The Great Karmic Wheel

It's been a great year for cycling in NYC. Miles of protected lanes, miles of marked lanes. New paths in the South Bronx (near Soundview) and great riding over at Randall's Island not to mention the successful implementation of bike share.

With these new lanes and a new willingness of more citizens to try bicycling in the city, it is our responsibility to be more polite and thoughtful than ever.

It's a selfish interest really.


But is is also the right thing to do.


Why is it selfish?  We want people to support cycling and cyclists, not hate it and them. That means being respectful of joggers, walkers, and motorists too.

I don't know about you, but I get apoplexy watching motorists run red lights. And they are usually speeding. But guess what? Pedestrians feel the same way about cyclists who act irresponsibly. And they are right in thinking that. None of us has the right to endanger others, make them feel unsteady or create a dangerous situation.

Last year my father died at age 91. He was a gentle and loving man. One of his hallmarks was how polite he was. When confronted with a difficult situation or person, he almost always chose to yield. And to yield with grace and dignity. He wasn't always right for yielding, but that was his way. It defined how he saw his obligation to other people - - to respect their place in the world - - regardless if it interupted his place. I didn't always agree with him. But as I grow older (and hopefully wiser) I have begun to realize what a better place the world would be if we learned to yield with grace and dignity when confronted with behavior that is rude or obnoxious. It becomes an editorial for you to show others how they should behave. It is your lesson to them.




So have fun out there. Enjoy the ride. And above all be civil. You will get your karmic payback, of this I am sure.

Thank you Janette Sadik-Khan and Transportation Alternatives

We are lucky to have people who are dedicated to making NYC a livable place for humans.  That means air that is breathable, and the ability to travel around safely by foot and pedal power.

It wasn’t always so. Thank you to Janette Sadik-Khan for her intense commitment to public service. And to Paul Steely White for his unrelenting focus on making it better.

I feel fortunate to have people like you making all our lives better!

Be safe

Whenever I cycle by Dr. Nacht’s ghost bike I blow him a kiss. But this story in Reclaim magazine made my heart so very sad.

http://www.transalt.org/newsroom/magazine/2013/Spring/10

Who Inspires You?

Who Inspires You?

When I moved to NYC six years ago I was obsessive about cycling in Central Park every single weekday morning before 7am. In going around a 6.2 mile loop every day you begin to recognize certain daily joggers (who generally run in the direction towards cyclists so they can avoid being hit). I started giving them nicknames for my own distracting amusement. There was Stroke Man (whose face and spastic arm told his story), The Troll (no explanation necessary), Muscles Hot Pants (a bit too articulated) and Butterscotch.

There was something about Butterscotch’s medium length light brown hair and yellowish/tan complexion that just reminded me of a piece of butterscotch candy. She was stick thin, but not in an anorexic way. And she had a slight but perceptibly strange gait, like she was in just a bit of pain and dragging her legs along with her. But regardless of the weather or the season, she was out there - - every day - - even (I deduced) when I was not.

I began looking forward to seeing her and would always wonder which part of the loop would she appear. I always wanted to talk to her - - to tell her how much I admired her dedication to running and how I thought she looked sweet. But I did not as I assumed she would think I was a weirdo or worse yet, a stalker.

This past week, after not having cycled in the park for months,  I spied her. But this time she was running in the same direction as the cyclists and as I came up next to her on an incline I slowed down to make sure it was really her (having never seen her from behind before).  Indeed it was Butterscotch, although her gait and the way she dragged her right leg seemed even more pronounced than I remembered.

I slowed to her pace, came beside her and gathered the courage to blurt out “I just want you to know you really inspire me. I see you out here constantly and I really admire you for your dedication”. She did not hesitate a second and yelled back “I run like this because I have multiple sclerosis.” To which I replied, “Oh. Well I just wanted you to know you are an inspiration to me” and I waved and pedaled away.

