Happy 2016, from Central Park

Photo by myself in Central Park.

Pedicab rides can be found easily in and around Central Park. Above, some visitors stop to look east, toward the skyline.

The nice thing about pedicab rides is that you can often find someone to give you a tour in your native language, if it's not English.

Apologies for not having a more festive photo! We've had very grey, overcast (though warm) days lately. Happy 2016, everyone!

Related posts: A Bit of Fog, in Central Park, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style, and Dogs in Costume, at Tompkins Square Park.

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Pedicab, on Sixth Avenue

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

A pedicab driver posed for me the other day. Behind him, was a slew of regular yellow cabs.

I asked him about his mock license plate on the front of his bike. He doesn't actually own a taxi license, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and are bolted down to the hoods of yellow cabs.

As you can see, it's been raining on and off recently, but this pedicab is equipped for the weather. He asked whether he could give me a ride.

I laughed and said I was going to Brooklyn. A long trip!

Related posts: Pedalling Around Columbus Circle, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style, and Working It.

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The NYPD, Policing the Streets

Photo by myself, around 32nd Street and Broadway.

A police officer pulled over a pedicab driver, the other day, for reasons unknown.

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The NYPD have been cracking down on activities. I jumped in a gypsy cab a few weeks ago and we were hailed down by the police within one block.

How come? The gypsy cab driver had asked me for a destination and quoted a fare, then started driving. But he hadn't called the ride into the office. The driver was working for pure profit, without the cab company's knowledge.

Related posts: Fashionably Late, NYPD Blues and NYPD in Action.

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Pedaling around Columbus Circle

Photo by myself at Columbus Circle, at 59th Street and Columbus, in Midtown.

New York is becoming more people-powered, lately.

Bicycle lanes are more common and there are plans for city-sponsored bike rentals. Generally, the vibe here is that driving, except for cabs and deliveries, is not so desirable.

Our Mayor, a very pragmatic businessperson, has been making the City more and more efficient. This is a good thing, I suppose. For people who live or around the city, it's a mixed bag.

Owning a car has always been difficult in the city. You can park on the streets but you need to move your car every other day and risk damage. Those who can afford it rent spaces in a garage. Monthly costs are in the hundreds per month.

In the outer boroughs such as Brooklyn, it's a little easier. If you park on the street, you only need to move your car once a week.

Related posts: Working It, How's About a Ride? and Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park.

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Enjoying the Sun, in Midtown

Photo by myself around 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

We've having some beautiful days here with temperatures in the mid-70s and low humidity.

Friday afternoon, just about everyone was enjoying the outdoors. The pedicab drivers were sitting outside, ready to take fares. To date, I have only seen one female pedicab driver.

I'm not sure what the rates are for pedicabs. This is one way to get a personalized tour of New York without impacting the environment.

Though they don't have seat belts, pedicabs are equipped with speakers! You can see them installed, just below the seat.

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Sorry for the late start today. Mark got in very, very late last night and we're just getting ourselves together.

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park and A Bit of Fog, in Central Park.

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On Riding Around Sixth Avenue and the Travel Channel

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Ah, pedicabs.

This is one way to get around the city without affecting the environment. Many cyclists will give rides to several people at a time.

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Speaking of cyclists, there is yet another new series on TV. Mark and I tuned into Triple Rush, a new show on the Travel Channel, set in Manhattan.

The show follows three different bicycle courier companies during a typical day. Apparently there are 1,500 bike messengers working at 70 messenger companies in New York. A messenger might make 20 deliveries in a day and make a bit over 100 dollars.

This job is not for scaredy cats. Cameras mounted on the messengers' helmets show just how dangerous it is, weaving through traffic at high speed in all types of weather. Dispatchers in the office are equally stressed out, delegating jobs and being assailed with orders.

All offices in New York use messenger services. It's the fastest way to deliver documents during the day. Be warned though, it can be dangerous just walking in the city because of these guys on the street.

You can see how stressful and dangerous this job through this show. I will be nicer to the messengers we use from now on!

Here's the trailer for the show:

Triple Rush - Extended Trailer from Triple Rush on Vimeo.

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style and Pedaling in Style, on Central Park South.

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A Bit of Fog, in Central Park

Photo by myself in Central Park, around Central Park West and 59th Street.

It was drippy at the end of last week.

You could see a white mist hugging the ground in Central Park. A Pedicab driver stood outside of the frame to the right, calling to passersby for a ride.

On the right, you can barely see the buildings along Central Park South. Ahead are buildings along Fifth Avenue.

The snow on the ground is left over from the Christmas blizzard. Boy, are we ready for Spring!

Related posts: A Blanket of Snow, in Prospect Park, Riding in Style, in the Village and Kicking Back on Firm Ground.

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Pedalling Through the Slush, in Midtown

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue and 41st Street, in Midtown.

Last week's snow didn't hinder pedicabs from chugging away through the slush. This fellow was making his way up to Columbus Circle, about twenty blocks north.

Slush is not a pretty sight in the city. The streets become grimy very quickly after a snow. It's not the place for nice shoes.

Most women wear knee high galoshes, since the puddles can become quite deep at the street corners.

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Dirt and grime are persistent elements in New York. I think it comes from the air rather than from soil.

When I lived on the Upper West Side, my apartment was on the fourth floor of an old walk-up building from the turn of the last century. The windows were huge wood, single pane, double hung windows painted over a million times, probably original to the building. They never closed properly, leaving an uneven gap at the bottom.

Every few months, I'd have to open the window and wipe it down, especially near the bottom, where all this soot would accumulate. It was really hideous, and all I could think of was that we breathe that stuff every day.

If you ever walk around Manhattan, take a look at the buildings at the street corners. You will notice that buildings are much lighter in color at the corners than along the street, because of the wind. This is most noticeable at limestone buildings, which are light in color.

