Summer Streets, '09
08-18-09, 08:22 AM
#51
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08-18-09, 10:14 AM
#52
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08-18-09, 01:57 PM
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So sad, wish I was around for this final weekend.
08-19-09, 03:14 PM
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08-21-09, 09:18 PM
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Neither did I. I rolled onto Park Avenue at about 5:00 P.M., and was confused by the lack of bikes and plethora of taxi-cabs...lol.
08-21-09, 09:19 PM
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Agreed: the streets are crowded, and are occupied by people with a broad range of experience on a bicycle. Pedaling like a psychopath in the Summer Streets program is a very bad idea.
08-21-09, 09:20 PM
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I wasn't there last week but I thought it seemed less crowded, less intense, than last year, which is probably the way it should be. I also thought things seemed to go a bit smoother and more organized - like the City is beginning to get the routine down. The streets were easily divided for bikes and peds, and the cops actually kept the streets open a bit longer for people to get back downtown. None of that "all bikes on the sidewalk" nonsense like we had last year five minutes before the streets were due to open to traffic.
08-21-09, 09:22 PM
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I started this week around 8am. Definitely the way to go to avoid the crowded streets. Last week I didn't start until around 10am and it was really packed. I saw someone being loaded into an ambulance this past Saturday. Not sure if it was a bike accident or a sick-related thing though.
I felt last year's event had more fitness classes and performances than this year though. I didn't even really stop to watch anything. Oh and the helmets they are giving out for free this year are so much prettier than the lime and red ones from last year
Next week's the last week and kinda sad about that. I wish they can do this event for more weeks.
I felt last year's event had more fitness classes and performances than this year though. I didn't even really stop to watch anything. Oh and the helmets they are giving out for free this year are so much prettier than the lime and red ones from last year
Next week's the last week and kinda sad about that. I wish they can do this event for more weeks.
08-21-09, 09:23 PM
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08-21-09, 09:24 PM
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Good old new yorker speaking there lol. I'm the same, I ride CP early mornings or after 7pm if I'm going for a late night hammer session. It's usually the best time to ride CP, weekend or week day.
Overall, I think the "summer streets" program is a great idea, however, I think there are some flaws that could be improved upon. As a far cry, it would be awesome to see summer streets on the west side highway. This would mean that the center of the city could operate as normal and afford cyclist and vendor set ups a long the green way. It will probably cause too much tunnel and bridge traffic but all routes can easily go into and out of the city by avoiding the westside hway.
One can dream right...
Overall, I think the "summer streets" program is a great idea, however, I think there are some flaws that could be improved upon. As a far cry, it would be awesome to see summer streets on the west side highway. This would mean that the center of the city could operate as normal and afford cyclist and vendor set ups a long the green way. It will probably cause too much tunnel and bridge traffic but all routes can easily go into and out of the city by avoiding the westside hway.
One can dream right...
.
08-22-09, 02:40 AM
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08-22-09, 07:51 AM
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08-22-09, 11:53 AM
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Since I live only a few blocks away I went anyway. Turn-out was much lower than other weeks and having volunteers yelling "it's raining" every time a few drops fell from the sky didn't help.
Bixi had a bike share station there so people could get a sense of what bike share is all about. But despite the bad weather it still didn't seem to last long enough. Now, I guess we'll just have to hope there's another Summer Streets next year.
Bixi had a bike share station there so people could get a sense of what bike share is all about. But despite the bad weather it still didn't seem to last long enough. Now, I guess we'll just have to hope there's another Summer Streets next year.
08-22-09, 06:05 PM
#65
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08-22-09, 07:45 PM
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I too, live right by the start.
contemplated whether to ride or not but I still did at the same time
as the other days, got out before 9AM.
it was much less crowded, route still wet with on and off showers.
I bet it was easy renting a NYC400 bike, saw some of the kid's model,
looks like a folding bike without the fold and had a bottle genset perfect
for this rainy weather.
The free DOT helmet fitting has visors this week, really nice.
contemplated whether to ride or not but I still did at the same time
as the other days, got out before 9AM.
it was much less crowded, route still wet with on and off showers.
I bet it was easy renting a NYC400 bike, saw some of the kid's model,
looks like a folding bike without the fold and had a bottle genset perfect
for this rainy weather.
The free DOT helmet fitting has visors this week, really nice.
08-22-09, 11:23 PM
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08-23-09, 12:24 PM
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So that was an UNcrowded Summer Streets? Can't imagine how a more crowded situation would really work. I went out and had a lot of fun -- it was cool cruising Park Avenue without even any parked cars. Basically one giant MUP, with all the pluses and minuses.
