tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59495165185273654522011-04-21T18:37:30.774-04:00Just another blog about life at the edge of the islandUrbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-68617237073184620472008-08-08T09:49:00.002-04:002008-08-08T09:57:45.864-04:00

Like fellow blogger Inwoodite, I'm taking a summer break from the blog. I haven't been completely idle, however. A group of us are working on a package of bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly improvements to present to Community Board 12 (representing Inwood and Washington Heights) in September. Want in on the action? Contact us via Inwood Livable Streets.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-21730916148924645042008-07-14T11:18:00.007-04:002008-07-14T11:40:42.301-04:00

I received the following email this morning from the Campaign for New York's Future (excerpt):"One goal of New York City's sustainability plan is to put every New Yorker within a ten minute walk from park or open space. Now, the NYC Department of Transportation is working with community partners to launch the NYC Plaza Program to help accomplish this goal, and they want your input!"The program

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-834846178792614102008-07-02T15:30:00.003-04:002008-07-02T15:36:59.612-04:00

Sadly, the Ride to Montauk ended up being a complete disaster.The volunteer staff didn't manage to get all the 66 and 30 milers processed in time for the 7:30 a.m. train to Mastic-Shirley, so many of us missed the train. That put us two hours behind schedule. Then, when we arrived in Mastic, we waited for another hour for the bikes to show up, while half the people got bussed to another rest stop

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-26517959688332449062008-06-19T13:21:00.001-04:002008-06-19T13:31:08.478-04:00

In a moment of weakness yesterday, I let my buddies on bikeforums.net convince me to sign up for the Ride to Montauk. It's a group ride with 145, 100, 66, and 30 mile routes all ending in scenic Montauk, Long Island. The 66-mile route will be my longest ride yet attempted, so wish me luck!

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-6374452618084565172008-06-19T12:44:00.003-04:002008-06-19T12:56:38.077-04:00

According to today's New York Times, the MTA will provide additional service on 9 subway lines to ease crowding starting in July. The affected lines are the 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, B, J, M, N, Q, W and the shuttle between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal.The Times states that "the changes include having the B and W trains run until 11 p.m. on weekdays, an hour and a half later than they

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-81997036554114278662008-06-19T11:39:00.004-04:002008-06-19T12:42:54.303-04:00

(Image source: Machetera)Well, I'm having my fifteen minutes of fame on the Streetsblog home page as the featured "Word on the street." Those words are: "All transit riders here have been collectively slapped in the face."No, there hasn't been an outbreak of hand-to-face violence on New York City subway cars. Rather, our dysfunctional and corrupt state legislature has once again denied home rule

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-27360691100998430922008-06-13T15:22:00.005-04:002008-06-13T15:42:04.972-04:00

Streetsblog is sporting a whole new look, and as part of it, they've made it easier than ever to form online working groups for various livable streets initiatives.If you're interested in helping make Inwood a more pleasant place to live in and visit for pedestrians, cyclists, and mass transit riders, please join the new Inwood Livable Streets group!Some of the issues we'll be looking at are:

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-54763494499954425812008-06-12T13:37:00.003-04:002008-06-12T13:52:39.611-04:00

There's a happy ending to my earlier blog post about the Amtrak funding bill: it passed the House Wednesday by a veto-proof margin of 311-104. The bill authorizes funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money would go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service.The White House has threatened a veto, saying the bill doesn't

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-43159474359087521482008-06-09T16:59:00.006-04:002008-06-19T14:01:10.744-04:00

Here's my equal-opportunity list of pet peeves:Pedestrians:Not looking before crossing the streetWalking and congregating in bike lanes (treating bike lanes as an extension of the sidewalk); the Prince St. bike lane is particularly bad in this respect as is the Hudson River Greenway, where runners and walkers persist in using bicycle/skater-only lanes in stretches where there is a beautiful

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-82752661965598654372008-06-09T14:49:00.008-04:002008-06-09T16:58:50.873-04:00

The Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, SCI keep meaning to get on and blog about what I've been up to cycling-wise, so here's a recent round-up:1. CHARLESTON NIGHT RIDES: Memorial Day weekend I went to Charleston, SC to catch a few concerts at Piccolo Spoleto (where a family member was performing). After briefly considering bringing my beloved but bulky folding bike (and dreading the thought of

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-56475235477194996912008-05-30T15:15:00.006-04:002008-05-30T17:46:53.300-04:00

