Wellbuilt, connected bike lanes can be lifechanging, keeping people on bikes safe, comfortable and mobile. But in so many cities, what emerges instead is something that feels halfhearted 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 halfhearted 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 bikefriendliness during the 2000s. Thanks Jon!

0:00 Introduction
2:45 A bridge changes from halfhearted to great
4:06 A halfhearted bike lane in Brooklyn and its problems
5:39 The joys of a properly built bike lane
6:42 Halfhearted enforcement of bikelane 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 boneconducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): https://amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your partypace 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 higherend, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): https://amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite ULock (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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