Re: Anyone ride through the 1st Ave tunnel by the UN?

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On Nov 6, 8:16 am, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
> For two years I've been going by the UN, but when the UN was in
> session a few weeks ago I went through the tunnel. I rode the right
> (eastern) tube. Very fast, mostly because I was scared shitless of
> being hit from behind by a car.

I don't know why people are so afraid of that. I suspect most car-
bicyclist problems do not occur from behind, odd as it might sound....

> I keep my blinkies on and go through after the light has turned red
> behind the tunnel, hoping that there won't be any cars when I'm in
> there. Near the end it widens and then it's ok.

It's a fun ride; the key is to catch the traffic lights just so (doing
it on the weekends helps, too, particularly early morning time) and
jet downhill and use that momentum to keep pedaling. So do not
attempt unless you will ride fast, at like ~20 mph. Otherwise, what's
the point? You'll just be a speed bump for cars. =)

Unfortunately, there's a big ol' hill right outside the entrance...but
if you'd gone through the street above ("UN Way" or something), you
could jet down the small decline right before that hill (being sure,
once again, to catch the lights just so) and go up a good 85% of it
for "free"....

On Nov 8, 12:30 pm, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com> wrote:
> On 2007-11-08, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>
> > On 08 Nov 2007 00:53:50 GMT, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com>
> > wrote:
> >>Just a data point ... I've been riding in NYC for near 30 years, and
> >>have been hit 6 times, 5 from behind (all during the day). 4 of those
> >>times while stopped at a red light. Once by a cop. (I've learned to
> >>look BEHIND while slowing for a light.)
>
> > The statistics are in. Ride at night. I think I am safer at night. I
> > have so many lights that driver slow down just to see what it is.
>
> > You're waiting at a light and got hit from behind four times? Someone
> > definitely stuck a "hit me" sign on your back.
>
> > That's another reason I never wait at lights.
>
> Both the cop and a cab driver said "but why did you stop, you're a
> bicycle". Seems expectations carry more weight than laws or common
> sense. I'm supposed to ride through heavy cross-street traffic?
> (The cop hit was on Lex at 72d, that cabbie on Third at 86th).


Wow, that's definitely one for the grand-kids!

I figured that getting hit from behind can't be as common as getting
hit from the side because drivers usually look ahead! The few times
I've gotten hit -- tapped, really -- was from the side, like drivers
trying to cut me off and such.

It's amazing we have such different experiences...I guess New York
really does have fourteen million different stories!

On Nov 8, 12:30 pm, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com> wrote:
> On 2007-11-08, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>
> > On 08 Nov 2007 00:53:50 GMT, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com>
> > wrote:
> >>Just a data point ... I've been riding in NYC for near 30 years, and
> >>have been hit 6 times, 5 from behind (all during the day). 4 of those
> >>times while stopped at a red light. Once by a cop. (I've learned to
> >>look BEHIND while slowing for a light.)
>
> > The statistics are in. Ride at night. I think I am safer at night. I
> > have so many lights that driver slow down just to see what it is.
>
> > You're waiting at a light and got hit from behind four times? Someone
> > definitely stuck a "hit me" sign on your back.
>
> > That's another reason I never wait at lights.
>
> Both the cop and a cab driver said "but why did you stop, you're a
> bicycle". Seems expectations carry more weight than laws or common
> sense. I'm supposed to ride through heavy cross-street traffic?
> (The cop hit was on Lex at 72d, that cabbie on Third at 86th).


Wow, that's definitely one for the grand-kids!

I figured that getting hit from behind can't be as common as getting
hit from the side because drivers usually look ahead! The few times
I've gotten hit -- tapped, really -- was from the side, like drivers
trying to cut me off and such.

It's amazing we have such different experiences...I guess New York
really does have fourteen million different stories!

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:57:51 -0800, Prisoner at War
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Nov 8, 12:30 pm, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com> wrote:
>> On 2007-11-08, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>>
>> > On 08 Nov 2007 00:53:50 GMT, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>Just a data point ... I've been riding in NYC for near 30 years, and
>> >>have been hit 6 times, 5 from behind (all during the day). 4 of those
>> >>times while stopped at a red light. Once by a cop. (I've learned to
>> >>look BEHIND while slowing for a light.)
>>
>> > The statistics are in. Ride at night. I think I am safer at night. I
>> > have so many lights that driver slow down just to see what it is.
>>
>> > You're waiting at a light and got hit from behind four times? Someone
>> > definitely stuck a "hit me" sign on your back.
>>
>> > That's another reason I never wait at lights.
>>
>> Both the cop and a cab driver said "but why did you stop, you're a
>> bicycle". Seems expectations carry more weight than laws or common
>> sense. I'm supposed to ride through heavy cross-street traffic?
>> (The cop hit was on Lex at 72d, that cabbie on Third at 86th).
>
>
>Wow, that's definitely one for the grand-kids!
>
>I figured that getting hit from behind can't be as common as getting
>hit from the side because drivers usually look ahead! The few times
>I've gotten hit -- tapped, really -- was from the side, like drivers
>trying to cut me off and such.
>
>It's amazing we have such different experiences...I guess New York
>really does have fourteen million different stories!

