Month: June 2013

Biking in Astoria

The International Bike Index

http://copenhagenize.eu/index/index.html

Three Cheers for the Community Board (not ours, of course)

Streetsblog reports that Manhattan CB6 approved Astoriabike’s 2010 plan (# 2) for the Manhattan side of the Queensboro Bridge! Of course I have no idea if this blog was actually where the idea came from… but it might have been. I’m certainly happy to take credit. And I’m always happy to help. This one-short-block bike…
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New Vernon Bike Lane mixed bag

The west side of Vernon Blvd is great for biking because there are almost no cross streets. I call it the low road to Brooklyn (as opposed to the Blissville / Greenpoint Ave high road). So the idea of an actual dedicated bike path (as opposed to an in-traffic bike lane) is great. But… and…
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Where Rapelje and Pleasure Intersect

I got thinking about Astoria history. A lot of it is hidden in plain sight. The more hipster inclined, myself included, get off on the old street names. SITE is changing its name to Lockwood. We can enjoy a beer at Suswick or Hell Gate, a meal at Pachanga Patterson, have Van Alst cater a…
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Astoria Jumps the Shark

The headline reads: “Trendy Consignment Shop Buffalo Exchange Opening New Store in Astoria.” The text says, “Hip consignment shop Buffalo Exchange opening its first Queens location in the neighborhood”! Ditmars is all but dead to me. Buffalo Exchange is a national chain of about 50 stores that started out west. The only reason they’re in…
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When biking, always wear a seatbelt

Just days after the start of the Citibike Share, I took what should have been a very minor fall (bizarrely close to where I last fell, nine years ago). This recent fall was entirely operator error. For no particular reason, while going uphill at slow speed, I scraped a concrete wall with my left handlebar.…
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