Astoria Bike

For every ass the right bike

2009-11-20T18:18:00.000-05:00

Damn you Port Authority

2009-11-06T21:09:00.004-05:00

I had such hope. A year of construction on the non-bike path going over the formerly Triborough now RFK Bridge. I thought they were taking out the steps. But no. It's still not done. But the new staircase is there. Why couldn't they just have ramped it out?

Because they don't care.

Oh, and yeah, it's not just bike riding that is technically prohibited on the bike path over the bridge. It's "bike riders." So don't even think of going there.

Vote

2009-11-02T23:59:00.000-05:00

Don't forget!

Broken Streets

2009-10-30T14:13:00.001-04:00

I like the application of Broken Windows to traffic enforcement.

I'm voting for Bloomberg because I love Janette Sadik-Khan

2009-10-26T13:33:00.001-04:00

What a great idea! On Facebook.

Though what worries me is the decreasing likelihood that she'll ever notice me with all this damn competition.

Janette, I'm the man for you!

Damnit, I'll still vote for Bloomberg

2009-10-25T03:57:00.004-04:00

At this point, there's really nothing Bloomberg could do that would make me not vote for him. But goddamn he's trying!

Now I'm getting mail From Crazy People for Bloomberg. I can't believe that Diaz Quanqelina loves Mike soooo much that he's willing to hand-friggin-write a double sided post card explaining why Mike will look after my transit needs. He covers LIRR, bridges and tunnels, 311, subways, buses, and a campaign slogan all in 48 square inches of hand-friggin-written text.

But you see Diaz (or somebody) knocked on our door a while back and my wife said transit was our main issue. I wish she had said bicycles. I wonder what we would have gotten in the mail then? Maybe an "I [heart] my Bike Moonblerg" bell or something. Hmmm, that's not a bad idea.

This shit is crazy, yo! Save your money, Mike! You got my vote. And the more you send me the less I like you.

We All Win With Lynn

2009-10-23T00:07:00.001-04:00

Awww, that's as old-timey sounding as "I Like Ike."

But you should vote for Lynn Serpe on November 3! Lynn likes bikes.

Astoria Bike endorses Lynn! (that should get her, uh, one vote)

Atari Joystick is my hero

2009-10-22T02:20:00.001-04:00

Check out this cartoon. It's in Spanish, which I don't speak. But here's a translation:

This is that Mexican cartoon I like: "Retro Squad." This one features our hero, the Atari joystick, but there's also a rubik's cube and a can of Tab.

Here we see the joystick's car breaking down--he's cursing and saying his fucking car has screwed him again, and now he'll have to take shitty public transport--which is not what superheroes do!

Then he calls an assortment of taxis...

When he finally gets out, he says the public transport of Retropolis isn't so bad--a little old, but efficient.

Jay Walder seems very smart

2009-10-20T11:21:00.002-04:00

At least in the profile on him in the Times.

“We’re on a bus right now where every seat is full,” he said. “How many people are on this bus? Seventy-five? But we haven’t prioritized this bus any differently than a car which has one person in it.”...“One person’s use of a road impacts upon another person’s use of the road. My point is, if we have to make a choice, make the choice for the bus, not for the car.”

Walder is the new chairman of the MTA.

Bill Thompson is a big fat idiot

2009-10-20T00:52:00.003-04:00

I don't easily disparage Democrats. But according to Streetblog and Downtown Express, outspent mayoral candidate Bill Thompson has questioned, in particular, bike lanes in Astoria:

He said last week that he would have his transportation commissioner take a new look at any lanes that seemed to be problematic, such as along Grand St. and in Astoria....

Bloomberg, in an interview the next day, cited the expansion of bike lanes as one of many things that have gotten better under his leadership.

The only thing problematic about bike lanes in Astoria is we have so damn few of them!