Related posts: Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park, Working It and Nice Set of Wheels.

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Pedalling in Style, on Central Park South

Photo by myself outside the Plaza Hotel, at 59th Street and Central Park South.

Even the pedicabs are decked out to reflect the holiday season.

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Beware! As the temperatures drop, it's much more difficult to get a cab, especially during rush hour. At that time, folks compete to get to the theatre, catch the train home or meet someone for dinner.

I had to run to a meeting on Thursday at 4:30 pm. Usually I would take the subway, but this was an emergency. It was very chilly and no available cabs were in sight. Out of desperation, I contemplated taking a pedicab (!).

A gypsy cab pulled over and we talked about price. Gypsy cabs, also known as livery cabs, are unlike the typical yellow cabs that New York is known for. They are usually black or grey sedans and don't have meters.

Gypsy cabs are generally fine to use as long as you negotiate a price beforehand, preferably while you are standing on the sidewalk. In the outer boroughs such as Brooklyn, livery cabs are plentiful and operate out of car services that are open 24/7.

Anyway, I had to get to 65th Street and Madison Avenue, only 20 blocks away. The driver wanted 20 dollars, that is, one dollar for every block. Astounded, I walked away out of principle.

Of course, ten minutes later, I was hailing down another gypsy cab. Twenty bucks was the going rate, and twenty bucks it was. It was that or running 20 blocks uptown.

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style and The Twinkling View at Rockefeller Center.

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Before a Tour, Pedicab Style

Photo by myself in Central Park.

A pedicab driver gave his customers a little face time before embarking. When the pedicab is in motion, it's hard for customers to hear the driver.

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We are in for an absolute scorcher today, with highs near 100F. With the bright sun and humidity, it's supposed to feel like it's 105F.

In such weather, I'm not sure I could ever sit in a pedicab being pulled by someone, even if he is doing it for money. By the way, I have only seen male pedicab drivers. If I ever see a female driver, I certainly will stop and take a photo!

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park and Kicking Back, on Firm Ground.

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Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park

Photo by myself in Central Park.

The main road within Central Park loops around the park's perimeter. A little over six miles long, it weaves around and has some hills along the way, making it an ideal venue for cyclists and runners.

On a typical day, pedicabs, horse-drawn carriages, joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers, strollers are out, enjoying the park.

Be very careful to look both ways before crossing the road. I've witnessed more than one collision!

Related posts: Along the Edge of Central Park, The World Above Central Park and Homeless Man, Central Park.

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Riding in Style, in the Village

Photo by myself of the Ralph Lauren store on Bleeker Street, in the Village.

These period-looking pedicabs harken back to an earlier time. You and your shopping buddy can be pedaled around by a one of several young lads.

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It's hard to believe it's already December. Mark and I are in disbelief about our trip next week to a small town in Mexico, called Zihuatenejo (pronounced 'Zee-hwa-ten-ay-hoe').

I've been flip flop-less since the fall, after leaving my trusty flip flops on a job site. Mark needed a bathing suit. Fortunately with the internets you can get just about anything at any season.

We learned of Zihuatenejo from a travel show on tv. A short distance from Mexico City and near a nice beach, it sounds like the perfect place to unwind. We'd gone to Costa Rica a couple years ago, and loved the simple lifestyle and healthy food. I hope Zihua is similar.

If anyone's been to that neck of the woods, I'd love to know your suggestions for things to do. Mark has been researching a bit online, but there's nothing like a personal recommendation!

Related posts: Working It, Kicking Back on Firm Ground and How's About A Ride?.

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Working It

Photo by myself of a pedicab driver in Central Park.

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Mark thought I've been posting too many pedicab drivers. But I love these guys. They seem Old World to me, like the gondola drivers in Venice.

My boyfriend Mark expects to be working again Monday night until 3 am (!).

I'm sure it varies according to where you live, but New Yorkers tend to work a lot.

My first job in New York was with a large office, where we worked routinely until 9 or 10 every night.

There were social pressures to stay late, even if there wasn't an immediate emergency. One coworker had tickets to a Knicks playoffs game and had to come into the office after the game was over.

I'd forget to pay my credit card balances. I'd forget to get my hair cut. I'd get to the office, work through dinner, catch a cab home, and do it again the next day. It was awful. I never went to the gym, and I was too tired to socialize.

After a few months, I left that job. It was time to start living.

Related posts: How's About A Ride?, Kicking Back on Firm Ground, and Blah Blah Blah, Work, Blah Blah Blah.

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Kicking Back on Firm Ground

Photo by myself near Macy's, at 35th Street and Sixth Avenue.

A pedicab driver on break gave me a nice smile and a victory sign. In the background, cabs speed by.

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My mom called me from LA Tuesday night, saying there had been an earthquake.

My dad had felt the house shake for several seconds. She had felt nothing. A family friend in a nearby town definitely felt something and was sent scurrying under the nearest table.

I think if we New Yorkers had to deal with the traffic and work stress and rising rents and small apartments and earthquakes, life here would be insane. We are awfully lucky to be located on top of firm bedrock.

Related posts: How's About A Ride? and East Coast, West Coast.

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How's About a Ride?

Photo by myself near the Empire State Building, on Fifth Avenue and 35th Street.

Pedicabs line up where the tourists are. Cabbies provide chit chat, comfort and gas-less travel.

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Happy July, everyone. Mark and I cannot believe it's no longer May.

The city is cramped with people right now. Sidewalks spill over at the corners with people, waiting for the light to change.

On top of the crowds, we're going through a humid spell, where thunderstorms roll in almost every afternoon. Fortunately, intrepid visitors haven't been put off.

Related posts: Behind the Curtain and Tourists for a Day.

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