Wheels Up: BikeNYC.org Helps You Celebrate Bike Month

May is Bike Month, and while it might be more than half over, there's still plenty of cycling goodness left to go around. We recommend Transportation Alternative's BikeNYC.org, which is brimming with useful information about city cycling, including a daily calendar of bike-related events.

Today, for example was Bike to Work Day, and this weekend you can check out the NYC Bike Expo at Penn Pavilion, the Brooklyn Bike Jumble in Park Slop and lots more. The site also offers some handy tips and tempting deals for NYC's bike-lovers, as well as an interactive map to help you safely pedal your way around the city and a link to Transportation Alternative's directory of bike-friendly businesses.

Of course you can also get your Bike Month fix right here at 3rd Ward. Sign up for our Basic Bicycle Mechanics class to get to know your ride, then get to know it even better in Intermediate Bicycle Mechanics. Or learn to build your own Badass Bike Light!

-- John Ruscher

Bike Safe: Pick Up The NYC Bike Accident Report Card Right Here At 3rd Ward

In January we told you about the Bicyclist's Accident Report Card, a compact, well-designed card with visual diagrams demonstrating bike-related laws as well as a form reminding cyclists what information they should collect following an accident.

We also told you that, while Boston and California cards were already completed, a NYC edition was still in the works. Now we're thrilled to say that not only is the NYC edition finished, but you can pick one up right here at 3rd Ward.

Tee NYC Bike Accident Report Card is printed and distributed by NYC art collective Article, whose other projects include releases from Brooklyn bands like and Japanther and Ninjasonik. If you snag something from their online store and you're in the New York area, they'll throw in a card with your purchase.

Article also kindly dropped some cards off at 3rd Ward, and they're ready to slip into your pocket or wallet. Stop by and get yours!

-- John Ruscher

Chronicled Dissolution: 365 Days In The Life Of A New York City Bicycle

We've all seen those sad, abandoned bicycle frames still chained to a street sign or bike rack. Wheels, seat, handle bars and chain, all gone—everything pilfered, leaving just a lonely rusting triangle of metal. It's hard to imagine that what remains was once a fully-equipped bike that someone pedaled around the city.

Though this video from Red Peak Branding can give you an idea of how a bicycle arrives in such a state. On January 1, 2011 the design firm chained a bike with bells, basket, lights, a water bottle and more on a street in Soho and took a photo of it each day of the year. The bike seems to survive a little over 200 days without too much damage or theft, but its state deteriorates pretty quickly after the basket vanishes on day 212. By day 231 its seat is gone, by day 242 it has lost its rear wheel rack, and around day 251 someone walks off with the front wheel. The rest of the bike vanishes forever on day 270, leaving you with a bit of existential ennui as other bikes come and go for the remainder of the year.

If you'd like to follow the bike's sad demise in real time, Red Peak also created a daily calendar out of their photos. We hope the bicycles in NYC's Bike Share program, which is scheduled to launch this summer, fair better than this poor maroon ride:

-- John Ruscher

Wheels Up // Stay Safe And Know Your Rights As A NYC Cyclist

The NYC edition of the Bicyclist's Accident Report is in the works.Since cycling-related accidents are a serious problem in New York and many of you rely on bikes to make your way around the city, the Bicyclist’s Accident Report caught our eye right away.

The brainchild of Boston lawyer Josh Zisson, who specializes in bike law, and graphic designer Tim Jacques, this simple, well-designed card provides urban cyclists with visual diagrams demonstrating their rights and bike-related laws, as well as a form to remind them what information they should collect following an accident.

"My plan for the cards is to have a version in every state and every major biking city, along with a localized version of the Bike Safe Boston website that the cards will refer people to," Zisson says in his description of the project.

His goal is not only to help educate people about local laws and cycling rights, but also to help connect cyclists with lawyers who are experienced in bike law. "Too many people in the biking community have no way of knowing whether a lawyer is any good or not, so they end up going with the first one who finds their police report and sends them a letter," he says.

The Boston and California editions have already been printed and distributed, and the NYC edition is in the works.

Get your Biking Rules handbook here.That card isn't the only way to stay safe and informed, though. The fine folks at Transportations Alternatives have their own terrific site, Biking Rules, which provides heaps of helpful information for cyclists, including a list of "cycle savvy lawyers," rights and laws related to NYC cycling, a Biking Rules Street Code, a handbook that you can download for free in English, Spanish or Chinese, and a free badge to declare your support for safe cycling in NYC.

Now you've got all of the information you could possibly need. Strap on that helmet, cycle smart and stay safe.

-- John Ruscher

WHEELS UP // Biking The Length Of Broadway + Win A Ride By Helping Out Transportation Alternatives

Have you every biked the entire length of Broadway? That's OK, we haven't come close either.

But thanks to the folks at Buzzfeed you can experience that 13-mile ride without worrying about all of the wayward pedestrians and crazy cabbies along the way. Broadway runs from the northern tip of the island in Inwood all the way down to Bowling Green, and this time-lapses video covers the whole route, slowing down to point out notable landmarks along the way. Girl Talk's "Every Day" provides a fitting mash-up soundtrack for the trip. We particularly like the moment when John Lennon's "Imagine" kicks in around Midtown.