Really, that's pretty funny. I guess we're really not supposed to stop
for lights.

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:57:51 -0800, Prisoner at War
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Nov 8, 12:30 pm, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com> wrote:
>> On 2007-11-08, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>>
>> > On 08 Nov 2007 00:53:50 GMT, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>Just a data point ... I've been riding in NYC for near 30 years, and
>> >>have been hit 6 times, 5 from behind (all during the day). 4 of those
>> >>times while stopped at a red light. Once by a cop. (I've learned to
>> >>look BEHIND while slowing for a light.)
>>
>> > The statistics are in. Ride at night. I think I am safer at night. I
>> > have so many lights that driver slow down just to see what it is.
>>
>> > You're waiting at a light and got hit from behind four times? Someone
>> > definitely stuck a "hit me" sign on your back.
>>
>> > That's another reason I never wait at lights.
>>
>> Both the cop and a cab driver said "but why did you stop, you're a
>> bicycle". Seems expectations carry more weight than laws or common
>> sense. I'm supposed to ride through heavy cross-street traffic?
>> (The cop hit was on Lex at 72d, that cabbie on Third at 86th).
>
>
>Wow, that's definitely one for the grand-kids!
>
>I figured that getting hit from behind can't be as common as getting
>hit from the side because drivers usually look ahead! The few times
>I've gotten hit -- tapped, really -- was from the side, like drivers
>trying to cut me off and such.
>
>It's amazing we have such different experiences...I guess New York
>really does have fourteen million different stories!

Really, that's pretty funny. I guess we're really not supposed to stop
for lights.

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:57:51 -0800, Prisoner at War
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Nov 8, 12:30 pm, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com> wrote:
>> On 2007-11-08, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>>
>> > On 08 Nov 2007 00:53:50 GMT, Eric Schweitzer <er...@somewhere.rr.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>Just a data point ... I've been riding in NYC for near 30 years, and
>> >>have been hit 6 times, 5 from behind (all during the day). 4 of those
>> >>times while stopped at a red light. Once by a cop. (I've learned to
>> >>look BEHIND while slowing for a light.)
>>
>> > The statistics are in. Ride at night. I think I am safer at night. I
>> > have so many lights that driver slow down just to see what it is.
>>
>> > You're waiting at a light and got hit from behind four times? Someone
>> > definitely stuck a "hit me" sign on your back.
>>
>> > That's another reason I never wait at lights.
>>
>> Both the cop and a cab driver said "but why did you stop, you're a
>> bicycle". Seems expectations carry more weight than laws or common
>> sense. I'm supposed to ride through heavy cross-street traffic?
>> (The cop hit was on Lex at 72d, that cabbie on Third at 86th).
>
>
>Wow, that's definitely one for the grand-kids!
>
>I figured that getting hit from behind can't be as common as getting
>hit from the side because drivers usually look ahead! The few times
>I've gotten hit -- tapped, really -- was from the side, like drivers
>trying to cut me off and such.
>
>It's amazing we have such different experiences...I guess New York
>really does have fourteen million different stories!

Really, that's pretty funny. I guess we're really not supposed to stop
for lights.

Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>Watson!

Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?

The method you describe will result in a large number of near
sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.

--
Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>Watson!

Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?

The method you describe will result in a large number of near
sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.

--
Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>Watson!

Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?

The method you describe will result in a large number of near
sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.

--
Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

Well that is what I would have thought as well, however, I got hit doing
exactly what Steven says to do. Since I was on a trike and the driver behind
me was speeding up (we had just come through a green light), I was hurt
badly enough to basically put and end to my cycling.

If you don't live somewhere that has accomodated cyclists in a significant
way (such as Tucson or Seattle or Copenhagen) then I would stay off the
roads completely. I know that "giving up" like this is not a popular opinion
but the cars don't respect us at all.

Jeff
"Steven M. O'Neill" <steveo@panix.com> wrote in message
news:fh2co5$qru$1@reader1.panix.com...
> Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>>Watson!
>
> Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
> theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?
>
> The method you describe will result in a large number of near
> sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
> lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
> the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
> in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.
>
> --
> Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
> Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

Well that is what I would have thought as well, however, I got hit doing
exactly what Steven says to do. Since I was on a trike and the driver behind
me was speeding up (we had just come through a green light), I was hurt
badly enough to basically put and end to my cycling.

