This section the covers the latest news you need to know about getting around New York City -- walking, taxis, subways, buses and (if you must,) driving.
Downtown Alliance’s 30 free bikes were used more than 7,000 times this past summer. There were “no thefts and no vandalism,” a spokesman told NewYorkology on Monday.
The free rentals were available in two-and-a-half-hour windows from May 13 through Sept. 30 through Bike and Roll. The catch was that you needed to provide a credit card, which would be billed for the bike if you never returned.
The program may return for summer 2010 if funds are available, a Downtown Alliance spokesman said.
Details on the 2009 Bike Around Downtown program:
- Approximately 7,612 bike reservations were made, an increase of 52 percent over 2008.
- 87 percent of riders were New York City residents; 4 percent were from New Jersey; 2 percent were from Long Island; and 1.2 percent were from California.
- Among the NYC residents 65 percent were Manhattan residents, including 46 percent from south of Chambers Street. Half of all participants described themselves as Downtown Workers.
Picture credit: Brooklyn Bridge bike lane. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
MTA slowdown possible today in union 'Day of Outrage'
New York City subways and buses today may not run as efficiently as usual (cough,) as MTA workers agitating for raises have called for a “Day of Outrage,” according to the Daily News and Post.
An MTA strike or slowdown is illegal, “but some signs are ominous,” the Post states, citing Transport Workers Union flyers urging its members to “give them a taste of hell.”
The union is demanding the MTA pay raises of about 11 percnt over three years, which was the determination set by an arbitration panel. However, the MTA said that number’s too high, according to the Daily News.
In December 2005, MTA workers walked off the job for three days, creating mass hassles due to a total shutdown of city buses and subways. A judge later fined the transit union and imposed other penalties.
Update at 3 p.m.: MTA Service Alert states: “All service running normally.” And at least anecdotally, there’s no strong evidence a slowdown is underway.
Now in its fifth year, Open House New York this weekend will open hundreds of sites for free tours, allowing the public to wander through cheese caves, a subway power station, the abandoned hospital buildings of Ellis Island, and into well-appointed private apartments, hotels and offices.
And while all the events are free, not all the sites are accesed with equal ease.
While there is a free printed OHNY guide (also available online in PDF) there have been many changes since its publication, including cancelations, new sites, and altered hours. Official updates can be found on the OHNYwebsite and its blog. (Yes, you need to go to three different locations to get a full list of changes.)
One weekend next month, Open House New York will again offer free access to hundreds of spaces that are usually off limits to the public. The full list isn’t yet public, but OHNY has leaked a few locations and many participating organizations have already offered details through their individual websites or newsletters.
The full list — which promises more than 350 tours, talks, workshops, performances and screenings — will include the Apollo Theater, the Atlantic Avenue train tunnel, an 1899 carriage house, the Thaw Conservation Center at the Morgan Library, Richard Meier’s “Model Museum,” and tours of the High Line and Standard Hotel.
In addition the new OHNY blog has offered a few sneak peeks at some locations, including the Murray’s Cheese cave, Newtown Wastewater Treatment Plant, the new Brooklyn Bridge Park construction, First Church of Christ Scientist on Central Park West, and Brooklyn Bowl.
Here’s a preview of more Open House NY events for Oct. 10 and 11, 2009:
NY400 delivers free orange bike rentals for downtown
As part of this week’s NY400 events, the Dutch have delivered a set of bright orange bikes that can be borrowed for free through Saturday evening.
The bikes can be picked up at the temporary New Amsterdam Village at Bowling Green Park (located just in front of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.)
The bikes are available up to four hours on a first-come, first-served basis from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last bikes rented at 5:30 p.m., according to the hand-written signs on site. (Printed material for NY400 Week incorrectly says the rentals will run until 7 p.m.) The bikes come in both adult and child size. (The child bikes are pictured above.)
In addition to the NY400 program, there are other free bike programs in the city. Governors Island offers free bikes every Friday through Oct. 9. The Downtown Alliance also offers free bike rentals daily through Sept. 30.
NY400 celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in what would become New York City.
Free Water Taxi rides to US Open from E. 35th Street
Sorry 7 train, but match point goes to the Powerade Zero ferry, which will be providing free rides to the U.S. Open next week.
Reservations are required for the ferries, which will run from Aug. 31 through Sept. 6. A New York Water Taxi — wrapped with a Venus Williams Powerade ad — will depart Manhattan from the East 35th Street Marina and land at the World’s Fair Marina with a bus connection directly to the tennis gates.
The ferry will make multiple trips each day, with the first Manhattan departure at 9:30 a.m. and the final World’s Fair Marina departure at 11:45 p.m., a NY Water Taxi spokesperson told NewYorkology today.
Ikea Water Taxi adds $5 weekday fee for non-shoppers
Starting Aug. 3, Ikea’s free Water Taxi between Wall Street and Brooklyn will start charging non-customers $5 per trip on weekdays only, a company spokesman today told NewYorkology.
All customers at Wall Street/Pier 11 will have to pay $5 to board the New York Water Taxi. (Children under 12 may ride for free.) Once in Red Hook, if you buy more than $10 of goods, that ferry fee will be deducted. (If you have more than one adult in your group the $5 fee will be deducted for every $10 spent, Ikea’s U.S. director of public affairs Joseph Roth said.) Shoppers heading back to Manhattan can avoid the $5 ferry fee simply by showing their receipt at the dock.
The ferries will remain free to everyone on the weekends and Ikea buses will remain free every day.
Riders will be able to pay with cash or credit card, though no multi-trips tickets (such as a commuter 10-pack) will be sold, a NY Water Taxi spokesperson told NewYorkology.
Free construction site tours of Brooklyn Bridge Park
The long lines of East River docks south of the Brooklyn Bridge are rapidly transforming into 85 acres of park space that will start opening by the end of this year, but the public can also get a sneak peak in August during free evening tours.
The reservation-required tours are scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday evenings throughout August. The dates: August 4, 11, 18, and 25. RSVP to jbatta@empire.state.ny.us or (212) 803-3138.
Picture credits: Pier 1 seen from Brooklyn Bridge; and Brooklyn Bridge Park site seen from Furman Street. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
New tech for NYC: subway hacks to cheap hotel maps
There’s an awful lot of newish gee-gaws out there with special features for heavy New York City users — and travelers. Here’s a roundup:
AcrossAir’s New York Nearest Subway application for iPhone (see video above) will show you which subway entrances are closest to your current location.
Another application, Exit Strategy NYC will tell you where to stand on the subway platform so that when you alight, you’ll be perfectly aligned with the station exit you need.
The New York Philharmonic has launched its own iPhone application that lets listen to music and podcasts — and buy tickets
Sirius XM Radio Inc has also launched a free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
LIRR, Metro-North take a step toward onboard wi-fi
NYCWireless brings word that the MTA has taken a step toward providing wireless Internet on the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroads and in stations.
The MTA has issued a RFEI (Request for Expressions of Interest) which makes no mention of “Free Wi-Fi” but “that’s to be expected as this type of service is both expensive to install and requires a lot of maintenance,” writes NYC Wireless, which has more details on its site.