Here's my wishful thinking to kick off the weekend: a safe bicycle corridor linking Inwood and the Bronx along 207th St and Fordham Rd.Although the Fordham Rd Metro-North Station is less than 2 miles from the A train stop at 207th St, much of the route is a cyclist's nightmare: the traffic on Fordham Road is heavy, particularly east of the Grand Concourse and the work-arounds (due to one-ways,

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-54804369584526961022008-05-29T18:50:00.002-04:002008-05-29T18:55:59.606-04:00

In another victory for marriage equality, New York State Governor David Patterson has issued a directive to state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other localities (such as Massachusetts, Canada, and Spain). The New York Times has more details. This is a huge and important step towards equal marriage in New York State.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-67870568235670038842008-05-23T12:25:00.006-04:002008-05-23T12:39:17.890-04:00

(Image: Wikipedia)Just it time for Memorial Day weekend, Streetsblog is urging its readers to write their state representatives to support Amtrak and passenger rail. Jerrold Nadler is the only member the New York City delegation to sign on as a co-sponsor so far. It needs 218 co-sponsors to get floor time in the House, but only 41 are on board.Here's what I wrote:To the Honorable Charles Rangel:I

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-13363601575717938192008-05-23T10:41:00.006-04:002008-05-23T11:03:07.577-04:00

Spurred into action by receiving a medical bill for my visit to the ER back in March, I sent the following letter today to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The e-mail form limited me to 150 words or less, so I had to be informative but succinct.I would like to call your attention to a hazardous situation for cyclists on the Hudson River Greenway around 181st St (the Grecian

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-19890505338486962312008-05-21T14:32:00.005-04:002008-05-21T14:52:58.643-04:00

As part of a longer comment today about congestion pricing on Streetsblog, George Haikalis of the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility proposes the following bold vision for transportation reform:I think it is time to calm down, get over the blame game and devise a winning strategy for transportation reform that includes disincentives for driving to the core, including very substantial levels of

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-23242868469178854112008-05-21T10:53:00.006-04:002008-05-21T11:05:50.786-04:00

Response (Melissa Glasgow) - 05/21/2008 09:50 AMThis is in response to your recent e-mail message to MTA New York City Transit offering service suggestions for the A line.We greatly appreciate your interest in improving mass transit, and thank you for your suggestions. Please note that your e-mail have been referred to supervision in our Department of Subways for review and consideration. The

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-92159319632161431422008-05-20T13:56:00.006-04:002008-05-21T10:58:25.357-04:00

Since I've already blogged about extending express service on the A line, why not take it up with the MTA? Here's what I emailed them via their Web site:As a daily user of the 207th St station in Manhattan on the A line, I write to ask for extended express service on my line and to reduce the number of stops during express service.I make this request because I commute almost daily from Inwood to

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-50952331098574446152008-05-19T18:02:00.006-04:002008-05-20T12:45:20.784-04:00

What an extraordinary weekend this has been: first on Thursday, California rules that gay people can marry, then on Saturday, I have a fabulous dinner with complete strangers only a ten-minute walk from my apartment.For those not in the know, to have a fabulous dining experience in New York usually requires an Inwood resident to hop on a train to Midtown, Downtown, Brooklyn, or Queens (Astoria).

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-12311748057043357492008-05-19T17:28:00.005-04:002008-05-19T18:02:04.572-04:00

In a major victory for equal marriage, the Supreme Court of California ruled Thursday, May 16 that same-sex couples in California have a constitutional right to marry.I find this ruling remarkable for four reasons:It takes effect 30 days from the date of ruling. In the 2004 Goodridge decision, the Massachusetts state legislature was given 6 months to comply, which gave Mitt Romney and his minions

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-52743709786863151802008-05-19T17:17:00.005-04:002008-05-20T14:46:53.847-04:00

Reblogged from Streetsblog: The MTA in recognition of New York City Bike Month has launched the MTA + Bike site to promote cycling in combination with mass transit use. Good news is in store particularly for folding bike riders:Folding bikes, appropriately folded, are considered luggage and not subject to rules governing standard frame bicycles. Therefore, folding bicycles can be brought on board

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-1640189464668403872008-05-05T12:33:00.006-04:002008-05-05T14:11:26.737-04:00

What can I say? It was an amazing ride and the first time I've ever set foot on Staten Island. Thanks to Fast and Fabulous, New York's lesbian and gay cycling club, I got to ride with a fabulous rainbow flag fluttering from my helmet. I kicked off from 24th and 6th Ave around 8:30 a.m. and arrived in Staten Island around 1:30 p.m. Highlights included the stretch through Central Park and all the

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-19988141425471919402008-04-29T14:59:00.003-04:002008-04-29T15:03:21.668-04:00