If you don't live somewhere that has accomodated cyclists in a significant
way (such as Tucson or Seattle or Copenhagen) then I would stay off the
roads completely. I know that "giving up" like this is not a popular opinion
but the cars don't respect us at all.

Jeff
"Steven M. O'Neill" <steveo@panix.com> wrote in message
news:fh2co5$qru$1@reader1.panix.com...
> Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>>Watson!
>
> Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
> theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?
>
> The method you describe will result in a large number of near
> sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
> lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
> the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
> in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.
>
> --
> Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
> Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

Well that is what I would have thought as well, however, I got hit doing
exactly what Steven says to do. Since I was on a trike and the driver behind
me was speeding up (we had just come through a green light), I was hurt
badly enough to basically put and end to my cycling.

If you don't live somewhere that has accomodated cyclists in a significant
way (such as Tucson or Seattle or Copenhagen) then I would stay off the
roads completely. I know that "giving up" like this is not a popular opinion
but the cars don't respect us at all.

Jeff
"Steven M. O'Neill" <steveo@panix.com> wrote in message
news:fh2co5$qru$1@reader1.panix.com...
> Edward Dolan <edolan@iw.net> wrote:
>>If you are riding in the lanes with motor vehicles in NYC it is just a
>>matter of time until you are hit. Ride in the street yes, but stay out of
>>the way of motor vehicles. In other words, get as far to the right as you
>>can, even if it means you are right next to the curb. Elementary, my dear
>>Watson!
>
> Have you tried riding a bike like this, or is this just some
> theory that you cooked up from behind the windshield?
>
> The method you describe will result in a large number of near
> sideswipes (or worse). If there's not enough room in a given
> lane for a car to safely pass, the cyclist is much safer taking
> the lane; drivers can see you better and are more likely to pass
> in the adjacent lane when it's safe to do so.
>
> --
> Steven O'Neill steveo@panix.com
> Brooklyn, NY http://www.panix.com/~steveo

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1194472414.786707.268090@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 6, 8:16 am, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>> For two years I've been going by the UN, but when the UN was in
>> session a few weeks ago I went through the tunnel. I rode the right
>> (eastern) tube. Very fast, mostly because I was scared shitless of
>> being hit from behind by a car.
>
> I don't know why people are so afraid of that. I suspect most car-
> bicyclist problems do not occur from behind, odd as it might sound....
>


Err, while it may be rare----it happens. I know because I was hit from
behind. It's a legitimate concern.

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1194472414.786707.268090@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 6, 8:16 am, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>> For two years I've been going by the UN, but when the UN was in
>> session a few weeks ago I went through the tunnel. I rode the right
>> (eastern) tube. Very fast, mostly because I was scared shitless of
>> being hit from behind by a car.
>
> I don't know why people are so afraid of that. I suspect most car-
> bicyclist problems do not occur from behind, odd as it might sound....
>


Err, while it may be rare----it happens. I know because I was hit from
behind. It's a legitimate concern.

"Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1194472414.786707.268090@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 6, 8:16 am, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
>> For two years I've been going by the UN, but when the UN was in
>> session a few weeks ago I went through the tunnel. I rode the right
>> (eastern) tube. Very fast, mostly because I was scared shitless of
>> being hit from behind by a car.
>
> I don't know why people are so afraid of that. I suspect most car-
> bicyclist problems do not occur from behind, odd as it might sound....
>


Err, while it may be rare----it happens. I know because I was hit from
behind. It's a legitimate concern.

"Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
news:JM2dnS7ApLu-dananZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@prairiewave.com...
>
> ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS!
>

It's very interesting that you should say that again. I have joined a Yahoo
newsgroup where top posting is pretty much the way it is done. Everyone
seems to top post all the time. I don't think that they are all idiots but
you never can tell.

> Any progress being made on your various infirmities from your trike
> accident? Enough time has now passed so that you should be getting a fix
> on what your prospects are.

Well since you asked,

I have decided not to have back surgery for pain. I've talked to many people
that have had it and nobody has had just one. I don't want to start down a
road of surgery after surgery. All the people I've talked to (about 4) say
the same thing. The surgery works for a while and then the pain returns.

But I thought that I had to do something so last month I had a gastric
bypass. I expect that over the next year or so I'll take off the 100 or so
extra pounds that I'm carrying (I'm down over 20 already). My pain doc says
that every pound
I take off is like taking 3 off my back.

It is unclear if I will be able to cycle again and enjoy it. There are some
physical problems on my right side that make cycling unpleasent after a
while. When I think about trying to cycle again I'm going to need to find a
pedal system that lets me press with my heel instead of my toe. That will
allow me to avoid the unpleasent stuff.