Speaking of bike-related marathons, the great cycling advocates at Transportation Alternatives are currently in the home stretch of their year-end fundraising campaign. If they raise $600,000 by the end of the year, a local foundation has promised to match that with an additional $600,000. They're 75 percent of the way to their goal (we'd say that's somewhere around Times Square if you're comparing it to a north-south Broadway run) and they've thrown in an extra incentive for would-be supporters. Donate now and you'll be entered to win a Jamis Commuter 4 bike. Then you'll be all set for your own Manhattan-spanning excursion (or for any less-ambitious, but still relatively-high-octane urban pedaling.)

-- John Ruscher

WHEELS UP // London Designer Katy Beveridge's Zoetrope Bicycle Animations

We couldn't resist sharing this video, as it combines so many things that we love: bikes, ingenuity, design, DIY craftwork and more. For a dissertation project at the renowned Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London designer and illustrator Katy Beveridge created some amazing zoetrope animations mounted on bike wheels.

As the wheels spin, the images come to life, and Beveridge's animations become more complex and eye-popping as the video progresses. "This is a piece created to question whether it was possible to film animation in realtime," Beveridge says in her description of the video. She also refers to animators who have created similar work, such as Jim Le Fevre and Tim Wheatley. And, as if the visuals weren't awesome enough, the soundtrack remixes bike sounds from the filming of the video.

So who's gonna be the first person to try this with a 3rd Ward ride?

-- John Ruscher

WHEELS UP // Preview: NYC Bike Share, Coming Summer 2012

A bike share demonstration at Union Square

On a recent stroll through Union Square, we were excited to stumble upon one of the demonstrations for the New York City Bike Share program, which is scheduled to launch next summer.

Implemented by Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share, which also runs programs like Washington D.C.'s Capital Bikeshare, Boston's Hubway and the Melbourne Bike Share, New York's program will become the biggest in the U.S., which 10,000 bikes and more than 600 stations. And it won't cost NYC or taxpayers a dime.  It'll be entirely funded by private sponsorships and membership fees, which will set you back less than the cost of a monthly MetroCard...for a full year of cycling goodness.

When we first heard about the bike share, we had a few questions, but the program answers them all:

What about helmets? For obvious reasons, there won't be a helmet-sharing program, but the NYC Department of Transportation has been giving out free official NYC helmets since 2007, and memberships will also include discount coupons on helmets at local bike shops.

What about theft? It hasn't been a problem for other programs. During a year of London's 6,000-bike program, only 15 bikes weren't returned within 24 hours, and most of those turned up later. An embedded GPS system will also help track down stolen or lost bikes.

How will you know if bikes are available? With an app, of course! Mobile apps will point you toward the nearest bike station and let you know if wheels are available.

Where are those 600 stations going to go? The program is asking you to help decide. You can suggest a location or vote for one that's already been suggested on the New York City Bike Share website. 3rd Ward already has 10 votes—help us get more!

Want to test out a bike? See a list of upcoming bike share demonstrations after the jump.

Upcoming New York City Bike Share demonstrations:

October 11: Hudson River Greenway, 11am-3pm

October 14: Tompkins Square Park, 3-7pm

October 15: Brooklyn Bridge Park, 11am-3pm

October 16: Washington Market Park, noon-4pm

October 24: Washington Square Park, 11am-3pm

-- John Ruscher

WHEELS UP // Help Fearless Cyclists Get to Italy for Red Hook Crit Milano

Red Hook Crit 2011. Photo: Ed Glazar

Want to help some of the U.S.' most unflinching cyclists tear up the streets in Italy?

The Red Hook Criterium is a super-intense, highly competitive, unsanctioned street race that takes place each year on a cold, dark night in Red Hook, attracting a hoard of daring, world-class cyclists (as well as some great photographers). Last year the race expanded to Italy for the inaugural Red Hook Crit Milano, in which Spain's Jon Ander Ortuondo narrowly edged out Colorado's Neil Bezdek in a dramatic finish.

On October 15th RHC is headed back to the streets of Milan for another international showdown, and they need financial support to help send six of their best cyclists back across the pond. Donate $100 or more and you can snag a Red Hook Crit t-shirt and signed poster.

If you're on the fence about chipping in, hit the jump for some inspirational words from a few of the competitors seeking your support. We've also included a must-watch video of last year's RHC Milano—experience its nail-biting finish in slow motion.

Kacey Manderfield (Trexlertown, PA - 1st RHC 2008, 4th RHC Milano 2010) on the Red Hook Crit:

The Red Hook Crit is like the awesome eccentric old man of bike racing—brought back to life by a young man's idea. It mixes all levels and abilities together and there is a bond between all—we all strive to be the most dominant, smooth, surreal power of the night as we navigate corner after corner with graffiti covered walls screaming by us as if they are the ones moving.

Al Barouh (Brooklyn, NY - 3rd RHC 2010, 3rd RHC 2011, 6th in RHC Milano 2010) on what he'll do in Italy:

I would race aggressively, yet cleverly, with passion and gusto. As a representative of my sponsor on an international level, I would strive to be a kind, respectful and gracious competitor and guest.

John Kniesly (Brooklyn, NY - 2nd RHC 2010, 5th RHC Milano 2010) on racing in a foreign country:

There is a series of unknowns that needs to be analyzed and accounted for when racing in a foreign locale, most of them presenting themselves while the rider hurtles along at 30 miles per hour.

-- John Ruscher