Some believe we all wear our burdens on our sleeves for all  to see. Sometimes we keep them inside. Sometimes we blurt them out. Here was a person who received a compliment from a stranger and the felt the need to tell said stranger about her medical condition. She assumed that I said what I said because she thought her malady was obvious to all. But all I saw was a dedicated runner - - fierce and devoted and pushing through pain. I had no idea she had MS. Nor did it matter to me.  But to her it was a billboard.

Perhaps the next time I see her I will let her know that her ability to inspire others is the only thing visible.

Who inspires you? Who do you inspire?

How is riding a 100 miles on a bicycle like running an innovation company?

A few weeks back I achieved the bicyclists version of a runner’s marathon: the century ride - - 100 miles in one day.  As I rode I began to realize what a powerful metaphor it was for my business, innovation, and so its achievement became even more powerful for me.

Here’s why:

A specific goal to achieve was established.
Without goals people, like businesses, tend to drift from one event or crisis to another. Does it often seem that life has no plan because you always have to attend to what is directly in front of you?  Having a goal that is tangible as well as a stretch is a way of giving context to chaos, meaning to mush, and focus to action.  I think those are all good things in our life and especially in the innovation business.

I envisioned the outcome weeks before the ride date.
The most successful visionaries can see, feel and taste the outcome of what they want to accomplish. You internalize your vision. “What will I feel like when I cross the finish line?” Making that feeling real helps you push through the months of training. In innovation we are often working on projects that are undefined and vague but envisioning the outcome keeps us working even when things seem completely undefined.

Failure was not an option.
The fact that I told EVERYONE I KNEW about my ride  meant that, short of being hit by a bus, I had to finish. How embarrassing otherwise. And so failure was not allowed. This mental state means you push through no matter what. Bring that same attitude to an innovation challenge or any business challenge and you get it done.

Doing good while doing well.
A life well-lived is one with a virtuous cycle (no pun): we know what we do, how we do it and why we do it. It is the why that many in commerce struggle with. The why must have a higher purpose - - something that gives back and makes the world better. When we have no “why” we usually are just going through the motions. My “why” was about being green; I think everyone should ride a bicycle if they have the opportunity to use it as a replacement for a fossil fuel trip. The world would be better. Your body would be better. Your mind would be clearer. You get the picture.

I got to be in my dream state.
Dreaming, whether you are awake or asleep, is often where we find our best inspiration and solve tough problems. For me, the act of bicycling produces a heady dream-like state of mind. I begin to think about my toughest problems and often solve them on my bicycle. I carry a pen to scribble and a Blackberry to tap. Innovation requires a dream state. Bicycling and innovation are made for each other.

I began to believe I had the power to accomplish anything.
Something changes in us when we accomplish great things. We understand what it is like to win, to achieve, and to conquer our fears and anxieties. Professional athletes know this feeling well. And business people know it as well. Success brings more success. Once you know what it feels like you want it again and again and you begin to know what to do to get there.

On ride day I never checked the distance covered or average speed or how long it was taking. I usually fixate on those things when I train. Instead I “enjoyed the journey” and lived in the moment all while achieving a tough goal. In the achievement of our life goals, time is the only barometer we have to measure success. The distance covered or goals achieved are simply the outgrowh of how we chose to use the precious time we have. 

Happy cycling.

Janette Sadik-Khan for King/Queen of the Universe!

This is Cindy. I ran into her when I was cycling over to the West Side of Manhattan a few weeks back. I had to stop abruptly because the ramp directly behind her that runs down to the Greenway on the Hudson was shut. Big sinkhole. No big deal for me. I found another way there.  But for Cindy it meant no enjoying the day on the river path. But she was so laid back about it. She had a great attitude. It gave me gratitude for my blessings.

When I got home I sent a note to our Department of Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan about a possible fix. For those of you who do not know of her, she is a force of nature par excellence.  She has done more to improve the lives of us in NYC than you can ever imagine. Through her efforts NYC has become pedestrian and cycling friendly. Her work is incredible, miraculous, fantastic wonderful and amazing. I cannot say enough good things about her.