So the future is still a bit unclear. The weight loss could have a major
effect on a lot of things and I've only just begun that.

>
> Wishing you the best as always,
>

Thank you sir for your good wishes and concern. As always, I too wish you
all the best.

Jeff

"Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
news:JM2dnS7ApLu-dananZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@prairiewave.com...
>
> ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS!
>

It's very interesting that you should say that again. I have joined a Yahoo
newsgroup where top posting is pretty much the way it is done. Everyone
seems to top post all the time. I don't think that they are all idiots but
you never can tell.

> Any progress being made on your various infirmities from your trike
> accident? Enough time has now passed so that you should be getting a fix
> on what your prospects are.

Well since you asked,

I have decided not to have back surgery for pain. I've talked to many people
that have had it and nobody has had just one. I don't want to start down a
road of surgery after surgery. All the people I've talked to (about 4) say
the same thing. The surgery works for a while and then the pain returns.

But I thought that I had to do something so last month I had a gastric
bypass. I expect that over the next year or so I'll take off the 100 or so
extra pounds that I'm carrying (I'm down over 20 already). My pain doc says
that every pound
I take off is like taking 3 off my back.

It is unclear if I will be able to cycle again and enjoy it. There are some
physical problems on my right side that make cycling unpleasent after a
while. When I think about trying to cycle again I'm going to need to find a
pedal system that lets me press with my heel instead of my toe. That will
allow me to avoid the unpleasent stuff.

So the future is still a bit unclear. The weight loss could have a major
effect on a lot of things and I've only just begun that.

>
> Wishing you the best as always,
>

Thank you sir for your good wishes and concern. As always, I too wish you
all the best.

Jeff

"Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
news:JM2dnS7ApLu-dananZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@prairiewave.com...
>
> ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS!
>

It's very interesting that you should say that again. I have joined a Yahoo
newsgroup where top posting is pretty much the way it is done. Everyone
seems to top post all the time. I don't think that they are all idiots but
you never can tell.

> Any progress being made on your various infirmities from your trike
> accident? Enough time has now passed so that you should be getting a fix
> on what your prospects are.

Well since you asked,

I have decided not to have back surgery for pain. I've talked to many people
that have had it and nobody has had just one. I don't want to start down a
road of surgery after surgery. All the people I've talked to (about 4) say
the same thing. The surgery works for a while and then the pain returns.

But I thought that I had to do something so last month I had a gastric
bypass. I expect that over the next year or so I'll take off the 100 or so
extra pounds that I'm carrying (I'm down over 20 already). My pain doc says
that every pound
I take off is like taking 3 off my back.

It is unclear if I will be able to cycle again and enjoy it. There are some
physical problems on my right side that make cycling unpleasent after a
while. When I think about trying to cycle again I'm going to need to find a
pedal system that lets me press with my heel instead of my toe. That will
allow me to avoid the unpleasent stuff.

So the future is still a bit unclear. The weight loss could have a major
effect on a lot of things and I've only just begun that.

>
> Wishing you the best as always,
>

Thank you sir for your good wishes and concern. As always, I too wish you
all the best.

Jeff

Jeff Grippe wrote:
> "Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
> news:JM2dnS7ApLu-dananZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@prairiewave.com...
>>
>> ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS!
>>
>
> It's very interesting that you should say that again. I have joined a
> Yahoo newsgroup where top posting is pretty much the way it is done.
> Everyone seems to top post all the time. I don't think that they are
> all idiots but you never can tell.

Is it truly a "newsgroup" like this (Usenet) or one of many "Yahoo! Groups"
like our local mountain biking list? Almost every member top-replies on
that, too, because it's e-mail based for most and even the online version
just puts the latest post at the top.

The reason top-posting is stupid on a /newsgroup/ is mainly because it's
"threaded", not individual messages.

Bill "if all else fails, ask Michael Press" S.

Jeff Grippe wrote:
> "Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net> wrote in message
> news:JM2dnS7ApLu-dananZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@prairiewave.com...
>>
>> ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS!
>>
>
> It's very interesting that you should say that again. I have joined a
> Yahoo newsgroup where top posting is pretty much the way it is done.
> Everyone seems to top post all the time. I don't think that they are
> all idiots but you never can tell.

Is it truly a "newsgroup" like this (Usenet) or one of many "Yahoo! Groups"
like our local mountain biking list? Almost every member top-replies on
that, too, because it's e-mail based for most and even the online version
just puts the latest post at the top.

The reason top-posting is stupid on a /newsgroup/ is mainly because it's
"threaded", not individual messages.

Bill "if all else fails, ask Michael Press" S.