Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bicycle and newyork

Used NYC Bike

jckll — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:59:11 -0800

Help me buy a (probably used) bicycle in NYC. I've decided that I want to buy a bicycle in the next couple weeks. I used to bike a lot as a kid but haven't biked more than a day here and a day there in probably 8 years (mid 20s).

I will use it mostly on roads/bike paths, so I think a Mountain Bike is out. Still torn between a road and a hybrid. I may use it for commuting but that's not my goal at the moment. More leisure/exercise rides, errands, etc. But not ruling out commuting either.

I'm about 5'11"/165Lbs so more or less "standard" body type. Pretty athletic, no health problems to speak of. I'm looking at used just because I don't have $700 to spend on a bike. I would like to go into a bike shop if possible so that I can ride a bunch of different styles/brands/models before I choose, but it seems that not a ton of NYC bike shops do the used thing(?)

I've looked into (read: researched on the internet) Recycle A Bike, GreatUsedBikes, and of course CL. Anyone have any recommendations for a B&M store that will let me ride around some bikes and can sell me a good one for $300-$400 or so? Or am I going to have to go into a bike shop, act like I'm going to spend $800, and then bail to look for a similar used bike elsewhere? That seems like bad juju...

Any NYC-centric biking tips or suggestions are also welcome.

(I've been reading Ask MeFi about bikes and NYC biking all day, so please don't just link me to another thread. Chances are I've read it!)

Pleading traffic tickets online in New York?

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:44:28 -0800

How can I plead my New York State traffic ticket online if the system does not recognize me? And: is this a smart idea in my circumstances? Yes, I realize that this is not legal advice. I'm trying to pay NY State traffic ticket online at http://www.nysdmv.com/eplead.htm and it isn't recognizing me in the system (13 days after the ticket was issued; I've been hoping it was just an issue of the ticket not being in the system). I want to plead "not guilty" as it's a ticket for "failure to keep right" on my bicycle as I was moving from the left side of a street to its right side. I'd prefer not to plead by mail, as my understanding is that this requires a court date, whereas pleading on-line may not require a date in court. Does anyone have any relevant experience with the NYS DMV's online pleading system?

For what it's worth, the officer miswrote the state of my driver's license (he listed Washington State, but my license is from the District of Columbia). I would just pay the damn thing if it were under $50 but it looks like it's going to be $120 ($40 fee + $60 surcharge + $20 sur-surcharge) plus two points on my license, which I really don't agree with.

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

How can my bike survive NYC?

hooray — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:10:09 -0800

How do I make my bike less attractive to thieves? (Plus, other NYC biking questions.) Someone just gave me a great bike. It's shiny, red, has front suspension and is very eye-catching. The problem is, I live in New York.

I've been keeping it in my apartment, but eventually I'm going to want to lock it outside. I got skewer locks for the wheels (this kind), but they still make me nervous. Has anyone had these locks, and do you think they are worth it? I also have to buy a bike chain lock, though I'm tempted to get thisKryptonite New York U-Lock instead. Is this a bad idea?

I also want to disguise the decals all over the tube, but what's the best way to go about this? Stickers? Paint? Tape? Something else?

Lastly, I'd appreciate any tips on how to brave the car traffic here. All the drivers here freak me out.