Today on my trip the sinkhole was fixed. Cindy, I assume, was down by the river enjoying the breeze.

Janette would tell you she had nothing to do with the repairs.  But I know it was her magic elves at work. Or if not, just her incredible kharma making life better.

I vote that she become empress of all things in the universe.

Cheers and ride safely.

My Least Favorite Sign in NYC

Signs here. Signs there. Signs everywhere. Too many signs.

I don’t know why, but signs as a metaphor for life have intrigued me of late. After all, as vital human beings aren’t we always looking for signposts, signals, divine direction or even some prosaic affirmation of which way in life to go?

But the metaphorical is ephemeral at best. Especially when there are so many literal signs all about. Why look for meaning in symbols when there is so much concrete direction provided?

So many signs. Everywhere. It’s as if we have lost all common sense. Walk. Don’t walk. Look both ways. Go right. Stay left. Yield. Stop. Stay in lane. Remove your laptop. No cellphone usage. Bear right. Bear Left. Beware of Bears. Too many signs.

There used to be fewer signs. Was it because we were less prone to be lost? We didn’t have GPS at our noses. We had to follow our senses and our noses. Were there fewer of us and fewer places to go? And were we moving more slowly when we were going where we were going so we needed fewer signs?

There is a purity to a vista that has no signs. An unencumbered beauty ode to a natural landscape that allows us to just “be” without having someone or some sign tells us anything at all. Those vistas are harder and harder to find. Even Frank Lloyd Wright tried to convince the President of the United States not to put up telephone poles with wires on the landscape under the mountains facing his house in Phoenix. What would he think of what he saw there now?

I took a ride over the almost completed $600million Willis Avenue Bridge between Manhattan and Bronx. It is, to say the least, a vast improvement over the previous structure. Especially the “pedestrian” path. It’s wide, smooth, and has no stairs to negotiate. And it had no signs. At least until the middle and then there it was. . An egregious assault. A sign. It had no words. Just a picture of a bicycle within a “do not” red symbol. Ouch.

Like I said. Too many signs.

Has New York City Jumped The Shark?

Bicycling around town through the years provides a sense of the warp and woof of the place and I must admit I am a bit concerned about what I see and feel:

- Fewer people. On foot and in cars there are just fewer folks trudging around everyday. And I mean trudging. Less folks going into midtown office buildings and fewer cars creating gridlock. Has the ability to work virtually finally created the tipping point for our obsolete and energy soaking 19th century central factory location mentality regarding "work"? And if so what are we going to do with all that office space?

And speaking of real estate the residential turnover market in Manhattan has slowed a bit in 2012? Could it be that the new schema for Wall Street bonus' will form a permanently soft real estate market?

-Cost: have you tried to buy a cup of coffee and muffin in this town on the cheap? The cost of living continues to go up while wages are still stagnating. That is not a good formula for a vibrant city.

Regardless, the bicycling is still inspired. Just take a look at the photo bf BBUD on the East River yesterday during lunch. You can't beat the joy of urban cycling - - even if the sharks are circling.

Bicycling to LaGuardia

I have to say, I am giddy with joy. I have been thinking about getting to LaGuardia Airport from the Upper East Side of Manhattan by bicycle for quite some time. Today I did it. And on my 1965 one speed Schwinn with coaster brakes. Giddy I tell you.

It’s between 8 and 10 miles from between where I live (82^nd Street) and LGA. So the distance is not the issue. Things like bringing a fully packed case loaded for business plus an overnite bag for your good clothes. That’s an issue. Doing it all on a one speed, that’s an issue. Doing it in 30degrees F. And making sure you don’t smell and your hair dosen’t look funny. And making sure you don’t get hit in the dawn light. Those are issues.

Gearing up:

Briefcase strapped to rear rack (like every morning but this time it includes a projector as well as MacBook). Clothes and toiletries for trip are put in satchel that goes around chest and hangs off back NYC messenger style. Helmet lit to full. Plastic rain jacket mostly un-breathable (to keep heat in) over sports jacket. Plastic rain pants (it did in fact snow shower the eve before) for heat and spray.

