With the weather warming up, New York City wants residents to dust off their bikes and hit the streets.
Bike Month is being celebrated throughout the city during May and will host dozens of free events showcasing the green and healthy alternative of cycling, as well as safety promotion, races and workshops.
During this month long ode to cycling the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) are asking New Yorkers to take the Bike Smart Pledge to ride safely.
The pledge asks cyclists to commit to these rules of the road:
? Yield to pedestrians;
? Stop at red lights and stop signs;
? Ride in the direction of traffic;
? Stay off the sidewalk (unless the rider is under 13) and
? Use a white front light and red tail light at night.
“Our streets are for everyone, and Bike Month is a great time to explore the sights and sounds of this city by bike – and also to bike smart,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
Some of the month’s events encouraging biking include National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20 with T.A. “commuter stations” in every borough featuring iced coffee and a snack, a Kids Learn to Ride workshop on May 14 at Juniper Park and Bike Bonanza! on May 22 at Travers Park, a gathering that combines a bike swap with activities to teach safe riding.
Over the past 10 years, commuter cycling has increased 262 percent in New York City, according to DOT’s latest Sustainable Streets Index. More than 11,000 bike racks and 250 miles of bike lanes have been added in the five boroughs over the last four years encouraging more people to bike while making it safer and easier throughout the city.
According to a March Quinnipiac University Poll, 54 percent of New Yorkers thought the additional bike lanes was a good thing because it’s greener and healthier for people. Residents of Queens weren’t quite so enthralled with the extra lanes with 48 percent saying it was a bad thing due to the increased traffic it causes against 45 percent in favor of the additional lanes.
Visit bikemonthnyc.org for more information.
