Alex Hallatt 5/25/24 Alex Hallatt 5/25/24

Biking Around NYC is Much Easier Than Cycling Around New Zealand

New Zealand drivers are terrible. I obey the road rules, but I’ve been cut up, sworn at (for just being on a road in Christchurch) and had too many near misses to mention. Unfortunately, most rate payers see more value in building a multi-million dollar sports stadium that will be used on occasion, than bike lanes that will revolutionise many people’s day to day commutes, cut carbon and attract families back into the saddle.

New York City shows you what can happen when you retrofit decent cycling infrastructure. There was practically none when I lived in the area in the early 90s. Now it is everywhere and so are cyclists. Which means drivers are more aware of them and it is safer to ride there. I used the Citi Bike share scheme (the pushbikes, though you can hire electric ones) and it was a delight.

It was delightful to bike along streets like this in Brooklyn

Though the ghost cycles remind you that there are accidents as with all modes of transport

Biking was the best way to get to meet my new cartooning buddy, Dean Haspiel, over in Red Hook (also the name of his ace comic)

I’d never seen these in New Zealand. It doesn’t get that cold

You notice more on a bike. Like these covered outdoor areas for restaurants, which are a Covid legacy.

Biking over the Brooklyn Bridge is the best way to go.

Sometimes the hardest thing about hiring a Citibike is finding a park. There was just one spot near the ferry terminal at DUMBO

I never felt unsafe, even in the busiest parts of the city.

Nearly as popular as bikes: dogs (pictured) and dope (smelt)

Cycling along the Hudson River was a dream

My final destination before I took the subway to JFK: King Features at Hearst Tower

Alex Hallatt 5/9/19 Alex Hallatt 5/9/19

Living in New Zealand: Cycling From the Sea to the City Along the Avon, Christchurch

We now have a bike rack for Gertie, so headed over to North Beach, Brighton to do the Avon Trail, which follows the River Avon through the Red Zone and into the city.

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I was a bit jealous of the paddleboarders

Click to see the interactive map on the Christchurch City Council website

We still don’t know what is happening to the Red Zone. It has been 8 years since the earthquakes and the only sign of the demolished houses now is the exotic shrubs and the disappearing driveways.

This is part of the “munted” Medway bridge that was twisted in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake

Christchurch has become a much better place to cycle post-earthquake and the city is really starting to come alive again as the last of the big buildings are being demolished and rebuilt.

It took us about an hour and a quarter to cycle into the city. We were going to get the bus back out, but we enjoyed the ride so much we cycled back along the river instead.