The Route:

At exactly 6:30am I leave 82^nd and Park. Down Park Ave, left at 59^th St and over to York, left to grab Ed Koch bridge entrance on 60^th. Over that beautiful span. See at least four bicyclists coming into Manhattan. They are all Asian or Hispanic. The bicycle is the real the People’s Transport. Pick up 21^st Street past 24hr diners, cab repair shops, window tinters, and The Pep Boys (have me show you the matchbook joke someday). Under the RFK Bridge and first real stop for traffic. See a sea of single occupied cars making turns onto 21^st Street towards LIC. This country has screwed itself with its dependence on oil. Hook a right onto 22^nd Ave until it hits Ditmars Blvd.

Queens is beautiful.

Past the airport car rental places. Thinking that TSA or police will be stopping me any moment. After all, here is a man with a Semitic nose and complexion going on a bicycle past the runways with bags on his back and lit up by flashing lights on his head. But no, it must be too low tech for anyone to notice.

Arrive at American Terminal 7:22am.

Did I mention I was giddy with joy?

I Resolve Not To Yell Profanities From My Bicycle

2012. Lots of resolutions. Being a daily cyclist means that weight loss is not one of them (albeit I seem to be all legs and lungs with mush and no muscle above the waist).

And speaking of mush and no muscle I fall into the camp of slow rider. A few weeks ago I got to ride with some of the guys who are in the NY VeloCity club. One showed up with his new bike with the electronic Shimano shifter things. Needless to say I was dropped immediately if not sooner but they did drop back to stay with me for 6 minutes before heading up to Nyack and back to NYC while I wheezed my way home.

Did I say I didn't need to lose weight? Or maybe I just need to get younger. These guys were all 20 years my junior. But no excuse. It did, however, make me want to curse a bit.

And speaking of cursing, I have resolved not to yell profanities at motorists and pedestrians who do stupid things. This will take more self-discipline than losing 100 pounds because there are so many stupid things that happen daily. Mostly red light runners, cars turning in front of you and pedestrians stepping off the curb because cyclists, after all, don't count.

I have studied profanity a lot while riding. Here is what I have discovered. Most profane utterings are two guttural syllables. Think about it: F... Y.., D..... B.., S... H..., A.. H...

I have tried to come up with substitutes.

It is difficult.

I tried yelling "Troglodyte", but it is too long and just doesn't have the gravitas and impact. "Cro-Magnon" also too effete and too many syllables. "Dufus" comes close but just elicits a smiley smirk.

So I have come to a realization. Yelling profanities doesn't do anything productive. It just zaps you of good Karma. And what good is that?

So my 2012 bicycle resolution: brake, smile and keep on going. Oh, and work on my upper body strength. Who knows, maybe in twenty years those NY VeloCity guys will have to work to catch up to me.

Cheers all.

“What If…” the questions you ask could really change the world?

Last night I had the privilege of attending a very special event called Summit 360 put together by genius and impresario Susan Bird of wf360. In a room filled with some of the most intelligent and forward-thinking people in the world of commerce, we were provoked to consider how to make the world a better place by using the simple but powerful question of “What if?”

Naturally my personal “what if” always revolves around encouraging everyone to use a bicycle to get around instead of a fossil fuel machine. But I suspended my inclinations last night to embrace a broader view.

And I was glad I did. Because in this bastion (the New York Stock Exchange) of capitalism (which I embrace, love and endorse as the best way to improve the standard of living for all people) this crowd spoke of giving generously of their personal and professional time to educate young people. I heard radical ideas about ways to eliminate corruption in our political system, and ideas to promote new, non-polluting energy, and new ways to encourage commerce in emerging nations using non-traditional currencies.

We were a few blocks from Zucotti Park (which I passed on my two wheels on the way downtown) and I could not help but reflect on the contrasts but more importantly the similarities between people.

