time, you can find the full story here (http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/17/in-memoriam-james-langergaard/)).

This Friday (October 2) there will be a special Queens Boulevard Bike Pool ride in honor of James. Please come out and join us to help send a strong message to the community that these casualties of the Blvd. will not be forgotten, and that work to prevent future tragedies is ever-increasing.

As of now, we will be meeting at the Queens side of the Queensboro Bridge (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Crescent+St+%26+Queens+Plaza+N,+Queens,+New+York+11101&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Crescent+St+%26+Queens+Plaza+N,+Queens,+NY+11101&gl=us&ei=4Py8SvqmNs3JlAe8ocWYBA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1) for a 6:30 PM departure, as usual, on Friday, October 2nd.

Please save the date and make this ride a priority if you can. It is a short, slow ride and every rider's presence will have a significant impact.

Last one of the year is tonight at 6:30!!

meet at the QBB. dress in tweed if you got it. Hot chocolate afterward?

26º Better be a hardy crew!

Oddly it wasn't that bad - we had the wind oat our backs the whole way and stopped at the Georgia diner for coffee/hot chocolate at the end.

Coming back westward after wasn't so pleasant tho - that headwind....BRRRRRRRRRR:twitchy:



Hopefully next year this ride will be even better and have more visible features to spread the word and so forth. We might switch to another night as well; I think Fridays are tough for people.

Just a heads up - this Friday the 8th at 6:30.

bundle up and join us - we should be stopping for a bite and warmth at a diner around Woodhaven Blvd. or so, so bring a lock and see you there!

OK, going to try and make it.

Know where I can pick up some of those chemical toe warmers?

OK, going to try and make it.

Know where I can pick up some of those chemical toe warmers?
ANY Hardware store, Modell's has them, "maybe" CVS etc

ANY Hardware store, Modell's has them, "maybe" CVS etc

Steve, also try EMS if you're downtown. Hope to see you there! (I'll bring my extra long lock this time?:p)