Well-built, connected bike lanes can be life-changing, keeping people on bikes safe, comfortable and mobile. But in so many cities, what emerges instead is something that feels half-hearted -- disconnected and unprotected lanes that don't keep cyclists safe and don't enable people to truly get around on bikes.

A recent whirlwind trip to New York City illustrated both the risks of half-hearted bike infrastructure, but also the great potential when a city commits fully and builds proper safe and protected bike lanes.

This video also has a special guest: Jon Orcutt of Bike NYC, an important figure in New York's great transition to bike-friendliness during the 2000s. Thanks Jon!

0:00 Introduction
2:45 A bridge changes from half-hearted to great
4:06 A half-hearted bike lane in Brooklyn and its problems
5:39 The joys of a properly built bike lane
6:42 Half-hearted enforcement of bike-lane parking restrictions
8:38 The Brooklyn Bridge's transformation
10:47 Jon Orcutt's advice for other cities
11:53 Summing it up

Some footage in this video comes from the following sources, used under creative commons (thanks to all of you!)
StreetFilms - Chrystie Street Bike Lane
   • Streetfilms Shortie - Chrystie Street...  

StreetFilms - Pulaski Bridge
   • The Pulaski Bridge Protected Bike Pat...  

The Dronalist - Dumbo Brooklyn Bridge Sunset
   • Dumbo Brooklyn Bridge Sunset  

Bike Tour - Brooklyn Bridge to Battery Park, NYC
   • Bike Tour - Brooklyn Bridge to Batter...  


#cycling #bike #commuting

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: https://rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: https://bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): https://amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): https://amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): https://amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): https://amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): https://amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): https://bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): https://amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): https://amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): https://amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): https://amzn.to/3HGM0FU

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