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Benthedude
Benthedude

Biking in New York

I go to college in New York and have been biking here for almost a year now. I love biking through the city and Brooklyn and would love to hear what you guys think on the subject. Any great rides you would suggest? Bike shops you like? Crazy stories you would care to share?
Question asked via StreetAdvisor The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of Douglas Elliman.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
I mentioned in an earlier post that there is an unmarked Bike shop in Williamsburg that has become an underground go-to place for bikers. It's at Lorimer just north of Metropolitan. They sell superb fixed up bikes for about 150 and it's really reasonible for tune ups. Plus, they're honest and quick.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Sorry, i do not own a bike. And even if I did, I would not ride it in the city. Too many crazy drivers around here.
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Benthedude
Benthedude 2yrs+
That's too bad, even in such a compact and large city as NY, I think bikes are an excellent option for transportation. It just takes some common sense and keeping your eyes open.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
I ride my bike in the city all the time. For me the biggest pain is getting it out of the basement of my co-op (you need to go to the lobby, get the key from the doorman, go downstairs, unlock the bike room, get the bike, bring it upstairs, return the key, and then repeat the process when you return - they won't let me park the bike in the street in front of the building! A pain, to be sure.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@JenMac Do you know how much the unmarked bike shop on Lorimer charges for a tuneup? We really need to post an address for that place. It's bike weather again, yay!
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Benthedude
Benthedude 2yrs+
Yes I am very excited about the weather!
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Benthedude: I have seen many bike accidents. I admit some of them are caused by careless riders. But still, it makes you think how dangerous riding bikes in the city can be. Now I know why the city built special bike lanes to help keep bikers safe.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Have to be a grumpus about this one and say the city is inherently hostile to bikers, and you have to have a death wish to brave the traffic.
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marinterran
marinterran 2yrs+
Sure you see bike accidents. You also see car accidents, yet people still drive cars. Sometimes the subway causes injuries yet people still ride it. Heck, going outside your house at all is dangerous if you want to look at it that way. Despite the risk of death in basically everything you do, it's worth it to not live like a terrified mouse.

I love riding around the city, I feel safer on a bike than in a car because I'm more in control of what's going on.
Bike Maps NYC http://www.nycbikemaps.com/ is a great resource for finding good rides and they have a map app that will calculate how to get you to your destination without leaving a bike lane the entire ride.
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thatchick
thatchick 2yrs+
I would be terrified of biking in traffic. When I get there, I'll probably stick to the bus.
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
Cab drivers are CRAZY. Everybody drives too fast. And then there you are on this rickety little metal frame on wheels...

Just a thought..:)
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Marinterran: I understand what you are saying, but have to disagree with you about bike riding. Why take the risk and ride one with all the crazy drivers around. No thanks. I'll walk or use public transportation.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Thatchick: That is what I am talking about. Riding bikes in this city is not safe. I've even witnessed a few accidents myself.

DBlack: Your thoughts may be just your thoughts, but they ring true. NYC seems to be the worst place for drivers. In fact, I read somewhere that NYC has the nation's worst drivers.
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Benthedude
Benthedude 2yrs+
I will admit that I like the danger of riding in the city, but that's just me. Its very thrilling when riding fast through traffic.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Benthedude: You must be a Scorpio. Scorpios like to flirt with danger. James Bond was a Scorpio type.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
I saw the results of two crazy accidents on the Prospect Expressway today - reminded me why I hate taking the highways in this city; someone remind me never to leave the great indoors before rush hour is over!

And I've never actually seen a bike accident, but as a biker I've plowed into a few cars. They were the ones at fault, of course.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Is owning a bike really okay in the city? Don't bikes get stolen in the blink of an eye if they're left overnight in certain areas? It just seems like it would be a major hassle caring for the thing.
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish Maybe the trick is to use an ugly, beat up bike no one would want to steal.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
That's what I do here in Oxford, @DBlack. It's purple and child-size (I'm pretty small) and nobody believes a grown girl would ride it!
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jmsurprenant
jmsurprenant 2yrs+
This is a good thread - I'm an avid cyclist - I live in a Boston 'burb and cycle into my office there, but my inlaws live outside NYC in Jersey, and I've thought of bringing my bike down some weekend we're in the area to try some Manhattan cycling.

James
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
There was a hit and run in Williamsburg. Horrible.

And, yeah, bikes get stolen every day. It always blows my mind when people buy really nice bikes here. You're just asking for that thing to get taken.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Everybody: The best advice for owning bikes is to take them inside. I have visited a few tenants, who had their bikes inside their apartments.
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish DBlack has a point with the crappy bike thing. People only steal the good ones - an average bike probably won't be touched, either. One of my friends has had two really awesome tricked-out bikes, both of which were promptly stolen. It really is the best thing to be able to take your bike inside or have a back yard to keep it secretly stashed... But it's not always possible when you are out riding around and whatnot, obviously.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK BUt...but...but what's the fun of owning a bike if you can't have a pimped up bike, but have to pedal around in some creaky rusted thing? That's reason enough for me to not want to venture into bikedom in this city.

Or, how could that best be phrased? "Get biked up"?
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish Ha, not a creaky rusted thing. I just think bike robbers are more likely to go for either the high quality, high priced bike or the really decorated one. An average road bike = less likely to get ripped off. Or at least, that's been my experience.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
I miss biking in NYC - Oxford is full of bikes, but there's something special about being able to get such a scenic/quick tour of the City - buses are so slow, and you miss so much via subway. With traffic sometimes cycling is almost faster than even a cab!
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