In their hearts, I would say that 100% (not this bifurcating 1 vs. 99 stuff) of people want to make the world a better place. And it is that belief in the positiveness of humankind is what will move us forward.

And as I wound my way uptown on my trusty one speed on a beautiful balmy night in Manhattan, I could not help but feel positive about the future of our country and our world. And only part of that feeling was because I was on a bicycle.

What if we could all harness this power to change our own world, one person at a time, in all our interactions with others, in a positive and embracing way, every day?

Safe travels.

Born To Be Wild

Yesterday I had a great chat with a brilliant business colleague who asked me, "Does riding your bike make you feel free"? I guess I had never thought of free vs. non-free but the answer is, "YES!"

There is no replacement for that feeling of effortlessness as you glide down a hill, wind in your face, having the universe's momentum propel you along corpus and spirit entwined.

You can almost hear Steppenwolf in your mind, sans the "get your motor running'" part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm5DPlNCmtk

Born to be wild? Ride a bicycle.

$15.40 - Cab V. Bicycle

Air travel is a drag. Pre 9/11 or post it just is not fun. Having logged over two million actual air miles I am sure of this.

A few weeks back I landed at JFK on a Monday morning. I had intended to go from flight to office but due to flight delays etc. I needed to go home to change clothes before heading for the office. Being late, I decided to go by cab in order to be "fast".

WOW! Was I wrong.

I live on the upper east side of Manhattan. I work on the west side near 27th St and 7th Ave. It's a 3.3 mile bicycle ride.

I ride it (back and forth) every day and love it. It takes me 20 minutes in the morning (downhill slope) and 30 minutes at night (uphill plus the day's grind on my mind).

The cab ride took 18 minutes and cost $15.40. I was aghast.

Why does anyone use a cab in this city?

Cheers.

Gotta Love The Snow

Yes. You can bicycle in this weather.

Where's My Maybach?

For those of you who may not be car aficionados, the Maybach is your basic $340,000 dollar limousine. That is the base model. Of course if you want the floor mats, the crystal decanter, the proper burled walnut trim and the nice alloys (plus the privacy curtains), the price is closer to $400K. And you obviously need a driver who is on call 24/7 and a garage nearby. Don't forget insurance, etc. So if you are a Maybach owner (and my blog readers know who they are), you are likely in for a cool $1MM the first year of ownership.

My trip to work each day takes me past 740 Park Ave. It's a storied building and I won't bore you with its history; do the google. Suffice to say that there are at least seven s550's lined up each morning waiting for their captains of industry as I pedal by. But it is the Maybach that captivates me.

I cannot help but yell out (and ring my 33cent bell), as I pedal by on BBUD (my 1965 one speed Schwinn), "Where's MY Maybach?". Alas, I don't see it in my future. But as I gather steam on the downward slope of Park Avenue from 70th St to the 60's I can't help but think, maybe it is for the better.

What do you think? Where's YOUR Maybach?

Councilman Eric Ulrich's Regressive and Discriminatory Proposal

For those of you unaware, there is a councilman in Queens, NY who has put forth a proposal to register all bicycles with the government and that all bicycles should have an identification tag.

Mr. Ulrich's priorities and understanding are misplaced. He would be better served introducing legislation to make drivers safer, enforce traffic laws for motorists, and encouraged the populace to use bicycles.

The proposed legislation is like asking people to register and wear an id tag on the next pair of running shoes they purchase. After all, you use the shoes to walk. And you may walk into somebody and they may fall down and you might run away. So shouldn't we make sure that everyone who wears running shoes register them with the government. You can see this is a slippery slope.

And what an irony. We have a democratic president in the White House issuing an executive order to examine federal regulations to free up commerce. We have a republican councilman in Queens New York seeking to regulate the most basic of freedoms.

