Category Archives: Community Events

WE Bike NYC helps NYC DOT Finish 1000th Bike Infrastructure Mile!!

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By Meg Ausen

WE were so happy to be part of the NYC DOT press conference on September 22 celebrating the 1,000th mile of bike lanes in New York City! WE Bike NYC director Casey Ashenhurst (left) and volunteer Meg Ausen represented WE Bike NYC at the event, assisting New York City council members and bicycle advocates paint the 1000th mile in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. WE know that having a reliable and safe bike infrastructure in place is a huge indicator for increasing female ridership (check out Women Bike’s report on this if you’re curious), which WE are definitely for. WE look forward to see this network continue to grow, especially in the outer boroughs, as well as the next 500 miles of bike lanes! Learn more about the announcement here!!

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NYC Century Takeaways from WE Bike NYC

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century

Did you hear about or ride the NYC Century that happened in September? Have any questions or takeaways? One WE Bike volunteer Elyse Bejasa shares her thoughts on the urban century.

Thank you to Transportation Alternativesfor hosting the 2015 NYC Century on September 13th!! WE woke up early on a Sunday to explore the city with hundreds of other cyclists, taking well-timed breaks to refuel and riding through new areas. The tour, which has 4 options for distance, was a great opportunity for us to do an urban century, which many of us had never done before.

While some of us started in Central Park, my decision to start in Prospect Park was a no-brainer: I live about 5 minutes away. Still, it was hard to wake up at 4:30 am on a Sunday to get ready. My dog definitely gave me a look of “why are we awake at this hour??” But alas, I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, turned on my bike lights, and met up with some fellow 100-milers in the Park.

A century is no easy feat, but TA made it easier with routes marked for each distance, helpful marshals, and DELICIOUS food at every rest stop. I think I ate 4 or 5 plums and all the watermelon I set my eyes on. And that hummus??

Riding an organized century was a different experience from other centuries that I have done. The biggest difference was that everything was routed ahead of time. It was very helpful to not have to constantly think about what turns to take, what the general route was, and where WE should stop next to take a break. It meant that I could concentrate on what was ahead of me: lots and lots of miles.

I was also lucky that I got to ride with a group of fellow WE Bikers who pace well with me. As much as WE all enjoy riding together as a group, it’s important to understand your individual needs when doing a long ride like a century. How often do you want to stop? Do you need to take long breaks between rest stops? Can you ride at a fairly similar and steady pace together? Luckily, my answers were YES and I’m glad I was riding alongside these ladies! Otherwise, I don’t know if I would have had as much fun.

I hadn’t originally planned on doing the NYC Century, but I’m so glad I did. Next up, riding the 40 mile route of the Tour de Bronx with WE Bike NYC!!

May Community Events

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May is Bike Month so there are about a thousand things happening! Any time you want to ride a bike, you can ride it to a party, basically! So check out bikenyc.org for a full calendar.

All Month!
National Bike Challenge!
Sign up. Ride your bike. Earn prizes!
http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/nbc2013

Blonde of Arabia
A one woman play about her real-life experiences bicycling through the middle east- alone.
Just for WE Bike NYC readers, use promo code BLONDIEBIKE for $20 tickets! Don’t miss this!
Direct ticketing link: http://bit.ly/ZxXLAj
http://cultureproject.org/current/blondie/

May 3,4- Bike Expo NY
Saturday May 4th:
1pm, Panel Discussion: Meet the women who will inspire you!
http://velojoy.com/2013/04/29/bike-expo-new-york/
2pm, Women’s fastest mechanic competition!
http://www.bikenewyork.org/bike-expo-new-york/

May 8th- Bike to School Day

May 8th- Biking Public Project Birthday Party
https://www.facebook.com/events/164954063669416/

May 17th- National Bike to Work Day and TA Party/ 8:30 pm Reflective Fashion Show featuring some WE Bike NYC women!
https://www.facebook.com/events/122700114590177/?ref=14

May 17th and 18th- NYC Bike Expo
http://www.nycbikeexpo.com/

April Community Events

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April 4: Velo City Benefit 
6:00 PM, Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pll, Manhattan.
Please join Velo City and friends in celebrating another year of training the next generation of urban planners and designers!
In addition to celebrating Velo City’s fourth year of cycling-based urban planning and design education programs we will recognize the inspiring work of an individual, a company, and a non-profit organization. Our honorees are leaders in the built environment, community development and social justice realms.
https://www.facebook.com/events/457863244286487/

April 6: DOT Bike Bonanza Free Helmet Giveaway
11:00 AM.  Thomas Greene Park, between Nevins Street and 3rdAvenue and Douglass and Degraw Streets, Brooklyn.
The Department of Transportation will be fitting and giving away free bike helmets to people of all ages, while supplies last.  You must be present, learn how to properly fit and wear the helmet, and sign a waiver (parents or legal guardians must sign waivers for children 17 and under) in order to receive a free helmet.  There will also be a kids’ bike swap “learn to ride” sponsored by Bike New York (more info here). 