Re-blogged from Inwoodite: Inwoodists, take note that according to the MTA, weekend suspensions of the A-train from W. 168th Street to W. 207th Street will continue periodically until 2009. If you're in a hurry, you're probably better off taking the 1. Sigh.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-63653782473660428592008-04-29T11:21:00.014-04:002008-04-29T17:29:20.471-04:00

(Left to right: Sheldon Silver, Paul Newell, Luke Henry)New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (representing the LES, Chinatown, Nolita, Financial District, and Battery Park City) is one of Albany's notorious "three men in a room" controlling a corrupt and undemocratic state government. Thanks to Silver, congestion pricing was never allowed to the floor for a vote, thus protecting

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-82981053822529937612008-04-29T11:07:00.004-04:002008-04-29T14:50:45.177-04:00

News flash: I managed to score a ticket to the Commerce Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour on Sunday! It's time to get my bike ready for the event (water bottle cage, spare tube, etc.).

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-24321523809807267922008-04-28T20:57:00.005-04:002008-04-29T14:51:43.001-04:00

Here's a depressing example of a prominent Manhattan building whose management is anti-bicycle to the point of summarily rejecting any changes--even low-cost and free ones--that might accommodate cyclists. All names have been changed.From: UrbanisSent: Friday, April 25, 2008 11:39 AMTo: John Q. PublicSubject: Bicycle parkingDear John:My name is Urbanis and I work at the XXXX Building. As part of

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-34039179233408261972008-04-25T12:26:00.003-04:002008-04-29T14:50:45.180-04:00

I'm off to a folk dance festival in Mansfield, MA this weekend where I plan to do lots of contra English Country dance. This week, I logged over 75 miles on my bike (which I'm coming to think of as my witch's broom): 3 round trips from Inwood to Soho, 1 memorial ride in midtown/downtown, and 1 loop around Central Park. I can feel it in my legs, but I can also feel my legs getter stronger. :-)

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-31551502322346109092008-04-24T16:29:00.006-04:002008-04-29T14:58:27.981-04:00

(Image: Ilene Black)Here's an update on my first month of bicycle commuting and your chance to weigh in on some of the Inwoodist's burning bicycle questions!Yesterday I managed to bicycle round trip Inwood to Soho (25 miles) and go on a memorial ride. Amazingly, I didn't feel flattened at the end of it and I managed for the first time to climb the rather steep and intimidating hill on the

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-64980691857890397192008-04-24T16:04:00.008-04:002008-04-29T14:50:45.182-04:00

(Image: Razor Apple blog)Having read about it on Streetsblog yesterday afternoon, I joined about 25 other cyclists last night for a ride to commemorate the untimely deaths of Alvaro Olson and Jian-Lan Zhang. We cycled from Union Square up to 36th and Broadway and then down to Hester and Allen to visit their ghost bike memorials. It was poignant to think about the lives of these two men, both in

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-8835563289571423832008-04-08T17:19:00.008-04:002008-04-29T14:57:23.916-04:00

(Image: vision42.org)The following comment was posted yesterday in response to the NY Times City Room blog item about congestion pricing's downfall. While I disagree with Mr. Spitz's characterization of congestion pricing as "economically harmful," I found his comment particularly visionary in promoting light rail as a greener mass transit strategy:In promoting Congestion Pricing as a panacea,

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-91072224800879778162008-04-08T14:50:00.003-04:002008-04-29T14:57:23.916-04:00

Now that Congestion Pricing has been voted down, let's look at some other projects for improving Manhattan's streets that don't require Albany's approval. Featured today in Streetsblog, here's an interesting article from Outside Magazine about greening New York's streets.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-81078477311575696312008-04-06T19:55:00.006-04:002008-04-29T14:51:43.003-04:00

CORRECTION: Oops! It turns out the Staten Island Ferry does let cyclists on board from a ground-level outside entrance reserved for cyclists. Egg on my face, but I'm glad to know that I was mistaken.I had a breathtaking sunset ride yesterday down the Greenway from Inwood to Battery Park. Upon reaching the Battery, my friend and I entered the Staten Island Ferry station to freshen up and hop on

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-75662358863575015162008-04-04T13:34:00.005-04:002008-04-29T14:50:22.661-04:00

When I started this blog, I didn't (and still don't) intend it to focus exclusively on mass transit issues, but with congestion pricing on the verge of passing (or failing) and my taking up cycling, it's a theme very much at the forefront of my mind. Here are some other random thoughts on the subject:I started driving reluctantly in my mid-twenties, while I was living upstate, starting graduate

