Photo © Copenhagen Cycle Chic / Theis Mortensen
Cycle Chic rolls into New York on Sunday in the guise of... well... me. I'll be speaking at two venues in the city, so if you're around...
On Monday, 28 September 2009, Transportation Alternatives and the Consulate General of Denmark are co-hosting a lecture at City Bakery from 6-9 PM for members of TA. For more information and to RSVP, check out TA's website right here.
I've decided that I need to abbreviate the titles of some of these lectures. Apparently I'll be speaking about:
The Behavioral Challenges of Marketing Bicycle Culture: Making Bicycles an Equal Partner in Traffic
On Tuesday, 29 September 2009, I'll be speaking at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. (I'm not the only one who need title abbreviation :-)) It takes place from 1:00PM - 2:30PM at Room 114, Avery Hall. Here it's my Marketing Bicycle Culture lecture.
The shot above is of the Danish singer Ane Trolle in New York City. Cool girl on a cool bike. Ane sings in Ja' Confetti and she has feat. on Trentemøller tracks, too.
So... tell me New Yorkers. Where to go? What to see? I've been to the city many, many times, but where am I likely to catch the most bicycle traffic? What bicycle related stuff should I see? Where's the best sandwiches/beer/etc?
Mikael
ReplyDeletei'm no urban hipster so i'll leave the beer and sandwiches to others. From a bicycling perspective, check out the new bike lanes from Columbus Circle (Broadway and 59th) down to Times Square. For a good cross-section of cyclists the West Side Greenway bike path along the Hudson River is good for people watching. I tend to think the stretch from 45th St up to 96th St is best for seeing real New Yorkers riding regular bikes. For shots of beautiful people wobbling on Pashleys, Gazelles and Flying Pigeons stay downtown (below 14th St.) Most of the single speed hipsters and messenger wannabes live in Brooklyn but I find that whole scene very fake and wouldn't recommend it. And, of course, there's always weekends in Central Park where you'll see everyone (except Brooklyn hipsters).
i hope you have a good trip.
In defense of Brooklyn...
ReplyDeleteDo check out the Brooklyn Bridge path (don't scare the tourists), follow the paths through Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill (for lunch) and return via the Manhattan Bridge.
the LES and williamsburg bridge have alot of cyclists. the manhattan side of the bridge would be good, as they all have to stop there for a light. also the 8th and 9th ave. bike paths
ReplyDeleteskip new york, come to chicago instead!
ReplyDeleteI cannot help you re: sandwiches specifically but for high quality eats at reasonable prices try my faves:
ReplyDelete- Matsugen near Tribeca/Soho at Leonard & Church won't break your budget for Japanese (soba noodles are amazing plus there is a great 3-course omakase dinner for only $38)
- For an Asian twist on traditional American food, fried chicken, go to Blue Ribbon Sushi at Columbus Circle in Hotel Six
- Bar Boulud, Upper West Side, is always nice for French (charcuterire, pate, sandwiches (at lunch)
Good luck and come to Washington next, a bike culture is something we really need!
You're getting around! It doesn't seem that long ago you were just some guy putting up pics (always taken from behind) on "Copenhagen Girls on Bikes". Cheers for all your great work.
ReplyDeleteA side note on long-winded titles. When I was doing my doctorate at the University of Quebec in Montreal some 15-20 years ago, the general Arts and Humanities had what is probably a candidate for the all-time prize winner. The abbreviation alone was five syllables long: AGESSHALCUQAM, for "Association générale etudiante des secteurs sciences humaines, arts, lettres et communications de l'Université du Québec à Montréal". Phew! Whoever dreamed that up must have been hoping to eventually make a career in some kind of bureaucracy...
Another defense of brooklyn:
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of non-fake hipster people here, I am one of them! I cycle to and from school every day, it's my primary mode of transportation. Nothing pretentious about that.
For a good sampling of trendy cyclists, come to the Park Slope area. Take the M/R/F to 9 st/4 ave station and walk north up 5 ave. Then head over to Prospect Park, where there are cyclists galore, especially on the weekends. Get some Grimaldi's pizza in Dumbo, and finally head back to Manhattan via the Brooklyn bridge. Enjoy your stay!