I'm voting for Bloomberg. You should too. And that's despite all the campaign propaganda I get from him. If you want to root for an underdog, follow the Cubs. In the meantime, let's keep the (recently) most pro-bike mayor in power.

Life without Janette Sadik-Khan? That's no life at all.

Queens TA Party. 10/20. LIC.

2009-10-15T02:01:00.009-04:00

Wouldn't it be great if biking in Queens were as nice as biking in Brooklyn? I mean, have you ever been there? It's not just about brownstones, trees, cool people, Coney Island, and good pizza.

They got bike lanes that actually go places. In-fucking-credible.

I don't mind waiting my turn... but ever wonder why?

Because tons more Transportation Alternative geeks live in Brooklyn. Duh.

Maybe being a T.A. member won't get you laid (Hell, maybe it will. I've never been to their parties). But it's those T.A. geeks who got the Manhattan Bridge good bike access. It's the fact that we in Astoria aren't cool enough and don't work hard enough. The Queensburo Bridge still abso-fucking-lutely guarantees that you WILL violate some traffic law while putting your life on the line. On both ends. Really.

I was thinking... is there any legal way a bike can head into Manhattan and not violate a traffic law. Really. Think about it. You're either running a red light or turning left from the right lane.

I guess you could go straight. I've actually never considered that.

I just want that gate to open again. You know, they way we all used to go. The direct way. The safe way. The one that didn't bother pedestrians on 1st Ave. I want this, you understand, not just for me, but for all the poor pedestrians who now have to climb over it. Why? For no fucking reason.

And then heading into Queens we all bike the wrong way down a one-way street while this empty safe traffic lane just sits there, mocking us.

I hate this shit.

Anyway, here's the point: There's a T.A. party in LIC October 20th. You should go. Really. Or just send them money. Why? Because the "I Bike Queens" Logo is actually kinda cool.

Here's the Facebook link.

And hey, if you do get laid, leave a comment here!

Govenors Island Bike Sale

2009-10-10T14:17:00.000-04:00

Not a bad deal for a used bike at all.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/1410450257.html

Car Free Broadway

2009-10-08T11:44:00.001-04:00

If you like it, take the DOT survey. Little things like this matter.

Try Honking At Me

2009-10-06T23:58:00.001-04:00

Of course it takes two to tangle.

But the only thing that should really matter here is that a cab driver, licensed by the city... purposefully used his cab as a weapon and slammed into a pedicab. How does anything--honking, fighting, coffee throwing, garbage can throwing--compare to that?! This man should not be driving.

And honking for anything other than danger is a ticketable traffic offense (and also rude, selfish, and really annoying). So the taxi driver did start it all, for whatever that's worth.

But I guess those of us who don't drive are just expected to bend over and take it all and always.

The only shame is that the pedicab driver got whupped in the fight.

(See Streetsblog for more.)

Queens Around the World

2009-10-03T13:43:00.003-04:00

Transportation Alternatives is hosting a Queens Around the Bike Ride. Sounds pretty fun. In fact, I think I'll actually go to it if I can get my lazy ass out of bed and to Astoria park at 10AM.

Hell, I can bike to Flushing on my own. And hell, it seems like most nights I end up at the Bohemian Beer Hall. But one thing I cannot do is like local historian Rich Melnick who "will impart his wealth of knowledge of the area."

Free. 10AM. Meet in Astoria Park. RSVP to Sarah at fourdozen@gmail.com, space is limited!

Details at the facebook link.

This is so beautiful

2009-09-25T18:13:00.003-04:00

The Sands Street Bike Path. At first I didn't believe it was in New York City.

Is Queensbridge next?

David Byrne for mayor

2009-09-20T17:27:00.001-04:00

I know he's not running. But this guy quotes Jane Jacobs and understands what makes cities work.

Kent Street Bike Lane Hooray!

2009-09-20T14:41:00.001-04:00

Just when I'm ready to grumble and gripe, Streetsblog tells me that the new bike lane on Kent Street is... get this... TWO WAY! And because it's on the water side, it means non-stop biking action!