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-49878298663305990732008-04-04T10:55:00.003-04:002008-04-29T15:07:17.048-04:00

Inwoodists, here's who you need to call to voice your support for congestion pricing:Senator Eric Schneiderman: (212) 928-5578Assemblymember Herman D. Farrell: (212) 234-1430When I spoke with aides at both offices, Schneiderman appears to support congestion pricing. The aide at Farrell's office did not state his position (and I foolishly didn't ask), but from various news reports he appears to be

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-37043848897508635462008-04-02T15:23:00.003-04:002008-04-02T15:31:20.368-04:00

The New York City Council passed congestion pricing by a vote of 30-20 on Monday. To make it a reality, the state legislature needs to approve it *by Monday* to secure $350 million in federal funding to get the program started. Passing congestion pricing would help provide traffic relief and needed mass transit upgrades.If you are in support of congestion pricing, please call your state senator

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-53632584350048627602008-04-02T14:00:00.008-04:002008-04-29T14:51:43.005-04:00

I completed my first official bicycle commute to work this morning, arriving at my building in one piece and having enjoyed the ride from Inwood to Soho. Total door-to-door time (including unfolding the bike, riding, re-folding, and stashing in camo bag) was 2 hours, total distance 12.5 miles.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-66730884509538088242008-04-01T13:42:00.004-04:002008-04-29T15:05:57.553-04:00

Read the reportage in the New York Times. Miguel Martinez, Inwood's representative on the New York City Council, voted in favor, so make sure and give him some love.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-12754284522013575412008-04-01T12:41:00.007-04:002008-04-29T15:05:57.554-04:00

Two months ago I started thinking about interesting ways to incorporate more exercise into my life and I hit upon an idea: use a bicycle to commute to work. I would get to enjoy fresh air and views while improving my health and using time otherwise spent riding the subway. It would moreover be a more environmentally sustainable mode of transport. After spending several hours surfing the web doing

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-44115760613103877782008-03-28T13:05:00.010-04:002008-04-29T14:57:51.692-04:00

Here's a tragic example from Aaron Naperstek's excellent blog of what happens when urban transportation policy privileges private cars above all other modes of transit (including walking, bicycles, and mass transit).Following its ignoble debut as a rail corridor for steam-powered locomotives, Fourth Avenue was transformed in stages through the building of underground railway tunnels until it was

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-79202046750539491482008-03-06T20:57:00.002-05:002008-03-06T21:05:57.143-05:00

Due to an unfortunate accident, my right arm is in a cast and major computing activities are on hold until further notice. In the meantime, check out all the fabulous blogs I've listed on the right.

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-43662396016609546452008-03-04T10:49:00.007-05:002008-03-04T16:50:00.905-05:00

Many of us are still smarting from Sunday's MTA fare increase that punished loyal riders affected regular users of New York's transit system (86% of all MTA riders, according to the New York Times) by increasing all discounted fares while maintaining the sacrosanct base fare of $2 per ride to reward tourists. So let me engage in a little fantasy that the MTA would actually take this extra money

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-49762568181038900552008-02-29T10:42:00.010-05:002008-04-29T15:05:57.555-04:00

Yesterday, the Gay Recluse observed here that the MTA could do us all a huge favor and renovate some stations, which leads me to today's post.Inwoodists, Upper Manhattanites, and those from the boroughs are likely to spend significant amounts of their time (and, ultimately, lives) underground, especially if they work in midtown or downtown. While I would prefer to spend my precious daylight hours

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-4351966199134086532008-02-28T18:23:00.006-05:002008-02-29T15:29:46.786-05:00

If you support reducing traffic, cutting commute times, and funding public transportation across all neighborhoods in New York City, write your legislators now!

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-41822958317587199252008-02-28T16:10:00.007-05:002008-04-29T15:05:57.556-04:00

So let's kick off this series with my pet peeve favorite topic: the A train. I love it, except when I hate it.The A runs close to my door and gets me to just about anywhere I need to go in Manhattan. And it's express. When all is right with the world, it gets me downtown in about 35 minutes, which is a beautiful thing.But there's a catch: starting at (the rather early hour of) 10:30 p.m., it runs

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5949516518527365452.post-4890878632227252402008-02-27T14:57:00.003-05:002008-02-29T15:28:59.360-05:00

With all the buzz about congestion pricing as a solution to Manhattan's traffic woes, I've been thinking about ways to improve getting folks around in this city and the quality of life for those who make this island their home or place of work. Ultimately, to get more cars off the road, we need to do more than just charge drivers more money to negotiate our streets. When prices for everyday

Urbanishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00370473350327406071noreply@blogger.com0