ascherer 

This morning my Orthopedist cleared me to ride following my January rotator cuff surgery. I left his office, grabbed a Citibike and rode to work. Season 47 is ON!

Skipjacks

Wow that looks crowded.

But way to kick that shoulder's ass and get back on the bike!

B4N4N4M4N

Is that Times Square? Because that's like, seriously empty looking for TS! Ride safely!

ascherer 

Times Square today at 9:30 AM. Any later and I wouldn't go near the place. I usually roll through at around 8:15 and it's pretty easy to get through then, but don't get in the way of the folks coming off the buses at Port Authority. They're cutthroat.

ascherer 

Thanks! Context is everything, that's pretty quiet for Time Square.

BobbyG

I hope you used hand sanitizer. Just kidding. Congrats on the clearance and so very cool that you could just hop on a bike share!

noglider 

I'm very happy for you!

@Skipjacks, Midtown Manhattan has always been crazy crowded, and now it's freaking insane. If I had an action camera and posted videos of my rides, you would cringe. And I am not, by far, the insanest rider.

Skipjacks

I drove through Manhatten once by mistake. (Took a wrong turn and ended up in the middle of Manhatten)

Nothing made sense. They had traffic cops directing traffic underneath working traffic lights. And all the cops were doing was directing everyone opposite of what the lights were (go on red, stop on green)

Heck walking through it is crowded and scary too! I don't think I'll try biking through it anytime soon.

noglider 

@Skipjacks That's so funny. The cop's job is to supercede traffic signals when they don't make sense for conditions. If the lights gave the optimal instructions, there would be no need for the cop. One street is too congested, so he instructs people to keep moving to clear the congestion, while the other street can afford to wait.

Yes, driving in Manhattan is supremely annoying. I don't understand people who prefer it over other modes, and yes, some do. After moving back to Manhattan, I was getting $400 in parking tickets a month. So of course, I sold my car.

Skipjacks

I know some people in Long Island who have 2 cars. One for driving in the city and one for driving everywhere that isn't an ongoing demolition derby.

noglider 

And in Buffalo, people have a winter car and a three-season car!

ascherer 

I fetched my commuter from winter storage and expect to start riding to work regularly this week. I actually like riding in the city! But if it makes y'all feel better here was my non-commute view from a ride on Saturday just north of the city:

rhm

Congratulations on being back in the saddle!

I don't ride through Times Square, but very near. Riding in Manhattan traffic is crazy, but it's much easier for me to ride in traffic than to walk on the sidewalks with all the tourists taking selfies. I've mentioned this before, but perhaps it's worth repeating myself again: most drivers in Manhattan are professionals. The only exception is the police, who are obviously driving as part of their job, but they have different priorities (and this makes them somewhat unpredictable as drivers). Everyone else (with few exceptions) is a professional driver, and pretty good at it. They know the rules and in my experience they treat one another pretty well, and are respectful of bicycles.

ThermionicScott 

I can think of a BFer who fits that description. Curious if it's one of the same you know.

Skipjacks

Mine isn't a BF'er and has never ridden a bike ever. So probably not the same person.

Unless I've been lied to for years....hmmm....

ascherer 

Thanks! Agreed; I find most NYC traffic to be reasonably predictable although Tom points out that it could be because it's our norm. I have the impression that many drivers have a shared interest in getting where they're headed without creating anything that will make them late.

noglider 

A very good point, though there are a few who don't seem to respect the fact that they could lose their licenses if they mess up. And they can. The fact does keep most of them driving competently for the most part. My worry is those who don't, because their financial incentives can let them forget that flattening a human's life isn't worth that extra fare you're competing for.