flattie

Traveling from Brooklyn to Manhattan today I had a close call thanks to another cyclist. Coming off the bridge approaching Center Street I slowed down and stayed on the bike path that bends north before making the slight left to enter the cross walk and proceeding onto Center Street to head south. As the light had just changed there were a few pedestrians and cyclists who I let cross into the street ahead of me - so at this point I was moving at best 2 or 3 mph as I casually rolled down the curb cut onto Center Street. At this point I hear "WHOA!" followed by the sound of skidding tires. A slight bump as something made contact with my rear tire. I looked back to see the offending cyclist in the street as he managed to launch himself over the bars.

There's a good reason they have the bike path curve north coming off of the bridge - it's to force you to slow down. Instead - he took the straight path intended for pedestrians which has an obscured view of anyone or anything that might be waiting to cross the street.

This is my second close call on the Brooklyn Bridge aside from one hard fall that was weather induced. I am thinking its time to add some time to my commute and use the Manhattan Bridge.

ChiroVette

Yeah that's a bad spot, because it pours out into both Centre and Chambers and there is a tremendous amount of foot traffic. Honestly, its up to bikers, like the guy behind you, to either get off their bikes and walk them or SLOW down, like you did. I am all for the cool downhill payoff after a climb over a bridge, but as you are already well aware of (because you are obviously a considerate rider) the northbound Brooklyn Bridge is not the place for it.

Not sure the Manhattan Bridge will be any better for you. The bike path enters out to (if I remember) Christie Street and or the eastern end of Canal, and there is probably even more foot traffic in Chinatown then on Chamber's Street.

Glad you're okay!

flattie

Thanks. I saw your other thread - hope your shoulder is feeling better. PS - get yourself a cell phone mount for your handlebars so you can just glance down instead of fishing for something in your bag or pocket.

streetstomper

There are way too many people riding foolishly in the city and on the bridge. I remember walking on it one day and having a guy buzz by on a road bike, probably doing 25 or more. We were just upslope of one of the towers. I walked around the tower and saw him pulling his front wheel out from the railing. Numbskull. If he had gone much faster and the railing was a little lower, he might have gone right over it onto the deck full of cars below. In congested conditions, watch your speed! That should be common sense, but there are too many would-be speed demons.

ChiroVette

Yeah there are plenty of places to go fast in this city, particularly with all the new bike paths separate from pedestrian paths they are paving here. But doing 20-25 on a downhill on a crowded bridge path is just begging for trouble. The Marine Parkway Bridge can be even worse because it is a narrower path. Thankfully it isn't as heavily trafficked as the Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridges.

trailangel

What's with the cell phone mount on a bike? Can't we all put these away?

cicli_masi

Definitely a congested area... Head on a swivel over there. That and low speed. I do my best to be courteous over there, but someone is almost always upset!

ChiroVette

I have crossed the bridge going northbound (south is almost never a problem) where it was so crowded I either pedaled like 3-5 MPH or even just got off the bike for the last segment of it.

zacster

I'm always amazed at the utter disregard some cyclists have for anyone else. And you wonder why we have a bad rep.

FIVE ONE SIX

why? i have one for my Samsung S4, and i always use it with Google Maps if i'm riding by myself on streets i'm unfamiliar with. and trust me, it serves that purpose a whole lot better than my Garmin, which takes too long to upload turns (resulting in usually missing turns) and will from time to time say i'm off route when i'm really not. basically, Google Maps works a whole lot better than any Garmin cycling computer i've ever used, and if it's not in the way of my legs when i'm out of the saddle than there's no reason to get rid of it. also, it's a lot easier (translation: much less distracting) to finger through music when it's right in front of me, than when it's sealed in a Ziplock back in one of my back pockets...

FIVE ONE SIX

you are 100% correct, but in that case the first order of business should be to operate it safely, and if that doesn't work than by all means get rid of it. i only use my phone for 2 things, Google Maps and music, and i won't listen to music or use my headphones if i'm riding with another person. and if i am by myself and listening to music, i only make changes if there's no one near me, whether it be another cyclist or motorist. of course there are going to be complete morons using a phone mount for something stupid like texting or something else that makes them a safety hazard, but that's just how morons are, and in those cases i would be all for removing it...

this is how i roll...