Biking in the City

Before I moved to New York City, I swore I would never bike here; with all the pedestrians and cars, surely biking in the city was just a crazy idea that would end with a trip to the hospital, right? Well, nearly a year later, I now can’t think of a better way to get around the city than on a bike. In most places, a driver’s license and vehicle are coveted as tickets to freedom; no more waiting for buses or trains, or begging rides from parents. In New York, where owning a vehicle is more of a hassle, I feel the same way about my bike as it allows me to come and go as I please, and frees me from the whims of the MTA (and let’s face it, no one enjoys waiting on a hot subway platform during the summer). For many places within Manhattan, it takes approximately the same amount of time to take mass transit as it does to bike to the destination.

The city actually has a number of designated bike lanes running up, down, and across Manhattan; some of these lanes are separated from the main traffic lane by a row of parked vehicles, while others are a shared lane. There are also paths along the East and Hudson rivers, among other places, which are completely separate from vehicular traffic. Maps can be found online (i.e. Official City of New York site: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bicyclists.shtml), and Google Maps even has a biking option to help you plan your route.

So how does one get a bike? Craigslist often has listings for bikes for sale, although you may have to dig around to find a good deal. Another great option to consider is CitiBike. Although it open with much controversy at the end of May 2013, the bike share program seems to be growing in popularity, with over 60,000 annual members and more than 2.9 million miles traveled by its users since its launch over the Memorial Day weekend (data current as of July 25, 2013). The program offers daily, weekly, and annual memberships, which gives users unlimited 30-45 minute trips during the duration of the membership period. With stations currently located over much of Manhattan, south of 60th Street (and 3 stations within a block of the medical center!), as well as parts of Brooklyn and Queens, CitiBike offers a great alternative to mass transit for short trips and commuting. As a commuter myself, one major advantage to using CitiBike as opposed to my own personal bike is that I don’t have to worry about bike theft while I’m in the lab. The bikes can be adjusted to fit people of all heights, and although they are a bit heavy and clunky to maneuver, they are sturdy and ride smoothly even across rough pavement.

Daily and weekly memberships can be purchased directly at a bike kiosk with a valid credit card, while annual memberships, the most economical for regular users at $95+tax, and must be purchased online. Members of the NYU Federal Credit Union qualify for a $35 discount on the annual membership (see http://www.nyufcu.com/ASP/home.asp for more details). For those interested in taking longer bike trips, most bike shops in the city offer daily rentals for roughly $10/hr or $40/day (varies by shop).