April 8: Annual Ghost Bike Memorial Ride
Check out the FB or website below to find the meet up spot in your borough.
The annual Memorial Ride and Walk brings New Yorkers together to remember pedestrians and cyclists killed in our city during the past year.  Riders will visit the sites of each ghost bike installed over the last 12 months.  Bring flowers and other items to honor and commemorate those lost.  Please check ghostbikes.org/node/949 for updates on the full schedule and route info over the next few weeks.  RSVP here.

April 13: Brooklyn Skillshare – Beat the Fare, Learn to Ride: Urban Cycling Skills 101
2:00 PM. Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 92, Brooklyn.
With the advent of NYC’s first-ever bike share program, and yet another hike in transit fares, there’s never been a better time to brush up on your bike-commuting skills and get on a bike.  Learn about biking and advocacy groups (like TA and Recycle-a-Bicycle) and how you can get involved.  Topics will include Biking Rules, Flat Fixing 101, how to lock up right, and more.  The event will conclude with an hour-long group ride on the Kent Avenue Greenway.  RSVP here; more info here.

April 13: Rally and Chalk walk to Celebrate Anti- Street Harassment Week
12-5 PM, Washington Square Park
RECLAIM THE STREETS! Street harassment ends here.
There will be a rally with a mix of speakers and performers in Washington Square Park on the stage, located east of the fountain, then at 2pm participants will leave the rally to chalk the streets of New York with positive messages against street harassment. Chalk is provided! After your hard work has paid off, come to The Half Pint on the corner of Thompson and West 3rd to refuel. RSVP and more info here.

April 14 (and June 9 and July 21): Kissena Velodrome Women’s Track Clinic
This is your chance to try riding a fixed gear the way they were intended! One a banked track on the velodrome! Loaner bikes are available, so register early if you want to borrow one. The coaches are great and the whole clinic is a blast! This is a great activity for people who are new to the track and fixed gears, but you should feel comfortable riding a bike. More info here.
 
April 17: Women’s Racing Clinic with CRCA
Interested in racing? This free event meets at our Soho store where our women’s team and a few other guest speakers introduce you to the NYC women’s racing scene. Meet other cyclists, ask questions and learn more about what you might want to try this spring. We encourage you to register in advance in order to ride with the team in Central Park as they take you first-hand through a private, closed race, guided and instructed. http://www.crca.net/racing/open-clinics/womens-clinic/

April 20: Annual Blessing of the Bikes
9:00 AM SHARP! Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 112th Street & Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan.
Dress as you normally do for cycling and bring your bike (or skates or non-motorized scooter) inside the spectacular Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for the 15th Annual Blessing of the Bikes.  Lots more info attheblessingofthebikes.com.

May 8: Bike to School Day

June 2: Tour de Cure
Pier 84 (W 44th & 12th Ave.)
New York City bike ride to help raise money to find a cure for diabetes.
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/A1GNY-GreaterNewYorkCityArea?pg=entry&fr_id=8610&fb_source=message

March Community Events

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March 4-6, National Bike Summit  and National Women’s Cycling Forum  This year 3 WE Bike women went down to Washington DC to rub elbows with cycling advocates, industry giants and law makers to talk about the future of cycling in the US.  It was an incredible, inspiring and exhausting experience   WE’ll tell you more in our next newsletter! Check out the photo below of us taking the Capitol by (very cold) bike!

Bicycle Roots Campaign Help the largest female owned shop in NYC get back on its’ feet!

WE Bike NYC Female Bike Forum on FB– ask questions, get answers from other women and trans folk.  Share cool stories, learn new stuff!

March 13 : Bike Commuting 101 with Bike New York 
Bike Commuting 101 is an inspiring one-hour presentation covering the many benefits of bike commuting. While no riding is involved, the class provides oodles of information on ways you can make your bike commute more comfortable, more efficient and safer. And giveaways! no pre-registration is required for this free class.

March 14 – Road Ready Clinic with Bicycle Habitat (Brooklyn)
Spring is near and it’s time to get your bike road-ready! This hands-on clinic will teach you how to check your bike and make sure it’s in top-top shape. Preventative maintenance will save you in the short run, preventing flats, injury and other damage — we’ll walk you through what you need to know – and then break up into groups to apply your knowledge on your own ride.

March 30 – Red Hook Criterium @ Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
If you’ve ever wanted to check out the bike “scene,” it is never quite as big as at this race/party! The brainchild of David Trimble returns for its third annual night ride. Unsanctioned and unfiltered, this race is a blast to enter or ride. Bring your own messenger bag and flannel shirt.

New York Cycle Club Rides – Check out a huge variety of group rides offered by NYC Cycle Club!

BikeNYC.org – Everything that’s anything that’s happening in the bike world in NYC this summer will be here. Bookmark it now so you don’t miss out!

April 6 – Family Bike Bonanza 3rd Ave between Douglas and Degraw
Bike Swap, Learn to Ride Classes, Bike Safety Clinics!

April 4 – VeloCity Benefit Party!
VeloCity is one of the coolest programs in NYC. They work with high school youth to teach urban planning, cycling and leadership skills. http://velocity-rides.org/
OPEN BAR, FOOD, MINGLE with New York City’s movers-and-shakers, receive A SPECIAL GIFT and bid on the silent auction! WE Bike will be there! Join us!