So this is a double post from underachievers, but since i don't think most of you read that and I know there are several people in NYC who ride bikes on here, I figured I'd post this here too.

In the last month three cyclists have been killed in NYC and I know of one other who was doored by a cab and then his legs were crushed by a bus. It's rough out there, but way rougher than it needs to be, and it's sad. As a city of 8 million people, with countless people commuting in each day, you'd think NYC would want to reduce the number of cars on the streets, which making it safer for cyclists would do. It would also cut back pollution and related medical problems, road wear and repair costs, and improve the overall fitness of the city. Plus, in most cases what is good for cyclists is good for pedestrians. Still, NYC has no cycling vision while it's peers like London and Chicago are making a great effort to make their cities bike friendly ad recognize the great benefit in doing so. NYC has a 10 year old "Bike Master Plan" (pdf cause, of course, the websites regarding this don't actually work) that has no set time frame and has been almost entirely ignored since it's creation.

This morning I went to an 8:45am rally at city hall. About 70 cyclists showed up and people from both TransAlt and Times Up! spoke about the current state of cycling in NYC and the dangers we face. Do I think the rally really accomplished anything? No, not alone. But the media seems to be giving a bit more attention to the fact that cyclists are dying, no one is being ticketed or held accountable, and conditions aren't improving.

There is a memorial ride tonight at 6:30 for the recently fallen cyclists. Here's a NY Times article about two of the accidents and here's some blogging about it. Derek, the 23 year old kid who was killed was a friend of a friend and was run over after his bike slipped out from under him on construction plates similar to these:



Those are some pics I took in Brooklyn yesterday. The gaps between the plates - which are required to be slip proof and flush to the ground which they aren't - create 4inch drops with abrupt edges. I called 311 and reported them so I'll be going back soon to see if they've been repaired. This sort of shit is seriously ALL OVER New York. It's ridiculous. After a deadly summer last year and what seems to be the beginning of one this year people seem to be getting quite bothered by it so maybe something will change. We'll see.

Time's Up! MEMORIAL RIDE: Thursday, June 29, 6:30 pm

Hudson River Greenway at 46th Street (in front of the Intrepid)
6:40 at 38th Street and the Greenway
7:30 at LaGuardia Place and Houston Street

torrential rain drawbacks and benefits

drawbacks

1) not being able to ride my bike for days at a time

2) getting head to toe soaked before a date i was really excited about. like, to the point where i was bringing out water from my wet shirt. my jeans felt/ possibly were about 3-4 lbs heavier, and my shoes squished out water with every step i took. the poor guy looked stunned to see me. i had to try to dry my hair in the bathroom under one of those hand air blower machines. and he kept asking me if i was all right as i sat shivering uncontrollably next to him--the shivering didn't bother me because i couldn't control it, but he looked pained watching me. my lips were purple by the end of the night.

3) having my top window collapse, creating a huge gaping hole directly to the outside world. of course, the day after this happens the rain came. when i got home the first night trout was screaming in misery and my bed was soaked halfway down (from the rain, not my cat).

4) my phone getting water damage and doing bizarre things...like calling friends randomly about a dozen times in a row. two friends called me in a panic asking me what was wrong. other people probably thought i was stalking them.

benefits:

1) crazy flooding stories from friends (i won't get into them here, but some were horrifically good)

2) having rock creek parkway closed to cars but not to pedestrians and cyclists. i rode my bike to work on tuesday and ventured down rock creek parkway to see the damage between woodley and georgetown since that's the route i take to work. it was overcast and still windy. i was speechless. it was empty. completely. and all i could hear was the muddy, wild creek that was many feet higher than it should have been. parts of the bike/jogging trail were under 8 inches of sand, some parts of it were completely under water. i saw the end of a car sticking out of the creek and wondered if i should tell the cops in case it was an accident and someone was still trapped in the car...

it was one of the eeriest and most fantastic rides i've ever taken to work. it reminded me of the start of 28 days later. i actually got a little scared at certain points because it was so absolutely deserted. it was just me. and the rushing sound of the creek.

i rode home at last night and it was equally incredible. it was dusk and although i don't take rock creek park at night, i did that night because i could ride on the road. i saw a lot more people--joggers, walkers, cyclists, families riding around in the tunnel before the zoo..and everyone seemed so giddy and excited. it was completely surreal. people waved to each other, people called cheerily out to you as you rode by...it was crazy.

i wish they closed rock creek to cars forever. i have never been in such a good mood coming into work. and my mood was heightened even more by getting 2 lbs of blueberries for $6. sweeeeeeet! but that had nothing to do with the rains. i just wanted to throw that in there because i love blueberries.

Hey Baltimore heads: when I do a keyword search in some of these apartment rental type websites, what 'hoods should I use? Like I've been pretty much using Charles Village, Mt. Vernon, Fells Point and even Pigtown. But what are some other decent areas? Also, what areas should I avoid like the plague? In other words if someone I knew were moving to DC and didn't know anything about DC and asked about a nice sound place like Anacostia, I'd warn them. In other words, what is/are the Anacostia(s) of Baltimore?

last minute!!!

vegan potluck.
bring food.
7pm-ish.
my house.
6105 43rd st
riverdale, md
20737