For those of you who are unaware, bicycles are a pollution free and healthy alternative to almost any other form of transportation. As an everyday (and civil) commuter in Manhattan, I daily witness at least 6 automobiles running red lights. I see drivers speeding, getting in accidents and polluting our precious world. I see people texting, phoning, eating, reading and being otherwise distracted while driving a 3000pound weapon every day.

Perhaps Mr. Ulrich's priorities should first be turned to those infractions and leave the mostly harmless bicyclist community alone.

For the economically disadvantaged, bicycling represents a legitimate option to more costly forms of transportation. Registration is one more economic burden for them and regressive by design if not discriminatory.

All in all, this is a bad idea. Mr. Ulrich, there are so many more important issues to attend to. Please withdraw your sophomoric and offensive proposal.

Disturbances Take Precedence

I had a flat tire today on the way to work. Which led me to a number of observations and experiences. First, disturbances take precedence. So no matter what you are doing, if there is something that interrupts it, you have to stop doing what you are doing and change behavior. It could be an illness, an accident, a firing, a death, or a simple a flat tire. Disturbances take precedence. They force you to change plans. So I chained up heretofore trusty steed (note to self, can a bicycle be called a steed?) and hailed a cab. My cab driver was from Ghana and we got to talking. He used to drive a Mercedes s550 for a rich man in Chappaqua. He quit because the guy never brought him a cup of coffee when he would stop to get a cup of coffee for himself. The guy, he said, was a cheap multi-millionaire. We got into a debate about how poor people are more generous than rich people. And then a discussion on racial and ethnic stereotypes. See what a flat tire disturbance can do for you? I love New York.

Winter in Manhattan

Having been away from NYC for the holidays I did my cycling in other locales, Florida to be specific. While riding on flat terrain is nice (especially when it is warm), it was wonderful to ride in Central Park this morning. The temperature was perfect (26F) and the scenery was comforting.

The trip down 7th Ave to the Battery and the home was a comfort.

NYC is a wonderful place!

Happy New Year!

You Can Never Be Late

I assumed a philosophy a few years back that ensured that I could never be late. Here it is: “Wherever you are is where you are supposed to be.”

We’ve all heard those stories of the people who missed the plane that crashed because they got stuck in traffic, etc. This philosophy is part that and transcends it. Here is why.

What is the hurry? Why are we always in a rush to get to where we are going? When you get there, are you calm, relaxed, reflective and feeling a oneness with the universe?

I suspect not. You are probably anxious about where you need to be next. How can you be in the moment if you are always in a rush to be in the next moment?

A few years back I was sitting next to a beautiful river with a dear friend. Two dragonflies flitted about and both came to rest on my knee.
I never forgot the moment because it was so tranquil. The entire universe stopped for just that beauteous moment.

I think of that moment when I get my knickers in a twist to rush somewhere.

Where I am off to in such a rush? What will be there? Will I be happier or more satisfied because I got there in a precise manner? Is where I am going so important that I need to be stressed out?

Relish the now. Wherever you are is where you are supposed to be at that very moment. So you can never be late.

And relish the people you are with in that now. It will never come again.

And so it is on a bicycle in NYC. The world screams by in a rush. On two wheels, you can slow it down and savor the moment.

Happy holidays.

My High School Sweetheart

Tender would not be an age to describe me. Hardened, crusty, fossilized - they are more accurate adjectives.
All of us have our internal filters that fool the mirror except when there is that occasional glance that is unprotected and a surprise.
For bicycle riders of a certain age it means you buy certain outfits that fit more generously (as an aside, there is a market opportunity here.)
But I digress.
My first "real ride" (Reynolds 531 all Campy) was purchased from my high school sweetheart's younger brother.
It was my introduction to what riding is meant to be: effortless, joyful, transformative.
I still have it, restored and hanging on a rack. It is eye candy now. I look at it every day before I go ride on one of four other rides (a one speed, a two speed, a three speed and a twenty speed). Occasionally I take it out for a ride and wonder and wander.
So not a day goes by when I do not see and feel 16 years old and everything then.
I think that is good.
New York Tendaberry.