NYCycling

by sam on 09/4/2007

So, the city is looking to encourage more cycle-based commuting. I think this would be great, but in particular:

Because the lack of safe and adequate bicycle parking has become one of the primary concerns of cyclists, the city has said it will also pursue legislation requiring owners of large commercial office buildings to allow a place for bicycles to be parked indoors. Recent zoning changes in Long Island City, Downtown Brooklyn and the West Side of Manhattan have incorporated that requirement.

After I got home from Milan, where cycling is ubiquitous (along with vespas), I actually tried to find out whether I could commute to the office.  Unfortunately, it took me about two weeks to find out that, if I wanted to bring my bike into the building, I could only do so through the freight elevator, which closes as 5pm. 

Now, anyone who knows anything about being a lawyer in NYC knows that leaving before 5 would be considered taking a half-day of vacation.  So I could essentially ride my bike to the office once, and never be able to leave. 

And parking on the sidewalk/street is not an option – besides the fact that there are no convenient bike racks, the idea that my bicycle would still actually be there after working a 10-12 hour day is kind of funny.  Funny in that "if you don’t laugh, you’re going to cry" sort of way. 

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