Brooklyn by Bike

This week marked the first time many bike NYC folks hit the streets since winter. Our bit of good weather combined with Google Maps launch of bicycling directions has made for an exciting bicycle filled week. Add to it this little find of activists taking to the streets to mark potholes with onomatopoeia.

Toronto’s street artist and bike activist collective Urban Repair Squad, known for making radical interventions in on-street signage to promote cyclists’ safety, recently unveiled a project. Their Pothole Onomatopoeia series appeared on Toronto’s Harbord Street recently, pointing out irregularities in the pavement with arrows and old school-Batman-style words like “THUNK!,” “OUCH!” and “OOF!” stenciled onto the street with bright spray paint. [h/t @sheepdontswim via @L Magazine]

I personally hit a pothole pretty hard this morning, but luckily didn’t get a flat. Friends have not been so lucky. Apparently if you are motorist you can file a claim with the city should you hit a pothole, but what about the cyclists? Anyone know if there is something in place for us?

Out in the heart of Queens there is a little known velodrome buzzing with track racers from the area. We rode out there this past Sunday to watch the New York state elite finals. Though most us of didn’t know the first thing about track racing (no brakes, no gears), a racer from MIT was kind enough to explain the matches and the rules.

[More photos are on Flickr. Were you on the ride? Add photos to our group pool! Our map of the ride is on Ride the City.]

That's MIT Mike on the right.

We learned a little something, got to watch the 20 lap races and meet some fantastic people on our way. Post ride we even had our second #bikenyc tweetup at Berry Park. As one of our riders put it, “cycling must really be marginalized if this is the big state event and you can’t even get a sandwich.” It’s true. We could all stand to support our local cycling community a bit more and I definitely recommend you check out the Kissena velodrome. They have some upcoming labor day events. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen.

Tomorrow kicks off the beginning of #bikenyc tweetups. For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it’s basically a gathering of people who are interested and/or twitter about biking in NYC and you are most definitely welcome to join!

The tweetup kicks off 8/5, 6:15 at Bicycle Habitat for beverages and discounts, leaves at 7pm and is followed by a ride uptown to 70th st at Pier 1. For the folks who work uptown, you can just meet at Pier 1 as well. I will probably be there early with tired legs wondering how I will make it back to BK, join! For more info check New Amsterdamize.

Summer Streets – you know when NYC closes down the Park and Lafayette Avenues to traffic – begins this Saturday!  TA Brooklyn has planned rides for each of the dates beginning at 8:30am at Grand Army Plaza. RSVP here.

Summer Streets will take place for three consecutive Saturdays in August (August 8, 15, 22) from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm. The route will connect the Brooklyn Bridge with Central Park and there will be recommended connections along low-traffic streets to the Hudson River Greenway, Harlem and Governors Island allowing participants to plan a route as long or short as they wish. [via NYC.gov]