Whatever you do you can expect this if you chose:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idlq-Qsbmco
It make look crazy to some (including my Danish friends who've watched it) but it's actually quite safe. In fact I tell people I feel safer riding here in NYC, like the video, more than I do in my hometown of Seattle.
But aside from that, if you make the trip to Brooklyn, Prospect Park is also a nice place to ride and watch people
Check out Beer Table in Brooklyn: http://beertable.com/ you'll love their selections of beer. The beer menu changes daily. Besides, Justin (owner) is a really good guy. Hopefully you can catch him there. He should also be able to give you some inside scoop on where to find more cyclist in NY. Enjoy your stay!
ReplyDeletethanks for all the tips! my time is limited but i'm looking forward to riding about!
ReplyDeleteDespite all the rhetoric here about which borough is better and the merits or posings of hipsters, I think you would be remiss to skip Williamsburg. The degree to which it has established its own cycling identity is evidenced by how many people have reactions to it. And it is worth investigating if you haven't before. Here is what you definitely will not see there:
ReplyDelete-Mountain bikes or racing bikes
-Spandex or workout clothes
-Aggressive driving SUV's
Here is what you definitely will see:
-A neighborhood with a robust network of bike lanes and bike-friendly streets and cyclists all over the place
-MANY beautiful young girls on bicycles
-People riding bikes in the same (often fashionable) clothing they wear when not riding their bike
-TONS of great food. Seriously go to places like Diner, Moto or Fiore to have mind-blowing food with friends and neighbors who bicycle too. And I strongly recommend for a more raucous good time, ride on over to Radegast for a large German-style beer hall with sausages and sauerkraut - really hit's the spot after a day of riding.
Awesome! So glad you're coming here. We need you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it'll be finished in time for your visit but they've rerouted traffic on Kent Avenue along the East river in Williamsburg and are putting a two way bike lane there from North 14th down to south something.
If you're there check out Miss Favella on south 6th and berry for brazilian music and a caipirinha.
Thanks for coming to the states Mikael. I think your work has a much needed positive influence here.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your TA lecture this evening. Two thoughts about NYC v. Copenhagen in the cyclist behavior arena:
ReplyDelete1) It is life-threatening to use hand signals here in NYC where our bike lanes aren't just painted poorly -- they are full of potholes and uneven surfaces too!
2) The reason NYC needs to highlight improving behavior in "cyclists only" at this point is because we do not have the infrastructure you have in CPH. Cyclists' supposed rudeness and dangerous road habits are often held up here as a political reason to deny us additional biking infrastructure. Since you have an entire system in place, your attempts at improving the behavior of ALL users of the road are appropriate. If we start lecturing drivers on how to drive better, and if cyclists continue to ride on sidewalks and blow through red lights, we will never get enough support for a proper system of bike lanes.
thanks, jo. it was a pleasure to speak tonight.
ReplyDeleteregarding hand signals, I used them all day long riding around today. i didn't feel i was going fast enough for the signals to conflict with the crappy potholes.
all day long i saw cyclists running red lights. i don't think this is a good thing. courtesy has nothing to do with infrastructure, it's all about gaining respect for cycling in Emerging Bicycle Cultures. just one cyclist obeying the traffic laws can make a difference.
i stop for red and signal in any city i cycle in and i've cycled in many cities that are far worse than nyc.
it's marketing. branding. and one cyclist obeying the rules can make a difference in selling cycling to the rest of the city.
Wish I had time to check you out. Hope you've enjoyed your stay here in my town, NYC.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance check out my blog:
http://www.bikeblognyc.com
and feel free to add me to your blogroll.
Michael Green
mgreen@bikeblognyc.com
6th and Prince http://www.souen.net/
ReplyDeleteand my fave place to stop in SoHo
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7109087/new_york_ny/miladys_restaurant.html
Enjoy NYC, I always do.
Wish I could be there now.
What! I missed meeting you! Bummer!
ReplyDeleteEhh... I've been too busy anyway.
I thought if anything you would be here attending the Walk21 Conference in NYC that is going on next week which I WILL be attending.
Yeh! Nice photos guy. I liked it.
ReplyDeletethis is amazing! congrats. Elodie
ReplyDeleteSlim Girl Diary