New York State of Bike

You have to give it up for NYC. The Yankees are back, Jay Z's "Empire State of Mind" is the hottest track on the radio, and Bloomberg scores a third term. The city that never sleeps has got it goin’ on in a lot of ways right now. The Pavement Team hit the big apple for some bike research and to collect some new Smithsonian hardware from the 10^thAnnual Design Awards.

Lost in all of the joy of enjoying NYC’s serious bike infrastructure was the fact that the city has Stalin-like bans on bringing your bike indoors.  With a city that has a little crime problem when it comes to bikes, this poses huge issues for commuters and residents without other transport.  Well, as of December 11, the city is going HUGE by installing the Bicycle Access Law which requires office buildings to allow bikes on freight elevators allowing commuters to store their whips carefree indoors. To make this happen at your spot you need to do the following (Thanks to New York Magazine for the tips)

1.    Scout your office space for potential parking (unused closets, storage area, etc). List how many bikes could fit there on a spreadsheet.

2.    Take your neatly organized data, meet with your HR dept. or boss and sell them on the benefits: low-cost, good PR, happy and healthy staffers, and a lower carbon footprint.

3.    Once you’ve got corporate on your side, request a Bicycle Access Plan (BAP) from the landlord. Forms will be available soon from the DOT or you can call 311.

4.    Building management has 30 days to implement your BAP, once they receive it. If the landlord hasn’t opened up the freight elevators or made plans for alternative parking by day 31, call 311. DOT can hit uncooperative building owners with $800 fines for noncompliance.

Ride on my Right Coast Bike Peeps!

Comments

[Hayley]

Biking is totally the way to go - especially in SD.

However, if I was in MI in mid-winter, I may just change my mind!

[Yokota Fritz]

Good news about the bike access law.

Hayley, plenty of year round bike commuters throughout the USA Midwest! There's no bad weather, just bad clothing.