It’s Friday, which suggests the primary work week in New York Metropolis with congestion pricing is formally drawing to an in depth. So how’s it trying to this point? Effectively, it appears to be trying good…relying on the place you’re going and who you ask:
I’ve been skeptical that congestion pricing will work in a metropolis the place folks already flood the streets with automobiles regardless of the numerous tolls and crushing site visitors and excessive insurance coverage prices and parking complications all the remainder of it, however I’m very happy to be confirmed improper, so I’ll be watching with curiosity–although admittedly I spend little or no time contained in the congestion zone as of late, so I don’t understand how a lot I’ll be seeing firsthand. For awhile there I used to be commuting by bike to and from Brooklyn twice per week, which did take me proper by means of the congestion zone:
[Not Brooklyn, and not inside the congestion zone.]
Effectively, I’m nonetheless commuting to Brooklyn twice per week (sure, I’ve a complete second life nothing about, and whereas I can’t inform you something about it, I’ll neither affirm nor deny rumors that I’m an in-demand beauty surgeon), however I confess I gave up doing it by bike. So why is that? Is it as a result of I’m a “woosie?”
Effectively, yeah, I’m undoubtedly a “woosie,” however that’s not likely why. Finally, I simply couldn’t get round the truth that a 35-mile (kind of) spherical journey between the Bronx and Brooklyn most likely price me no less than an extra hour a day over the subway. I imply I might most likely beat the subway if I commuted on a race bike in stretchy garments, however then I’d have to alter and all that stuff, which might completely negate any time-savings:
Additionally, as I’ve most likely talked about, whereas I get pleasure from using bicycles as a lot or greater than absolutely anything else on this planet, I additionally like studying, which is hard to do on a motorcycle. By the best way, I requested the AI to create a picture of “Bike Snob NYC Studying A Ebook Whereas Driving A Rivendell Bicycle In New York Metropolis” and right here’s what it got here up with:
It actually nailed it this time, and I for one welcome our new pc overlords.
Anyway, using a motorcycle is nice, however sitting in your ass and studying can be fairly good, too, and now that I’m a subway commuter I’m studying greater than I’ve in years. After all the plastic seat of a subway isn’t probably the most nice place to take a seat in your ass, and when it’s freezing out prefer it has been this week the subway is full of much more raving lunatics than it normally is, however general I’m saving time and studying stuff I wouldn’t have an opportunity to in any other case so it’s a fairly good commerce. And whereas I’ll spare you the rant about the whole lot that’s improper with the subway, I do think about myself a subway fan. Astute readers might even have seen my transit-themed Christmas sweater in my current YouTube cameo:
Nerdy sufficient for you?
[My wife picked it out, but still.]
I additionally completely do the Vacation Nostalgia Rides:
Although the group it attracts may be mildly disconcerting. For those who assume bike persons are dorky, practice folks make bike folks seem like a bunch of A-list celebrities. They’re like that bizarre child Ralphie meets in “A Christmas Story” after they’re ready on line to fulfill Santa:
So will congestion pricing profit my even nerdier straphanging alter ego? Possibly so. Within the quick time period I feel the easiest way to enhance the subway system could be to shoot individuals who don’t use headphones. However I’ll attempt to maintain an open thoughts.
Happily, life in New York Metropolis isn’t all cramming your self into subway automobiles, and you may as well set your self up fairly good for using if what you’re doing:
And I do know what I’m doing:
So now that I’ve acquired the Roadini, do I nonetheless even want the very similarly-named Roaduno?
Frankly, I resent the query. I imply have a look at this! How might I not have a Roaduno?
I admit I did discover myself considering of turning it again into an precise singlespeed now that I’ve acquired the Roadini, however the singlespeed/triplespeed actually is the most effective of each worlds:
Okay, I do know what you’re considering:
However we’ve already established I’m “woosie.” And with a 17-tooth cog within the again and that 42/32/20 MicroDrive up entrance I’m lined for just about the whole lot:
And but, it nonetheless satisfies that singlespeed craving a few of us can by no means fairly shake. Clearly some folks don’t care about singlespeeds and don’t need them. However in case you are a singlespeed particular person, and also you’re fully trustworthy with your self, you’ll admit that that is the way it works:
- It’s important to have a singlespeed
- You’re keen on using your singlespeed a lot you begin wishing it had gears
- You promote your singlespeed and get one thing else
- You miss having a singlespeed so that you get one other one and the method begins anew
However by satisfying each the singlespeed and geared craving without delay, the Roaduno places an finish to this vicious cycle as soon as and for all:
It’s important for my psychological well being.