How absolutely outstanding.

Bike Breakfast

2009-09-10T11:47:00.005-04:00

With this breakfast design, one will never be too late at work or school again. When you have overslept, the first thing you do to hurry up is skipping your breakfast. To prevent that skipping, Philipp Drexler invented the Bikefast. Now you can jump on your bicycle and have your breakfast during the ride. Lay your breakfast on the tray and the edges will make sure your breakfast won’t fall down on the ground.

Sure it's dorky. But once I realized that all bikers look dorky to non-bikers, I kind of like the idea.

I mean, in the time it takes me to eat a souvlaki from the guy at 31st and 31st, I could be at 36th Ave!

Vote Lynne Serpe for City Council

2009-09-09T15:55:00.002-04:00

My union just endorsed Peter Vallone. That's a bad choice.

Peter Vallone likes cars, parking, and voting against congestion pricing.

He's also shown incredible ignorance (and that's giving him the benefit of the doubt since the alternative is downright maliciousness) toward many of the businesses and residents of his district.

In November, vote for Lynne Serpe. Vote for Lynne because, well, one: she's not Peter Vallone. Two: she likes bikes. Or at least she liked my bike when I ran into her on the street and she was gathering signatures.

Vote for Lynne Serpe. I assume it won't be easy to beat Vallone. But it can done. And I thought Vallone would be out with term limits. Sigh.

New Island Festival

2009-09-08T00:38:00.002-04:00

This and next Thursday to Sunday at Governors Island.

This is the type of cool shit that goes on in Amsterdam that we're normally jealous of (I never miss Parade when I'm in Amsterdam in August).

Now it's coming here. Don't miss it! Go see Boom Chicago. I know them well. They're funny.

http://www.newislandfestival.com

From Astoria, it's just a short... OK... kind of long bike ride to the ferry. It's the terminal next to (east of) the S.I. Ferry.

New Amsterdam Bike Slam

2009-09-04T11:49:00.001-04:00

http://newamsterdambikeslam.org/. September 10 - 13.

Ror smooth streets

2009-09-04T01:50:00.003-04:00

Here's to 58th St and other roads west of the bridge being paved and smooth! It's been years.

And how about that speed bump on Crescent Ave?! It's like we don't want a residential two-lane street to be a freeway. Crazy.

Now if only they could put in bike friendly speeds bumps. They exist. Really.

Filmed in Astoria

2009-08-28T01:42:00.003-04:00

Julie and Julia is filmed around here. Their apartment is by the powerplant on the river. And there are a touching number of Astoria location shots including the fish store by the 30th Ave subway stop and K&T Butcher.

Sure, they throw in some 7 trains shots to pretend they're in Long Island City proper, but we know it's all on this side of Queensbridge, baby. The movie itself is nice. Very chick flick. But Maryl Streep is outstanding as Julia Child.

For what it's worth, I once ran into Julie at Vine, the liquor store down there by the McGuinness Highway Bridge. I'm very happy for her.

Alas, I never ran into Julia. And this even though I lived in Cambridge not far from her, shopped at the same grocery store, and didn't know anybody who *didn't* have a Julia sighting.

Don't Vote Democratic

2009-08-28T01:35:00.004-04:00

At least not for mayor.

I never thought I'd say that. I've never voted anything but Democratic. All my life. With just one exception. I did vote for Bloomberg (luckily he runs on two tickets so I can vote for him and still say I've never voted for a Republican).

Shame on the Democratic candidates for pledging to dump Sadik-Khan.

I do kind of understand the "bring in your own team" argument. But to come out again bike lanes and other improvements? To talk about re-opening Broadway to cars? I thought populism in New York City was supposed to be progressive? Isn't that why I we here? When did local Democrats become car-loving idiots?

I'm voting for Bloomberg.