happy bike to work day

A snap shot taken on a recent evening commute along the Hudson/West Side Greenway -- where the sail boats have started to appear. Oh, how I adore bike commuting.

New Yorkers... don't forget, today until 10am, Transportation Alternatives is serving up free iced coffee, Clif Bars and fresh fruit to cyclists at the following spots:

• On the Brooklyn Bridge
• Manhattan Bridge (Manhattan side bike path exit)
• Bronx - Joyce Kilmer Park (161st & Grand Concourse)
• Williamsburg Bridge (Brooklyn side, entrance to bike path)
• Queensboro/59th St. Bridge (Queens side, entrance to bike path)
• Staten Island Ferry (St. George Terminal)
• Upper West Side - Hudson Greenway (Upper West Side Streets Renaissance)

Enjoy this most perfect cycling weather today!

lilacs and panniers

Now that the Cherry Blossoms have all dropped their pedals, the lilacs are in full bloom this week along the West Side Greenway's Cherry Walk (100th to 125th Street)!!! They are so fragrant I've been finding myself slowing down as I bike past to make the experience last longer.

The warmer weather has also got me switching up my routine -- I'm giving my backpack (and my back) a break and testing out some saddlebag panniers for Commute By Bike. The review will be up in couple weeks!

an April bike commute

After Sunday's all day rain came... this balancing driftwood sculpture. Love coming across random things like this on my bike commutes.

making NCY bike friendly: air stations

Two nights in a row this week I helped out people on the West Side Greenway with flat tires -- yes, I always carry a bike pump. But it got me thinking back to visiting Stockholm years ago where they have 'cykelpump' stations scattered around the city offering free air to all since after all, lots of flats are a result of low air pressure.

With the growing number of cyclists (including the upcoming launch of NYC's own Bike Share) and the city pumping $$$ (no pun intended) enhancing its waterfront with an eventual continuous bike path around the island... incorporating some free air filling stations would be nice!!! Here's my dreamy scenario of installing air pump stations along the waterfront every 2-3 miles around the city since gas stations and bicycle shops are few and far between...

Additional pump station add ons that come to mind: presta valve adapter, PSI control so you could fill up your road bike tires to 100+PSI(!), and attached wrench and set of Allen keys.

The Cherry Walk's cherry blossoms

Having growing up in Washington DC, cherry blossoms hold a special place in my heart - but who doesn't love the sign of Spring to come with their delicate pale pink flowers whose pedals rain down?! Since I'm not likely to make it to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in time to catch this year's (early) peek, there's the West Side Greenway!

Heading up the Greenway bike path, between 100th and 125th Street in Manhattan, you'll end up on The Cherry Walk -- a mile long stretch with numerous cherry blossom trees right along the Hudson River waterfront.

I snapped these on way home last Friday evening as the trees started coming to life...

map via NYC.GOV

daylight savings, baby!

Kimberly of the NYC Bike Train commuting home north bound this week

THIS SUNDAY is Daylight Savings!!! (Yeah, have to pitch myself to believe it.) What a delight it will be to start putting dark evening commutes to rest!

In the meantime, I've recently found a network of fellow commuters (#nycbiketrain) who meet up to commute by bike together as far north as Inwood. This has been a great resource to me for the past couple weeks since I've been getting to know my new commute - which spans almost the entire length of the west side - and can't say I've always felt comfortable at night riding along some of the desolate and poorly lit northern portions of the Greenway alone + its been a super nice way to connect with other riders. Plans are in the works to spread the word about the NYC Bike Train... so stay tuned at the Get Biking! Facebook group.

Taken at 6:30PM yesterday looking westward -- can't wait for an even brighter evening skyline next week!