Summer Streets 2013: New Yorkers Reclaim Some Manhattan Streets for Healthy Recreation (Park Avenue)

Summer Streets, an annual street event when pedestrians and cyclists take over some streets of Manhattan began today. On three consecutive Saturdays in the summer, nearly seven miles of Manhattan's streets are opened for people to play, walk, bike, and breathe. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. The event is part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party, part art show, and a great time for walking, jogging, running, people watching, or just enjoying summer mornings. Today, thousands came out to participate even though there were periods of light rain. The event runs from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy access from all points in New York City. 

Citi Bike Share System Becoming More and More Popular

Citi Bike, the city's new bike share system has become more and more popular five weeks after its launch. Although the program initially had problems, "Citi Bike’s 100,000 annual, weekly and daily members “are logging 150,000 trips per week,” according to an article by BikePortland.org. Jason Latty, a representative from Linus Bike, a City Bike designer, comments on this system. “This share system is a great way to get around any city. It is a sustainable, efficient way to get where you need to be. Citi Bike along with all the other bike share systems makes it easy for people to get on a bike and go. This is one system that needs to be adopted all over the world. For those cities that haven’t integrated a bike share program into its public transportation system, hopefully the success of the existing programs will inspire them to hop on the bike share bandwagon.” Linus Bike is a California-based bicycle manufacturer that specializes in creating vintage style city bikes and commuter bikes. Not simply a bicycle company, Linus Bike sells a complete line of accessories for the environmentally conscious and for those who have a fondness for European style bicycles and the great tradition of European cycling.

The images above were taken in front of the James A. Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

Biking On Governors Island

Governors Island is a small piece of land in New York Harbor situated close to the southern tip of Manhattan. Historically, Governor's Island was the exclusive province of the British colony's royal governors. It was an isolated piece of land off-limits to commoners and reserved for those of privilege. Soon after American Independence in the late 18th Century the site became home to a U.S. Army base and later a Coast Guard installation. In 2003, control of the island was transferred back to the City of New York and the Governors Island National Monument was established. The island is a free five-minute ferry ride from downtown New York, a seasonal retreat that offers visitors a wealth of unique activities, art installations, beautiful vistas and fascinating history. The island is also ideal for bike riding. The site boasts over five miles of car-free bike trails winding past mansions, spectacular views of the New York Harbor such as those captured above, and quiet green spaces sparsely populated with visitors. Bike rental shops are available on the island including Bike Rentals that used one of my photos of the New York harbor in their advertisements. Governors Island is open every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday (Memorial Day and Labor Day) through September 29 (from 10 AM to 7 PM).

Fifth Annual "Summer Streets" 2012

Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City's streets. During this event, nearly seven miles of Manhattan streets are closed to vehicular traffic and open for everyone to play, run, walk and bike. The event takes place on three consecutive Saturdays (August 4, 11 and 18) from 7 AM to 1 PM. This year's event features rock climbing at Spring Street, free bike helmet at 51st Street, a zip line at Foley Square, dance and exercise lessons, and of course, a pleasant, car-free stroll along Park Avenue from Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park. There are also art installations and free food and beverage samples in a couple of rest stops. This event is free.

Summer Streets 2010 - Play > Run > Walk > Bike > Dance > Swim: Park Avenue

Today is the first of three consecutive Saturdays (August 7, 14 and 21) for SUMMER STREETS, an event that closes up some Manhattan streets to vehicular traffic for people to play, walk, bike and for the first time, swim. Summer Streets provides nearly 7 miles of streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park for healthy recreation and is a part of NYC's greening initiative by encouraging New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. Modeled on other events from around the world including Bogotá, Colombia'sCiclovia, Paris, France's Paris Plage, and even New York's own Museum Mile, this event is part bike tour, part block party, a great time for exercise, people watching, and just enjoying summer mornings from 7 AM to 1 PM. This year, urban swimming pools called "Dumpster Pools" are set up at Park Avenue and 40th Street near Grand Central Terminal viaduct. Space at the pools will be limited. Donated by Macro-Sea and designed by David Belt, the repurposed dumpsters are all different sizes; the deepest one is 4 feet 6 inches and another is 3 feet 6 inches deep. The stylized dumpsters were made specifically for this project so they've never actually been used for trash. The Pool hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and they'll be open, with lifeguards, on each of the three Summer Streets Saturdays.