Brooklyn by Bike

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]

“NYC Five Borough Bike Tour

This fills up quick so I am putting the word out now. Reblog if you’re going to attend (or comment below!). Hope to see you there!

There are 42 miles of adventure ahead on May 3, when you can ride car-free through New York City! Join 30,000 cyclists for the largest recreational cycling event in America. Registration is limited, so act fast to assure yourself of a spot and save money by registering early. Entry Details and Registration >

The journey starts in Lower Manhattan. You’ll head north through the heart of Manhattan to Central Park and continue on to historic Harlem and the Bronx, returning south along the East River on the FDR Drive. From there you’ll cross into Queens and then Brooklyn, where cyclists take over the highway before making the thrilling climb up—and down—the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island. The route is 42 miles, mostly flat except for the bridges. Route Details >

New Charity Program

Would your charity like to raise funds by participating in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour? Check out our new program of charitable admissions to the Tour. Charity Entries >

Need a Bike?

Bike and Roll NYC is the preferred rental partner for the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour and your key to a hassle-free day. With a Bike & Roll rental package you get:

• Your choice of Trek bicycles—hybrid, road, and kids bikes available.
• Bike delivered to the start or picked up beforehand, tuned up and ready to go.
• Bike drop-off on Staten Island, so you don’t have to wait in the bike line for the ferry.

Click here for details and reservations. Early reservation is recommended as some sizes and styles are limited.”

[via NYC Tumbls]

Might I also add that for those worried about the length or pace of the ride, it is rather leisurely and friendly to all. This is no race.

We couldn’t be in DC but the fanfare was felt around the world as President Obama (we get to call him that now!) delivered his inaugural address.

Here is a beautiful shot by Jesse Chan-Norris of the DC bike valet. Can we say success!? Thanks to all the valet volunteers out there. You are appreciated. Check out WABA’s Flickr stream for more action.

Those of use who stayed in NYC were lucky enough to have our own bike parade courtesy of Times UP. We’ll get those photos up as soon as we spot them.

We would have killed to see someone rocking this art piece, but it was just on display at Manifest the Hope as far as we know.

[via joellet on Flickr]

With all this new found hope, we can only hope to see Obama rockin his bike and some bike friendly policies more often – to you Mr. President.

[via Copenhagen Cycle Chic]

[via HuffPost]

Ok, now we are feeling a lot better for staying in NYC tomorrow. Check out the Time’s Up Bike Ride. We’ll be there if only we can figure out a way to be at work, make it to the White House Project event and stop by for a ride. Totally possible, right?

Inauguration Bike Parade
Tuesday, January 20th at 2:00 pm
Meet under the arch in Washington Square Park
Rain or snow cancels the ride.

Can’t be in D.C. for the big event on Tuesday? Hop on your own seat of power and join the fun in NYC with the Time’s Up! Inauguration Bike Parade. We’ll be playing presidential music on the sound bike as we cycle through the streets and cheer the peaceful transition of power. Nothing says Democracy like riding your bike. [via BikeBlogNYC via TimesUP]